Maine is set to get online gambling provided in the state, but with a tribal catch. The Main House voted Thursday that the Wabanaki Nations will have exclusivity on providing online gambling within the region.
It was voted 85-59, with a couple more hurdles (another House vote and then the Senate), before being codified into state law. However, it could still face a veto if whispers reach the right ears, with the administration of Governor Janet Mills standing firm against it.
There are several tribes in Maine, which make up the Wabanaki Nations. These include the Passamaquoddy Tribe, the Penobscot Nation, the Houlton Band of Maliseet Indians, and the Aroostook Band of Micmacs, which have had permission to build casinos on their land since 2003.
Maine currently has two casinos in Oxford and Bangor, which in 2021, were reportedly revenue sharing up to 46% with the state. Both casinos oppose the move, with fears it could pull punters away from the businesses.
Second time might be the charm for online gambling ambitions in Maine
Maine has previously voted on allowing online gambling under the care of the Wabanaki Nations just over a year ago, falling success by just 3 votes. Now, it has proposed the idea again to hand the custodian keys to the Wabanaki Nations, adding to its repertoire of online offerings. A previous compromise in 2022 between the tribes and the state allowed them to run the online sportsbooks in Maine.
The move has been positioned as a way to expand money earned by the tribes, to reduce the need for grants given by the federal government. Especially during the second Trump regime, which has begun to cull federal funding and grants across the country.
As reported by Maine Public Radio, Representative Brian Reynolds, speaking on behalf of the Houlton Band of Maliseet Indians, said:
“We know how to do this the right way. We’ve seen how the regulation of sports wagering has worked in Maine quietly, efficiently, with no disruption to local communities.
“iGaming will be no different. We are asking for the chance to build.”
