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AUGUSTA, Maine -- Maine Governor Janet Mills said on Thursday she would permit a bill granting exclusive rights to the state’s federally recognised tribes allowing Internet casino gambling to become law without her signature.
The legislation, known as LD 1164, gives the Passamaquoddy Tribe, the Penobscot Nation, the Houlton Band of Maliseet Indians and the Mi’kmaq Nation, also known as the Aroostook Band of Micmacs, the sole authority to operate online casino gaming in Maine through partnerships with licensed gaming platforms.
In theory, at least, regulated online casinos could go live after April 1 of this year.
“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 said in a statement. She added that she was confident the Maine Gambling Control Unit would develop responsible rules and standards “while ensuring that Maine’s tribes benefit from its operations.”
“It has always been my strong desire to work with Tribal leaders to improve the lives and livelihoods of the Wabanaki Nations, and it is my hope that this new revenue will do just that,” she said.
Maine will join seven other US states that already regulated iGaming. These include Connecticut, Delaware, Michigan, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, and West Virginia.
Maine already regulates sports betting online through tribal partnerships.
Maine reports sports betting figures monthly with the most recent total handle (amount wagered) coming in at $533.7 million in 2025 through November. Total Gross Gaming Revenue (GGR) was reported at $61.3 million through the month of November.
The tax revenue generated alone during the month of 2025 came in at around $5.1 M. That figure is already within or slightly above the earlier $3.8 M–$6 M projection for an entire year.
- Aaron Goldstein, Gambling911.com
