A bill legalizing online casino operators in Maine has cleared both chambers, but significant hurdles remain.
The Senate placed LD 1164 on the Special Appropriations Table on Tuesday, pending enactment in concurrence by the House. House lawmakers passed to be enacted Tuesday evening.
While the passage seems encouraging for the online casino bill, significant roadblocks remain. LD 1164 would allow Maine’s tribal nations to offer online casino gambling.
What lies ahead for online casino
Because LD 1164 includes a fiscal note, it must go to the appropriations table, where 13 members can “release, amend or kill” bills. The table acts as a final check on bills, and less than 10% become law, according to Maine Morning Star.
Gov. Janet Mills could also veto the bill, which would require a 2/3 override vote, which does not appear to exist in the legislature.
Mills’ administration testified against the legislation earlier this session. Lawmakers tabled the bill in April before restarting conversations earlier this month.
Maine bill details
LD 1164 would grant exclusive online casino rights to the four tribes in Maine:
- Passamaquoddy Tribe
- Penobscot Nation
- Houlton Band of Maliseet Indians
- Milkmaq Nation
The state would receive 18% of the gross revenue from the tribes. The fiscal note estimates the casinos would generate $1.8 million in its initial year for the state.
Sen. Joe Baldacci was one of four Democrats who joined Republicans in opposing the online casino bill. He said it would harm the state’s brick-and-mortar casino industry. Baldacci also said it would infringe on the Maine Gambling Control Unit and Gambling Control Board, both of which opposed the bill.
Similar setup to sports betting
Maine’s online sports betting industry, which launched in 2023, is also run through the tribes.
Three of the tribes partnered with Caesars for online sports betting.
Another tribe partnered with DraftKings.
