On 9 April, despite the fact that the online gambling bill failed to get through the Maine House, the senate still took it up. The senate voted not to approve the bill a day after the house. They could still revisit the matter before the end session.
This was the second time in one week that an online gambling bill failed in a US Statehouse. Maryland’s session ended on the 8th of April, without any legalisation. Maine’s legislative session will close on April 17.
Maine senators then voted to reject the bill 14-20 a day after Maine’s representatives voted by 71-74. On 10 April, the senate voted 27-7 to put this bill on hold.
Maine legislators passed legal sports gambling in May 2022. This gave the four tribes of Maine a monopoly. At the time, the tribes were not interested in legal sports betting, and lawmakers wanted to create a competitive, open marketplace. Janet Mills wanted to extend an olive branch to the Wabanaki tribes, which are not federally recognized as other tribes. State and tribes have had a long-standing contentious relationship.
Online gambling is available in seven states
The tribes have the right to provide Maine online casinos as part of this deal. Legislators must first create the framework to allow online gambling. Only seven US states are legalising online casino.
In Maine, LD1777 prohibited two of the brick and mortar casinos in Maine operated by Churchill Downs Inc. and Penn Entertainment from providing online gambling. The sports betting legislation also prohibits the casinos from offering digital sportsbooks. The two companies are both opposed to the new online gambling legislation.
This bill set the license at $200,000. The tax rate was 10%.
I just don’t believe it is the right thing.
Maine lawmakers and legislators in other states are hesitant to introduce a variety of casino games for residents of the state.
Jeff Timberlake voted against online gambling in Maine.
According to Maine Public Radio, he stated that “this is basically saying that people can sit home and play slots on their computers all day and I don’t believe it’s the correct thing to do.” It’s an expansion of gambling for the state of Maine.
