Maine is set to become the eighth U.S. state to authorize real-money lucky cola online casino gaming after Gov. Janet Mills announced Thursday that she will allow LD 1164 passed last session to take effect without her signature.
“I considered this bill carefully, and while I have concerns about the impacts of gambling on public health, I believe that this new form of gambling should be regulated,” Mills wrote in a statement announcing her decision, “and I am confident that Maine’s Gambling Control Unit will develop responsible rules and standards to hold providers of this new form of gambling accountable while ensuring that Maine’s tribes benefit from its operations.”
The law grants Maine’s four federally recognized tribes exclusive rights to operate online casino gaming, with each tribe permitted to partner with one third-party operator. Two of the tribes have already aligned with Caesars and DraftKings, giving those companies an early advantage if and when iGaming launches in the state. DraftKings was among the limited number of operators that testified in support of the legislation.
There is no official launch timeline. Implementation will depend on the development of regulatory rules and licensing approvals, a process expected to take months. That would be fast, considering that across the pond, the process of establishing a comprehensive legal framework for online UK casino and the Gambling Act 2005 being fully operational took approximately two years. That being said, one is a state, the other an entire country, so the scale is quite different.
Tribal-Only Framework Draws Industry and Regulatory Pushback
The bill advanced despite objections from the Maine Gambling Control Board, which oversees the Gambling Control Unit but would not regulate iGaming under the new law. In a letter sent to the governor last month, the board warned that the tribal-only structure could damage Maine’s existing casino industry.
“Cutting out Oxford and Hollywood Casinos entirely from offering iGaming is ill-advised and creates a monopoly that is harmful to consumers and the Maine workers employed by Oxford and Hollywood Casinos,” the board wrote. “Furthermore, removing casino games from the regulatory authority of the Gambling Control Board violates Maine law and renders the Board effectively useless.”
Several major commercial operators also opposed the bill, including FanDuel, Fanatics, and BetMGM. FanDuel’s Michael Ventre testified last year that the proposal “would not create the healthy, regulated market that we have seen in many other states.”
Maine’s two commercial casinos — Oxford Casino Hotel & Sportsbook and Hollywood Casino Bangor — were among the most vocal opponents. Churchill Downs, which operates Oxford Casino, is a member of the National Association Against iGaming, an advocacy group that claims strong public opposition to online casino expansion.
Mills Cites Tribal Sovereignty and Economic Impact
Mills’ decision marked a shift from her prior stance on gambling expansion. She has repeatedly expressed skepticism about adding new forms of gambling during her time in office. That position softened after meetings with tribal leaders.
“This fall, I met with the five elected Chiefs of the Wabanaki Nations, who each spoke passionately about the importance of this bill in offering life-changing revenue for Tribal communities, as well as providing a form of economic sovereignty for their Nations,” Mills said. “I considered this bill carefully, and while I have concerns about the impacts of gambling on public health, I believe that this new form of gambling should be regulated, and I am confident that Maine’s Gambling Control Unit will develop responsible rules and standards to hold providers of this new form of gambling accountable while ensuring that Maine’s tribes benefit from its operations.”
Mills added that it has “always been my strong desire to work with Tribal leaders to improve the lives and livelihoods of the Wabanaki Nations.”
Under the legislation, online casinos will share a portion of their gross gaming revenue with the state, with funds earmarked for problem gambling services, emergency response programs, opioid use disorder treatment, veterans’ homes, housing relief, and administrative costs.
National iGaming Debate Continues Beyond Maine
Maine’s move comes as several other states revisit online casino legislation in 2026. Lawmakers in New York and Virginia have reintroduced proposals that failed to gain traction in prior sessions. If approved, New York would create the most lucrative iGaming market in the country.
Virginia lawmakers are also renewing efforts after shelving a similar push last year. Their proposal would allow each of the state’s five licensed casinos to operate up to three mobile casino partnerships.
These efforts join ongoing discussions in Ohio, Massachusetts, and Illinois, where iGaming has faced repeated political and regulatory hurdles. While 39 states, Washington, D.C., and Puerto Rico have legalized some form of sports betting, online casino gaming has proven far more difficult to pass.
Seven states currently allow real-money iGaming, though only a handful operate competitive markets. Despite limited availability, online casino gaming generated $8.4 billion in gross gaming revenue in 2024, outpacing the profits of legal sportsbooks due to higher margins and tax rates.
That financial performance has not eased political resistance. Critics from both parties continue to describe online casinos as “a slot machine in every pocket,” citing concerns over addiction, access, and round-the-clock availability.
For now, Maine joins a small but growing group of states willing to test tribal-led iGaming models, even as similar proposals elsewhere remain stalled by familiar concerns.
