Maine House Blocks Revival of Online Gambling Bill for Wabanaki Tribes
Bill granting exclusive online gambling rights to the Wabanaki tribes of Maine was briefly revived in the Senate through a strategic maneuver by Assistant Senate Majority Leader Mattie Daughtry, D-Brunswick.
Despite initially voting against the bill, Daughtry utilized her right to call for reconsideration, leading to a temporary Senate approval with a 19-13 vote. However, this resurgence was short-lived as the proposal was subsequently defeated in the House by a narrow margin of 70-75, reflecting a slight decrease in support compared to its previous failure at 74-71.
The Proposal’s Aims and Opposition
The bill, championed by Rep. Laura Supica, D-Bangor, aimed to expand the Wabanaki tribes’ online gambling authority beyond sports betting to include all games of chance, such as online poker.
Advocates of the bill argued that granting exclusive gambling rights to the tribes would help correct long-standing inequalities and promote economic development within tribal communities.
They envisioned the tribes reinvesting 100% of the generated revenues into local economies rather than seeing profits siphoned off to out-of-state corporations.
Economic Benefits and Concerns
Supporters of the bill highlighted its potential economic benefits, projecting it could generate $100 million for the tribes in the coming years.
They also proposed earmarking tax revenues from the bill to fund essential services such as 911 systems, emergency housing, and gambling addiction programs.
Despite these potential benefits, opponents, including Steve Silver, chairman of the Maine Gambling Control Board, expressed concerns about job losses at existing casinos and the broader impacts on the state’s gambling landscape.
They argued that granting exclusive rights to the tribes could negatively affect the 19 groups that collectively earned over $69 million in revenue in 2022 from Maine’s two casinos.
Tribal Perspective and Sovereignty
The bill’s failure was a significant blow to the Wabanaki tribes, who view economic development as integral to their pursuit of greater sovereignty and self-determination.
Penobscot Nation Tribal Ambassador Maulian Dana emphasized the importance of the bill for tribal economic empowerment, despite the primary focus of the Wabanaki Alliance on broader sovereignty issues.
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