Maine lawmakers passed LD 1164 in June 2025 to legalize online casino gaming. The bill gives exclusive rights to four tribes: Penobscot Nation, Passamaquoddy Tribe, Mi’kmaq Nation, and Houlton Band of Maliseet Indians. Each tribe would get one license to run online casinos with partners like DraftKings and Caesars.
However, LD1164 is set to sit until January 2026 since Governor Janet Mills did not sign or veto the bill before the legislature ended.
The bill sets an 18% tax rate, expecting to raise $1.8 million in 2025–26 and $3.6 million in 2026–27. This follows Maine’s 2022 law allowing tribes to offer online sports betting.
Maine law stops the governor from acting on bills during a legislative break. Mills is reviewing about 60 bills, including LD 1164, and her office plans a careful review. If she does nothing within three days of the legislature’s return, the bill becomes law.
Her past opposition to gambling expansion, like vetoing a tribal casino bill in 2021, creates doubt about her support.
LD 1164 had a tough journey through the legislature. Introduced in March 2025, it stalled in April but gained support in a special session. The House approved it 85-59, and the Senate passed it 18-17. The bill cleared the Veterans and Legal Affairs Committee 8-5 and the Appropriations Table, a key step for revenue bills.
The Wabanaki Alliance and some lawmakers supported it, but commercial casino operators, the Maine Gambling Control Unit, and the Department of Health and Human Services opposed it.
Impact on tribes and economy
Supporters say LD 1164 will boost tribal economies. The bill helps the Wabanaki Nations, limited by a 1980 law restricting their gaming rights. Tribal Representative Brian Reynolds said regulated sports betting worked well, and online casinos would do the same. The 18% tax would fund addiction treatment, veterans’ services, and housing.
However, critics, including the Maine Gambling Control Board, fear an increase in gambling addiction, job losses at physical casinos, and less revenue from current physical gaming sites in Bangor and Oxford.
The bill’s future depends on Governor Mills’ decision in 2026.. A veto would need a two-thirds vote in both chambers to override, which seems unlikely given the close Senate vote. If passed, Maine would join seven other states with legal online casinos, helping tribes and state funds.
For now, Maine residents wait, as unregulated offshore gambling sites remain a risky option. The delay shows ongoing debates about economic benefits versus social and regulatory concerns.
