LD 1164, the bill that legalizes online casino gaming in Maine and grants exclusive rights to the Wabanaki nations, passed the state Senate following House approval.
Sponsored by Rep. Ambureen Rana, LD 1164 passed the House with an 85-59 vote and narrowly advanced in the Senate by 18-17 after an earlier delay.
What are the Main Provisions of LD 1164?
LD 1164 would allow the Penobscot Nation, Passamaquoddy Tribe, Maliseet Nation, and Mi’kmaq Nation – members of the Wabanaki Confederacy – to each receive one operator license. These licenses would let them partner with commercial companies to offer real-money online casino games, including online slot games, poker, blackjack, and roulette.
This model mirrors Maine’s current approach to online sports betting, where Wabanaki tribes hold exclusive rights and work with operators like DraftKings and Caesars. Both sportsbooks strongly supported LD 1164 early on, aligning with their tribal partners to promote the expansion of online casino games.
However, Maine’s two commercial casino operators, PENN Entertainment and Churchill Downs, opposed the bill. They argued that granting tribes exclusive control of online gaming could harm physical casino revenue and reduce fair market competition. These same operators helped defeat a similar iGaming proposal last year.
Development of LD 1164
Earlier this month, Maine’s tribal online casino bill (LD 1164) passed in the House and moved to the Senate. Days later, the Senate debated whether to set the iGaming tax rate at 16% or 18% before ultimately approving the bill. Projections suggest this tax could bring in around $3.6 million annually for Maine.
The bill also responds to long-standing tribal efforts to expand gaming rights. Supporters argue that offering online casino games would boost tribal self-sufficiency and provide increased funding for their communities. Estimates indicate that the Wabanaki Nations and their partners could earn up to $18.9 million each year through iGaming.
Currently, the Wabanaki Nations cannot operate physical casinos but do hold exclusive rights to online sports betting in the state. That said, Gov. Janet Mills has not yet commented on LD 1164, though she has previously expressed concerns about gambling expansion.
