High praise
Passamaquoddy Tribe Chief William Nicholas Sr. has called Maine Governor Janet Mills “the greatest ever” after she announced she would let the state’s online casino bill pass into law.
Governor Mills’ decision on Thursday to let Legislative Document 1164 become law makes Maine the eighth US state to legalize real money iCasino.
four tribes to partner with one third-party operator apiece
The legislation gives the Passamaquoddy and the other three tribes comprising Maine’s Wabanaki Nations exclusivity over the vertical, while allowing the four tribes to partner with one third-party operator apiece for online gaming including poker and blackjack.
Caesars and DraftKings, who both already have online sports betting partnerships in place with three tribes and the Passamaquoddy, respectively, are the most likely partners.
According to Action Network, the next step is for the Maine Gambling Control Unit (MGCU) to set regulations and supply online gaming launch timelines.
Support
Governor Mills cited input from Wabanaki chiefs and positive forecasts on the economic impact of online casino on tribal communities as “key factors influencing her decision.”
The Governor expressed concerns about online gambling’s impact on public health, but said that after careful consideration of LD 1164, she believed “this new form of gambling should be regulated.”
Gov. Mills added she had faith in the MGCU to develop the regulatory framework and “to hold providers of this new form of gambling accountable while ensuring that Maine’s tribes benefit from its operations.”
greatest ever Maine Governor champion”
Mills was also at the state helm when Maine’s tribes launched online sports betting in November 2023, which gives context to Chief Joseph’s “greatest ever Maine Governor champion” comment.
The Passamaquoddy chief added Mills had “demonstrated an unmatched commitment to tribal self-determination and prosperity.” Penobscot Nation Chief Kirk Francis, meanwhile, said the vertical’s legalization will bankroll basic government services including healthcare, education, law enforcement, while also benefitting neighboring rural communities.
Dissent
The Governor’s decision to allow iCasino to become law will come as a balm to proponents. Since July, when Mills decided to postpone LD 1164, the future of iCasino in Maine hung in the balance. The hopes of Maine bettors would have been further dampened by the state issuing warnings about sweepstakes casinos.
While online gaming is finally law, not everyone’s happy. The MGCU and the state’s two non-tribal casinos have raised concerns over potential impacts on existing retail casinos, namely Oxford, and Hollywood in Bangor.
The National Association Against iGaming (NAAiG), however, provided the strongest dissent against legalizing online gaming, vowing on Thursday “to pursue a People’s Veto referendum to challenge the law.”
NAAiG accused Mills of disregarding “overwhelming public opposition, expert warnings from her own regulators.”
