Maine Tribes Seek Exclusive Online Casino Rights Amid Opposition

Leaders of Maine’s Wabanaki Nations are advocating for the expansion of legal online gamblingto include casino-style games. They argue that legalizing online casino gaming under their exclusive control would redirect illicit gambling revenue toward essential tribal programs and state funding.

Tribes Push for Online Casino Expansion

On Monday, the Veterans and Legal Affairs Committee heard testimony on a bill that would grant the Wabanaki Nations sole authority over online casino gaming in Maine. The tribes currently hold exclusive rights to online sports betting, which launched in 2023.

amaquoddy Chief William Nicholas emphasized that additional revenue from games like online blackjack and craps could help alleviate financial strain at both the tribal and state levels.

“It helps us address housing needs, health disparities, elderly needs, things that are funded solely by the tribe,” Nicholas stated.

In February, the amaquoddy Tribe’s partnership with DraftKings generated over $35 million in wagers. After payouts, the tribe’s adjusted gross receipts totaled approximately $4.7 million, according to the Maine Gambling Control Unit. Nicholas contends that millions more are being spent on illegal online gambling, which could instead be redirected toward state revenue. “Those revenues should be benefiting Mainers,” he said.

The proposal has drawn strong opposition from Maine’s two licensed casinos: Oxford Casino and Hollywood Casino in Bangor. Dan Walker, a representative for Oxford Casino’s owner, Churchill Downs, expressed concerns about job losses, stating, “This bill would create a gaming monopoly for the Wabanaki Nations with little economic benefit to Maine.”

Hollywood Casino’s spokesman, Chris Jackson, argued that the bill represents the state’s largest gaming expansion without voter approval. He warned that Maine’s tribal partners would likely be out-of-state operators with no direct investment in local communities. “age of this bill, to be clear, would constitute the greatest single expansion of gaming in our state’s history without the vote of the people of Maine,” Jackson said.

Maine Gambling Control Board Chair Steve Silver also opposed the measure, asserting that the proposal byes existing regulatory structures. He stated that placing online casino oversight solely under the director of the Gambling Control Unit would undermine the Board’s authority, which currently governs table games and slot machines at the state’s two casinos.

Lawmaker and Public Health Concerns

Several lawmakers have expressed skepticism over this legislation, fearing that online casino gaming could exacerbate gambling addiction. Republican Sen. Jeff Timberlake likened internet gambling to purchasing a “case of whiskey,” arguing that there are fewer safeguards compared to in-person casinos, where staff can intervene when necessary.

The Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention echoed concerns about problem gambling. Director Dr. Puthiery Va urged legislators to assess the long-term effects of online sports betting before expanding gambling further, warning that mobile gambling could lead to increased addiction and financial hardship.

While DraftKings and Caesars, the current sportsbook operators in Maine, the proposal, other industry players have urged lawmakers to revise the bill to allow broader market participation. FanDuel, BetMGM, and Fanatics opposed the legislation, citing concerns that it would limit consumer choice. “One operator currently has around 90% of the entirety of the state’s market share,” FanDuel’s Michael Ventre noted, arguing that the lack of competition could push players toward unregulated gambling options.

A committee vote on the bill is expected in the coming weeks.

Source:

‘’Maine lawmakers re-fire tribal online casino bill’’, sbcamericas.com, April 01, 2025.