Maine: Legislators to consider iGaming bill during special session

This would allow the Wabanaki Nations to provide online gaming to players in Maine if passed.

Lawmakers in Maine recently introduced a bill that could create economic opportunity for the Wabanaki Nations through online gaming.

State lawmakers are currently in a special legislative session, which is scheduled to wrap up on June 18.

House Bill 1164, which was brought before the legislature by Rep. Ambureen Rana, would legalize iGaming statewide through the state’s four federally recognized Tribes. If passed, the Wabanaki Nations could form exclusive partnerships with the state to provide their online casino content.

Under this bill, each Tribe would be granted a license and would be permitted to partner with one operator.

The bill also would establish a 16% tax rate for online casino revenue. The state’s Gambling Control Unit, which also regulates statewide sports betting, would also oversee online gaming under the terms of this bill.

Throughout the past several months, online gaming has remained a topic of controversy in several states and throughout the country at large. 

To date, online gaming is legal in some form in seven US states, although some of those have limited access, such as online poker only. 

States with legal iGaming access include Pennsylvania, Delaware, Michigan, New Jersey, Rhode Island, West Virginia and Connecticut. 

Other states have attempted to introduce iGaming, including Indiana. However, Hoosier gamblers will have to wait beyond this year’s legislative session for another chance at legalized iGaming.

Indiana House Speaker Todd Huston said this week that proposed legislation to bring legal online gambling and online lottery games to Indiana “won’t move forward this legislative session,” according to an Indiana Capital Chronicle news report.

He told local news that House Bill 1432 was complex and has “a lot of different moving parts.”

Huston further commented, “And I think, you know, just trying to find something there was some consensus on, felt like it was a pretty tough spot to be.”

Laura Mack

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