Online poker became legal in Maine in January 2026, after Governor Janet Mills allowed the state’s iGaming bill to become law without her signature. The decision made Maine the ninth U.S. state to legalize online poker, joining Nevada, New Jersey, Delaware, Pennsylvania, Michigan, West Virginia, Connecticut, and Rhode Island.

While the new law establishes the legal foundation for real‑money poker, the regulatory work is still underway. The Maine Gambling Control Unit must finalize detailed rules governing licensing, responsible‑gaming standards, technical requirements, and player‑fund protection before operators such as BetRivers Poker, WSOP, and BetMGM Poker can even apply for licenses.

This guide walks you through everything players need to know — from the legalization timeline and regulatory process to upcoming site launches and safe ways to play while Maine completes its rule‑making phase.

Can I Play Online Poker in Maine?

While online poker may now be legal in Maine, you can’t play it just yet. The reason is simple: no online poker operator has launched in Maine.

Under the terms of the new igaming bill, the state’s four Native American tribes will have one igaming license each. The licenses will be used to form partnerships with existing igaming brands to launch their products in Maine, but it is not yet clear which operators those will be.

As of early 2026, online poker in Maine is legal, but not yet live. All igaming will be regulated by the Gambling Control Unit, while the Maine Gambling Control Board will remain in charge of regulating the state’s two commercial casinos, which have been left out of LD 1164.

[ME Poker Key Facts]

What About Sweepstakes Poker in Maine?

On June 9, 2025, just days before LD 1164 was originally passed, the Gambling Control Unit issued a statement classifying sweepstakes poker and casino sites as unlicensed and illegal online gambling platforms.

The warning sparked a response from the Social and Promotional Games Association (SPGA), which reiterated its position that sweepstakes sites in Maine are operating within the US sweepstakes laws and are legal as such.

Sweepstakes poker platforms have been under attack in many parts of the country in recent months, and have even been forced to shut down in a few. Sweepstakes poker still remains available in Maine, pending further changes.

Projected Online Poker Operators to Watch

Now that igaming is legal in Maine, it remains to be seen which operators will partner up with the Native American tribes in Maine and launch their products.

Furthermore, it is unclear if the operators will choose to launch their online poker platforms in the state, as they may face obstacles in doing so.

The state’s limited population of 1.4 million makes it unlikely that a vibrant online poker market could exist locally, which means operators may wait until the state potentially joins the Multi-State Internet iGaming Agreement (MSIGA) before launching.

Given the existing partnership, the interest shown by operators, and the availability of only four igaming licenses, here is a look at the US online poker operators most likely to launch in Maine in the near future.

Caesars: Existing Partnership and Poker Platform

Caesars seems to be the most likely candidate to launch the first online poker platform in Maine. The operator already has an existing partnership with the Passamaquoddy, Penobscot, Maliseet, and Micmac tribes, and runs a successful sports betting business through this relationship.

Caesars operates the WSOP Online brand in states like Nevada, Michigan, Pennsylvania, and New Jersey, making it one of the largest shared liquidity poker networks in the US.

The recent acquisition of the WSOP brand by the parent company of GGPoker has somewhat limited WSOP Online’s ability to expand in the US, due to licensing terms, which leaves any Maine online poker launch in question.

All things considered, Caesars may seek to launch WSOP Online in Maine when and if the state joins MSIGA, although it has not yet done so in West Virginia, despite the state joining the Compact.

Rush Street Interactive: A Likely Online Poker Candidate

Rush Street Interactive (RSI) has been aggressively rolling out its BetRivers Poker brand, as BetRivers Poker launched across four states within a single year, quickly creating one of the most robust online poker networks in the US.

Moreover, RSI seems to be truly interested in bringing online poker to the “smaller” states, as it is the only one to launch online poker in West Virginia so far and the operator that brought online poker back to Delaware.

The big obstacle for RSI will be in obtaining one of the four Maine igaming licenses, as two are likely already spoken for, and the other two may go to the larger competitors with a bigger focus on online casino.

If RSI can form a Maine partnership, however, it is very likely that BetRivers would launch in the state in a relatively short timeframe. Should the state join MSIGA, this would be a quick way for Maine players to join a multi-state player pool through the existing BetRivers Poker network.

FanDuel: A Potential Online Poker Launch

In the buildup to the igaming regulation in Maine, FanDuel was one of the operators that vocally opposed LD 1164, as the operator believed the bill to be too restrictive.

