The launch of Maine's iGaming market is projected for the first quarter of 2027, according to Milt Champion, the Executive Director of the Gambling Control Unit. However, several challenges must be addressed before online wagering can commence. Champion emphasized that the timeline is a potential window rather than a definitive deadline, with ongoing efforts focused on finalizing regulations, developing an online application portal, and hiring six staff members to manage the new industry.
The next critical stage in this process depends on public comments being submitted by October 30. If the feedback does not necessitate major changes, the proposed regulations will be forwarded to the Office of the Attorney General, which then has up to 120 days to assess their legality. Champion remarked, “As with sports wagering, iGaming is new, and the rulemaking process has followed in the same lengthy fashion as with sports wagering.”
Maine's journey towards iGaming began when sports betting was legalized in May 2022, leading to the market's opening in November 2023. Governor Janet Mills allowed the iGaming legislation to take effect without her signature in January, positioning Maine as the eighth state to implement live iGaming alongside Connecticut, Delaware, Michigan, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, and West Virginia.
The latest proposed regulations for iGaming in Maine, released on September 30, aim to gather more public input prior to the final adoption of the rules. However, Champion noted that the attorney general’s review may necessitate additional rounds of rulemaking, which could delay the launch further. He stated, “If that legal review requires a fourth publication, then it will push back the final adoption.” If no further publication is required, the rules would then be sent to the Secretary of State for final approval.
As the rulemaking process advances, the Gambling Control Unit is also establishing the administrative framework needed to license and oversee the upcoming market, including the recruitment of six new staff members.
The revised iGaming rules outline significant operational aspects for the online casino market, such as the use of live dealer games, advertising guidelines, and self-exclusion protocols. The proposal permits approved live dealer studios and certain supporting systems to operate outside of Maine, but mandates that the main server for player transactions remain within the state. Additionally, the new regulations streamline certain game update procedures by removing the need for separate approval.
Advertising regulations will prohibit marketing aimed at individuals under the age of 21 and require that advertisements clearly display the beneficiary tribe’s name and logo alongside those of the operating partner in identical font sizes. An automated self-exclusion system will also ensure that operators can access real-time updates regarding player opt-outs.
Under the planned framework, the four federally recognized Wabanaki tribal nations will have exclusive rights to operate iGaming in Maine, further solidifying their role in the state’s online gambling sector beyond just sports betting. Notably, online casino operators are expected to mirror existing sports betting market dynamics, which currently feature DraftKings and Caesars as prominent operators. Caesars has already announced its expanded tribal partnerships for iGaming, collaborating with:
– Houlton Band of Maliseet Indians
– Mi’kmaq Nation
– Penobscot Nation
Meanwhile, the Passamaquoddy Tribe has partnered with DraftKings. Maine’s gambling scene is also marked by two commercial casinos owned by Churchill Downs and Penn Entertainment. In anticipation of the iGaming rollout, Maine has taken steps to restrict other gaming products, including enacting a ban on sweepstakes casinos and the use of credit cards for gambling, signed by Mills in April.
While preparing for the iGaming launch, the Gambling Control Unit is also keeping an eye on developments in prediction markets. Champion affirmed that the agency is monitoring regulatory dialogues in other jurisdictions; however, there are currently no active investigations concerning prediction markets in Maine, as the unit has not observed any detrimental impacts. He stated, "These platforms are not regulated by the Gambling Control Unit, and regulatory oversight of prediction markets is handled at the federal level. We have not seen a negative impact on the gaming programs regulated by the Unit."
The Gambling Control Unit will maintain its vigilance regarding prediction markets and any potential influences they could have on Maine’s regulated gaming landscape.
