Maine lawmakers have decided to hold off on a new bill that would’ve let the state’s four Wabanaki tribes have exclusive rights to run mobile casino gaming.
Legislative Document 1164, titled “An Act to Create Economic Opportunity for the Wabanaki Nations Through Internet Gaming,” hit a roadblock on Monday (Apr. 7) when it stalled in the Joint Veterans and Legal Affairs Committee.
The bill was specifically aimed at supporting the Wabanaki Nations, Maine’s four federally recognized tribes, and was designed to boost their economic opportunities through online gaming. If it had passed, it would’ve given the tribes licenses to operate mobile games like blackjack, poker, dice, craps, roulette, and baccarat.
The revenue from these online gaming services would’ve been taxed at 16%, with that money going toward important state-funded programs like addiction recovery and support for veterans.
Three of the four Wabanaki tribes have already teamed up with Caesars, while the fourth has partnered with DraftKings, positioning themselves to hit the ground running if the bill ever moves forward.
Tribal members have said they’re interested in expanding those existing partnerships to include internet gaming, seeing it as a natural next step for economic growth. Cited by Spectrum News, Rep. Aaron Dana of the Passamaquoddy Tribe, said: “For the Passamaquoddy Tribe and all the other Wabanaki communities, this is about fairness and the ability to participate in the industry that already benefits others across the country.”
Opposition to online casino gaming bill for Wabanaki tribes in Maine
However, Michael Ventre, speaking on behalf of FanDuel, Fanatics, and BetMGM, voiced some concerns about the bill. He questioned whether it would actually create a healthy, competitive market like the ones seen in other states.
He testified: “We wanted to caution the committee on moving forward with this bill, though, because we are concerned that it will not create the healthy, regulated market that we have seen in many other states.
“The lack of legitimate choice for the consumer can encourage individuals to seek alternative methods outside of the regulated marketplace.”
According to SBC Americas, Rep. Anne Graham pointed out that one issue that kept coming up during witness testimony was the amount of illegal gaming that’s reportedly already taking place in Maine. She said: “I wondered if we have any sense of what’s happening out there? My impression was that this is happening and it’s illegal, other states have chosen to make it legal, so I don’t know if we have any statistics or any awareness of how much of that is going on.”
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