Now that igaming is legal in Maine, however, FanDuel is one of the likely candidates to seek a partnership with one of Maine’s tribes. Two of the licenses are likely to go to Caesars and DraftKings, who already have strong partnerships related to sports betting deals, and FanDuel may seek to snatch up one of the other two.

FanDuel does not currently have an online poker platform of its own, but is part of the greater Flutter Entertainment family, which runs the PokerStars US brand.

It has long been suspected that FanDuel may take over Flutter’s online poker business in the US, and if this were to happen, a FanDuel Poker platform may launch in Maine as part of Flutter’s US online poker expansion.

US Online Poker States with Legal Online Poker

Could Maine Join MSIGA

The success of online poker in Maine may hinge on the state entering MSIGA, the multi-state online poker compact that has allowed online poker to thrive in states like New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Michigan, and, importantly, West Virginia.

With a population similar to that of WV, Maine is unlikely to create a standalone player pool that allows for a vibrant and steady online poker economy. Maine players would benefit greatly from the state joining MSIGA, but it remains unclear if that’s even possible.

LD 1164 does not mention multi-state online gaming at all. The lack of such language could mean that further bills will be necessary for the state to be able to join MSIGA.

For example, the state of Michigan had to pass a special bill in 2020 to pave the way for interstate poker, as the original bill also didn’t include the appropriate language.

Such language being left out of the bill could simply have been an oversight, and one that could be easily fixed by passing a special bill.

On the other hand, US igaming attorney Jeff Ifrah spoke to Poker Industry PRO and implied that additional regulation may not be required, and that the state could simply enter the MSIGA.

What’s Next for Regulated Poker in Maine?

First things first for online poker in Maine. Over the coming months, igaming operators will need to apply for and obtain gaming licenses in partnership with one of the four Wabanaki Nations.

Only once they have obtained gaming licenses will igaming operators like Caesars, DraftKings, FanDuel, and others be able to launch any products within Maine.

With only four licenses up for grabs, some of the potential applicants may be left out, while others may choose not to compete in the first place.

Once the licenses are distributed, it will be down to the operators to decide if launching an online poker platform in Maine is a venture worth pursuing, considering the state’s limited population.

It is likely that operators would only be interested in launching Maine poker products if and when the state joins MSIGA, which would allow local players to play within a multistate player pool, guaranteeing continued liquidity.

Why Poker Matters for Maine’s Tribes

Maine’s internet gaming bill LD 1164 is titled “An Act to Create Economic Opportunity for the Wabanaki Nations Through Internet Gaming.” As such, it gives the Wabanaki Nations full control over igaming in the state of Maine, as its four tribes will be made the sole holders of igaming licenses.

The four tribes in question are the Passamaquoddy, Penobscot, Maliseet, and Micmac tribes, all of whom already have existing relationships with igaming operators like DraftKings and Caesars, related to their sports betting products.

The Wabanaki Nations will now get to choose which operators to partner up with for the launch of igaming products, which may include online poker.

The decisions made in the coming months may shape the future of online poker in Maine, as companies like Rush Street Interactive and Caesars may be more interested in and capable of launching online poker platforms than the likes of DraftKings or FanDuel.

FAQ

Is online poker legal in Maine?

As of January 2026, online poker in Maine has become legal, as an igaming bill legalizing it passed into law. This allows operators to apply for one of the four igaming licenses available in the state, and launch online poker products under those licenses.

Can I play real money online poker in Maine?

While online poker is legal in Maine, there are no active Maine online poker sites just yet. Poker operators may launch their platforms in Maine once igaming licenses have been distributed.

Does Maine share a poker player pool with other states?

No, Maine does not share its player pool with other states, as it is not yet a signatory of MSIGA, the only existing multi-state online poker compact in the US. Maine may enter MSIGA at a later point, which would allow its operators to share the player pool across state borders.

Are there any Maine online poker apps available?

There are currently no online poker apps available in Maine, as the state’s igaming licenses have not yet been distributed. Once they are, operators may choose to launch legal Maine online poker products.

Do I have to pay taxes on online poker winnings in Maine?

Once it is live, you will have to pay all applicable federal and state taxes on online poker winnings in Maine. Taxation rules are delicate, so we recommend consulting a tax professional before you file your taxes.