Maine lawmakers are revisiting a hot-button bill that would give the state’s four federally recognized tribes exclusive control over online casino gaming. Legislative Document 1164 (LD 1164), co-sponsored by Rep. Ambureen Rana (D-Bangor) and Sen. Marianne Moore (R-Calais), aims to expand the current online sports betting model—already in tribal hands—to include games like poker, blackjack, roulette, and slots.
The bill stalled in April and was revived during a special legislative session set to close by June 18. It passed the Joint Veterans and Legal Affairs Committee along party lines and is now under fresh review.
If passed, the legislation would allow each tribe—the Penobscot Nation, Passamaquoddy Tribe, Mi’kmaq Nation, and Houlton Band of Maliseet Indians—to partner with a single iGaming operator. Oversight would fall to the Maine Gambling Control Unit, which already regulates online sports betting. Retail casinos would remain under the Gambling Control Board.
Online casino revenue would be taxed at 18%, with projections estimating $1.8 million for the 2025–2026 fiscal year, doubling to $3.6 million the year after. The funds would go toward addiction treatment, emergency housing, veterans’ care, opioid response, and school upgrades.
Supporters Cite Economic Fairness, Tribal Rights
Backers say LD 1164 is a step toward economic justice for the Wabanaki Nations, long treated differently under federal law due to the 1980 Maine Indian Claims Settlement Act. That legislation has limited their sovereignty compared to other tribes nationwide.
Chief William Nicholas Sr. of the Passamaquoddy Tribe at Motahkomikuk pointed to the thriving unregulated online gambling in Maine. “The lost business opportunity for a legal and state-regulated entity is in the tens if not hundreds of millions of dollars per year,” he testified. “Those revenues should be benefiting Mainers, not shadowy offshore companies.”
Commercial Casinos, Health Officials Push Back
Commercial casino operators are strongly opposed to the bill. Oxford Casino and Hollywood Casino say giving tribes exclusive access to iGaming would create a monopoly and hurt their operations.
“This bill would create a gaming monopoly for the Wabanaki Nations with little economic benefit to Maine,” said Dan Walker, representing Oxford Casino, during hearings in April.
Major online gambling companies—FanDuel, BetMGM, and Fanatics—have also chimed in, urging lawmakers to allow tribes to partner with more than one operator to expand market access.
Meanwhile, public health voices are sounding alarms. Maine CDC Director Puthiery Va raised concerns over increased gambling access, saying the isolating nature of online play can heighten risks of addiction and poor mental health outcomes.
Illegal Gambling Still Thriving in the Shadows
As lawmakers debate LD 1164, the Maine Gambling Control Unit (GCU) issued a warning about illegal online casino platforms targeting state residents. These sites, often based offshore, operate without state oversight and may appear legitimate while offering no consumer protections.
While sports betting, fantasy contests, and advance deposit wagering are legal in Maine, real-money online casino games remain banned. The GCU cautioned that users of unlicensed platforms do so at their own risk, with no recourse for disputes.
Familiar Fight, Uncertain Outcome
LD 1164 follows a similar bill, LD 1777, which failed last year despite tribal backing. That version proposed a lower tax rate and never gained traction in the Legislature. Though LD 1164 has progressed further, it still faces a possible veto from Governor Janet Mills, a known skeptic of gambling expansion.
With the clock ticking on the special session and the debate drawing battle lines between tribal advocates, casino operators, and public health officials, the future of online casino gaming in Maine hangs in the balance.
