RSI’s BetRivers eyes Maine online casino market following tribal iGaming legalization
With Maine legalizing online casinos under a tribal partnership model, Rush Street Interactive’s BetRivers aims to seek a partner and pursue licensure, citing strong iCasino growth and tribal collaboration history.
As Maine moves forward with legal online casino gaming, making it the eighth U.S. state to adopt regulated iGaming, major operators are positioning themselves to enter the nascent market. Among them, Rush Street Interactive’s (RSI) BetRivers brand is actively exploring opportunities to partner with one of Maine’s Wabanaki tribes under the state’s exclusive tribal-partnership structure.
Maine’s online casino framework, authorized under Legislative Document 1164, grants the state’s four federally recognized Wabanaki Nations exclusive rights to operate iGaming.
Each tribe may team up with a third-party operator to launch a mobile online casino platform once regulations are finalized.
Why BetRivers Sees Maine as an Opportunity
At the 28th Annual ICR Conference in Orlando, RSI President and CFO Kyle Sauers signaled strong interest in the Maine launch. Sauers described the state, despite its relatively modest population, as a “great opportunity” for BetRivers, particularly given the tribal partnership model and a competitive tax rate that could benefit operators.
RSI’s online casino experience spans several major U.S. iGaming markets, including Michigan, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and West Virginia.
Additionally, BetRivers holds a unique position as the sole licensed online casino operator in Delaware, entering the market through a partnership agreement in 2023. In many of those markets, RSI achieved profitability by its fourth full quarter of operation, underscoring its commercial strength.
Sauers also pointed to RSI’s track record of successful tribal partnerships in other states, something he believes could be a competitive differentiator in Maine, where tribal co-ventures are central to the iGaming rollout.
Maine’s Online Casino Landscape Takes Shape
Maine’s online casino legalization was cleared when Governor Janet Mills allowed LD 1164 to become law without a veto, paving the way for real-money online slots, table games, and poker to be offered statewide under tribal controls.
The new market will be regulated by the Maine Gambling Control Unit, with launch timelines and rules expected to be finalized throughout 2026.
The state’s model mirrors its existing tribal sports betting partnerships, which allow tribes to collaborate with third-party operators like DraftKings and Caesars for regulated online wagering.
Industry observers expect that several big iGaming brands, including Caesars, DraftKings, FanDuel, BetMGM, and others, could emerge as license contenders as tribes evaluate partners.
The limited number of tribal slots for partners makes Maine a competitive new frontier, especially as operators look to expand beyond more saturated markets.
Strategic Fit for RSI and Tribal Partners
Sauers highlighted not only the performance under the BetRivers banner but also RSI’s commitment to collaborative tribal engagement as reasons the operator could thrive in Maine.
He contrasted this approach with some competitors who have, at times, resisted tribal-exclusive frameworks in other jurisdictions.
The tribal sovereignty-based model is seen as a way to anchor economic benefits within Maine’s tribal communities while expanding digital gaming access statewide. With relatively low iGaming tax rates and a regulatory path established, operators like BetRivers stand to benefit if they secure tribal alliances and regulatory approval.
A Competitive New iGaming Frontier in the Northeast
Maine’s move to legalize online casinos under tribal partnerships has quickly drawn attention from major iGaming operators, including RSI’s BetRivers.
With regulatory groundwork underway and tribes preparing to select partners, BetRivers is positioning itself as a viable contender for licensure, leveraging its tribal collaboration experience and proven online casino performance in other states.
As Maine’s iGaming market evolves through 2026, the tribal partner selection process and the competitive race among prominent operators will shape how quickly and widely online casinos are adopted in the Pine Tree State, potentially creating a dynamic new segment of the northeastern gaming landscape.
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