Maine Legalizes Online Sports Betting for Native American Tribes

Maine Governor Janet Mills has signed LD 585, a bill that paves the way for the state's four Native American tribes to apply for licenses to operate online sports betting. Each tribe can partner with one online operator. The licensing fee for mobile sports betting is set at $200,000 and must be renewed every four years. Additionally, nine racetracks and off-track betting facilities, except for Churchill Downs’ Oxford Casino, can apply for a retail sports betting license, which comes with a $4,000 fee, also payable every four years. Operators will contribute 10% of their adjusted sports wagering revenue to the state. However, betting on matches involving Maine-based collegiate sports teams remains prohibited. The legislation acknowledges that the state’s tribes, all members of the Wabanaki nation, were previously excluded from most gaming opportunities. It aims to rectify this by allowing them to participate in online betting. Furthermore, the bill ensures that if mobile gaming becomes legal in the future, the tribes will have equal access to the market alongside commercial operators. Governor Mills emphasized, "This law provides meaningful economic opportunities for the Wabanaki Nations. It incentivizes investment in tribal communities and formalizes a collaboration process on policy, setting the foundation for a stronger relationship in the future." She expressed pride in the cooperative efforts that led to the legislation, stating, "I am grateful for the honest effort, the extensive research, and the hundreds of hours of negotiations and discussions which bore fruit in this bill. We will continue to work closely with the tribes to make progress for the Wabanaki people." Mills’ decision comes after years of attempts to establish legal sports betting in Maine. In January 2020, the state legislature approved a sports betting bill, but Mills vetoed it. An effort in the previous year garnered approval from the House but stalled after being sent to the Special Appropriations Table.