Maine returns to bill featuring exclusive Tribal Rights

Maine lawmakers have returned to a bill that would legalize online casino gaming with exclusive Tribal Rights.

The bill in question, LD 1164, seeks to legalize online casinos via four federally recognized tribes in Maine, the Wabanaki Nations. It first came to discussion a few months ago but was shelved back in April 2025. Now, it’s progressed through the House Veterans and Legal Affairs Committee during a special legislative session.

The renewed attention is giving hope to those in favor of regulated online gambling in Maine. LD 1164 would offer the Wabanaki Nations exclusive rights to online casino games, including poker, blackjack, and roulette, offered via licensed gaming operators.

At the moment, the tribes offer online sports betting throughout the state, which has been taken up successfully by Maine residents since launching at the end of 2023.

The bill also proposes an 18% tax on online gaming revenue, with projected revenue of $1.8 million in state tax for the 2025-26 financial year, rising to $3.6 million the following. Those funds are planned to be allocated to various state programs, such as gambling addiction prevention, veteran housing and opioid use treatment, as well as support for the Gambling Control Unit for administrative oversight.

Those in favor of the bill argue that legalizing online casino gaming would take money from overseas services and return it to services that support Maine residents.

“The lost business opportunity for a legal and state-regulated entity is in the tens, if not hundreds, of millions of dollars per year,” said Chief William Nicholas Sr. of the Passamaquoddy Tribe. “Those revenues should be benefiting Mainers, not shadowy offshore companies or whoever runs the many apps that are currently available for illegal internet gaming.”

However, there is concern from some commercial casino operators that it could take business away from physical casinos, which could impact local jobs. For example, the Oxford Hills Chamber of Commerce projects potential losses of up to $67 million for state casinos and the elimination of roughly 400 jobs if the bill goes through.

Featured image: Wikimedia Commons, licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0

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