Maine Bill Aims to Legalize Online Casinos for Tribes
Maine’s legislature dropped a fresh gambling bill, LD 1164, also tagged as House Bill 1164. Dubbed “An Act to Create Economic Opportunity for the Wabanaki Nations Through Internet Gaming,” it’s set to greenlight online casino games with a twist, only the state’s federally recognized Wabanaki Nations can run the show.
Wabanaki Nations Get Exclusive Shot
Each tribe, nation, or band in the group gets a crack at one license, locking out everyone else. The setup mirrors Maine’s online sports betting rules, which the Wabanaki already handle. It covers games like blackjack, poker, craps, roulette, and baccarat, think digital card and dice action via apps or web platforms, per the bill’s text.
No table games or slots from brick-and-mortar spots, no lottery, and no sports betting overlap here. Licenses split into four types: one for tribes to operate, one for gear suppliers, one for management firms, and one for workers.
Cash and Control
The bill slaps a 16% tax on adjusted gross gaming revenue, funneling cash to state funds. That means bucks for the Gambling Control Unit, addiction programs, emergency housing, opioid treatment, 911 services, and Maine’s veterans’ homes stabilization fund.
Operators need tight game rules, approved by the unit’s director, plus solid security and bet-tracking records. No play for anyone under 21, operator staff, or folks on the state’s no-go list, plus, winnings can get snagged for unpaid child support.
This is a big play for the Wabanaki. Maine’s $500 million sports betting haul in 2024, per state data, shows tribes can rake it in online. With no legal online casinos yet, unlike New Jersey’s $1.9 billion iGaming take last year, this bill hands them a fresh revenue stream. It’s also a nod to tribal sovereignty, building on their sports betting gig since 2023.
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