- Governor Janet Mills is expected to veto the bill despite legislative approval.
- The bill gives exclusive igaming rights to Maine’s four federally recognized tribes.
- Commercial casinos like Hollywood Casino Bangor and Oxford Casino Hotel are excluded.
- Lack of multi-state poker compact limits player pool and discourages operator interest.
- Only WSOP Online and DraftKings’ Electric Poker could potentially launch under the bill.
Regulated online poker and online casino gaming in Maine is just one step away from becoming law, with the bill now awaiting action from Governor Janet Mills.
If enacted, Maine would become the eighth state to legalize online casino and the ninth with legalized online poker.
But don’t get your hopes up yet—Governor Mills is widely expected to veto the bill.
Even in the unlikely event she signs it, the legislation lacks any provision for multi-state poker compacts, meaning online poker in Maine would be restricted to in-state players. Given Maine’s small population and limited market potential, operators are unlikely to launch online poker under the current conditions.
The bill, LD 1664, introduced in March, proposes to legalize online casino and poker in Maine, granting exclusive rights to the state’s four federally recognized tribes, effectively giving them a monopoly over igaming, similar to the current model for sports betting.
The four tribes—the Houlton Band of Maliseet Indians, Mi’kmaq Nation, Passamaquoddy Tribe, and Penobscot Nation—would each be allowed to partner with a single platform provider. These tribes currently work with DraftKings and Caesars Entertainment for sports wagering.
Excluded from the bill are the state’s two commercial casino operators: Penn Entertainment, which runs Hollywood Casino Bangor, and Churchill Downs, which operates Oxford Casino Hotel.
The bill designates the Gambling Control Unit (GCU) within the Department of Public Safety as the regulatory authority and stipulates that 18% of adjusted gross igaming revenue will go to the GCU. According to state estimates, Maine could collect approximately $1.8 million in revenue in the first year, rising to $3.6 million by fiscal year 2026–27.
However, the legislation does not include provisions for Maine to join an interstate online poker compact, such as the Multi-State Internet Gaming Agreement (MSIGA), which currently includes Delaware, Nevada, New Jersey, Michigan, West Virginia, and Pennsylvania.
Given Maine’s relatively small population, access to a larger player pool through MSIGA is considered essential for online poker to succeed in the state. Meanwhile, other states that introduced igaming bills this year have included explicit language permitting cross-border play.
All Eyes on Governor Mills
Although LD 1664 passed both chambers of the Maine Legislature, it now faces one final hurdle: approval from Governor Janet Mills. With the bill on her desk, the Governor has two options:
- Sign the bill into law
- Veto it
Under Maine law, she has 10 days (excluding Sundays) to take action. If she does nothing and the legislature is still in session, the bill becomes law without her signature. However, since the legislature adjourned sine die on June 25, the bill cannot become law by inaction. In this case, a lack of action results in a pocket veto.
While Governor Mills has not made a public statement about her intentions, her office has said only that it is “monitoring” the bill. Meanwhile, tribal leaders suggest the Governor has shown little interest in advancing the legislation.
Speculation is growing that Mills may ultimately veto the bill, given her longstanding reluctance toward gambling expansion. In fact, she previously vetoed a similar measure in June 2021 that would have allowed the tribes to operate casinos on their lands.
In short, without the Governor’s signature, LD 1664 is unlikely to become law, despite legislative approval.
Limited Prospects for Online Poker in Maine
Even if Governor Mills were to sign the bill, which remains unlikely, Maine’s online poker market would remain extremely limited. Realistically, only two operators would be in a position to launch under the proposed framework.
One of them is WSOP Online. Caesars Sportsbook is already live in the state through partnerships with the Houlton Band of Maliseet Indians, the Mi’kmaq Nation, and the Penobscot Nation. Since Caesars owns WSOP and runs is US online poker platform, it could, in theory, extend its offering to Maine. However, a launch appears improbable, as the bill lacks any language allowing the state to join interstate poker compacts.
The other possible operator is DraftKings. While it does not offer a full-fledged online poker platform, it does operate Electric Poker, a lottery-style sit and go product similar to PokerStars’ Spin & Go or WSOP’s BLAST. Because this format does not rely much on shared liquidity, DraftKings could potentially launch Electric Poker in Maine under the current bill.
As it stands, the bill is not a strong long-term solution for regulated online poker in the state. For the market to be viable, the legislation would need to authorize Maine to join interstate compacts such as MSIGA, allowing for a larger player pool. Additionally, opening the market to commercial operators would be necessary to attract major platforms like BetMGM, PokerStars, or the newly launched BetRivers Poker.
In short, even in the unlikely event of a signature, this bill does little to move the needle for online poker in Maine.
