There will be no answer until January 2026 to the question of whether or not Maine’s approved bill to legalize online casino will become law.
As reported by Maine Public, Gov. Janet Mills‘ office released a list of passed legislation that she will not act upon until the lawmakers reconvene in the new year for the start of the second regular session.
Maine lawmakers sent more than 100 bills to Mills’ desk on the very last day of the session in late June, and she had until July 7 to either sign or reject them. On July 8, her office listed almost 60 that she is delaying.
Among the list of dormant bills was LD 1164, the measure that would allow the state’s federally recognized Wabanaki Tribes exclusivity to expand into online casino gaming. One the legislature returns in January, Mills will have three days to veto bills, or else they will become law without her signature.
Given her past stance on expanding digital gambling, and the fact that her office and other authorities such as the Department of Health and Human Services, the Maine Gambling Control Unit (MGCU) and the Maine Gambling Control Board (MGCB) testified in opposition to the proposal, Mills is expected to veto the bill.
In a statement on the delayed bills, per local media, Mills’ office vowed that the governor will “thoroughly review all of them to evaluate their implications on Maine people, Maine businesses, and the Maine economy.”
Stop right now, thank you very much
The Passamaquoddy Tribe, Penobscot Nation, Mi’kmaq Nation and Houlton Band of Maliseet Indians already enjoy exclusive access to offer online sports betting in Maine. LD 1164 would allow them to contract with vendors to offer casino-style games online and via mobile, under a similar arrangement as is currently in place for sports wagering.
The bill was passed by the House and then hit deadlock in the Senate. It ultimately advanced with an amendment to raise the proposed tax rate from 16% to 18%, was passed again by the House, and cleared the special appropriations table.
However, while supporters such as the tribes pointed to potential revenue creation and the ability to better protect players already gambling online illegally, the Maine government was joined in opposition by numerous other parties.
By granting exclusivity to the tribes, the online casino expansion proposed under LD 1164 would exclude the state’s two commercial casino operators, PENN and Churchill Downs. Unsurprisingly, both companies opposed the bill during its progression in the legislature.
Another notable dissenter was FanDuel is one notable opponent of the bill, as it and other sportsbooks are concerned about being shut out of the market. The Wabanaki tribes currently work with only DraftKings and Caesars on online sports betting.
If Mills returns to veto the bill in January, it seems unlikely that two-thirds of lawmakers would vote to override the veto, as is necessary under state law.
