The bill, LD 1164, would grant the state’s four federally recognized tribes —the Penobscot Nation, Passamaquoddy Tribe, Maliseet Nation, and Mi’kmaq Nation —a monopoly over iGaming, similar to the current sports betting model in the state.

Each tribe would receive one license and could partner with a third-party operator. The tribes currently work with DraftKings and Caesars Entertainment for sports betting, meaning these partnerships are likely to expand to iGaming as well.

The proposed tax rate on iGaming revenue is 18%.

A Complicated Legislative Journey

The Senate passed the proposed legislation on June 25, one week after the House, sending the measure to the governor’s desk.

The bill’s path was anything but ordinary. Lawmakers initially tabled it in April. However, the House resurrected it and passed it in a special legislative session in June. The Senate then also advanced the measure as “to be engrossed as amended.”

That typically signals a bill is on track for passage. However, because the Senate advanced it without a majority roll-call vote, LD 1164 proceeded directly to the enactment stage.

The House enacted it straight away, but the Senate placed it on the Special Appropriations Table. The Senate’s decision effectively paused the progress until the state’s budget-writing committee approved further action.

After a week sitting on the Special Appropriations Table, the bill was removed, and the Senate ultimately passed it.

Still, even though the legislature passed it, speculations started circulating that the governor might veto it. She had not commented on it, but Mills has a history of vetoing gambling bills. Previous vetoes include a sports betting proposal in 2020 and a tribal retail casino bill in 2021.

Additionally, the governor’s administration, including the Maine Department of Health and Human Services and Maine Gambling Control Board Chair Steve Silver, testified against the bill in committee. They raised concerns about gambling addiction and job losses in the retail sector.

Mills Decides To Delay Bill Until 2026

In Maine, once both legislative chambers pass a bill and present it to the Governor, she has 10 days (excluding Sundays) to either sign it or veto it. The Governor can also allow it to become a law without a signature. However, that’s only if the Legislature is still in session.

If the Legislature has adjourned (as is the case now), Mills’s inaction results in a “pocket veto”, and the bill does not become law.

The 10-day deadline for LD 1164 expired on July 7. On the following day, the governor’s office released a list of 60 bills, including the iGaming bill, on which Mills has decided not to take any action.

That inaction effectively kills the bill for 2025. Still, the good news for Maine gamblers is that it does not entirely end its prospects. Under Maine law, LD 1164 will be held over to the next legislative session. Lawmakers will reconvene in January 2026.

Once the Legislature reconvenes in January 2026, the governor will have three days to sign, veto, or take no action on the bill. If she fails to act again, the bill will automatically become law.

The post Maine’s Online Casino Bill Now Pushed to 2026 as Governor Fails to Act appeared first on CasinoBeats.

Maine Online Casino Bill Clears Legislature

The path of LD 1164 has been anything but straightforward. After its introduction in March, it appeared dead when a House Committee tabled it in April.

Then, at the beginning of June, during the Maine Legislature’s special session, the House resurrected it. The chamber amended the tax rate from 16% to 18% and ultimately passed the proposal.

Less than a week later, in a day filled with procedural confusion, political maneuvering, and legislative theatrics, the Senate passed the measure as “to be engrossed as amended.”

Under normal circumstances, as both chambers engrossed LD 1164, it would mean that the bill is on track for passage. However, the Senate advanced it without a majority roll-call vote, deferring the final decision to the enactment stage.

The House quickly enacted the bill. However, on a motion by Sen. Peggy Rotundo, the Senate placed it on the Special Appropriations Table.

The Senate’s decision effectively paused the progress until the state’s budget-writing committee approved further action. Rotundo, the committee chair, played a pivotal role in the earlier drama.

The Senator abstained from the vote to pass the bill, meaning it failed by one vote. Still, she voted against a separate motion to reject it, keeping it alive.

After a week, Rotundo moved to take LD 1164 off the Special Appropriations Table. The Senate then voted to pass it to be enacted in concurrence with the House.

Why is a Gubernatorial Veto Possible?

While it received support from both chambers, LD 1164 faces its most formidable challenge yet: a potential veto by Gov. Mills.

The governor has not indicated or publicly commented on her intentions. Still, representatives of the native tribes that will control the iGaming licenses believe that there’s little interest from the governor to legalize online casinos.

One possible reason for hesitation is the strong opposition by government officials, civic groups, and industry stakeholders.

In a testimony, the Maine Department of Health and Human Services expressed concerns about addiction and 24/7 access to casino games.

Maine Gambling Control Board Chair Steve Silver echoed addiction concerns. He stated that iGaming legalization will result in job losses for the retail sector, which will cut revenue for education and other causes.

Meanwhile, the Christian Civic League of Maine warned that iGaming could prey on vulnerable populations, including young adults and individuals facing financial hardship.

In an unusual twist, several iGaming operators, including FanDuel, BetMGM, and Fanatics, also testified against LD 1164. Their concern is that they will likely be left out.

The native tribes have currently partnered with DraftKings and Caesars, and these partnerships are likely to extend to iGaming as well.

Governor Mills’ track record also signals a potential veto. She has previously vetoed gambling bills. Those include a sports betting proposal in 2020 and a tribal retail casino bill in 2021. While she signed the sports betting bill in 2022, that came after months of negotiations and compromise.

If Mills does veto the proposal, a legislative override is unlikely. That’s because it would need a two-thirds vote in both chambers, which is doubtful, given the lack of clear support in the Senate.

The post Online Casino Bill Clears Maine Senate, But Governor Mills May Veto LD 1164 appeared first on CasinoBeats.