Maine has begun the regulatory process for its online casino market, although licensed platforms are unlikely to begin accepting wagers for several months.
The state legalised internet gaming in January after Governor Janet Mills allowed LD 1164 to become law without her signature. The legislation grants exclusive operating rights to Maine’s four federally recognised Wabanaki Nations.
The Maine Gambling Control Unit has published proposed regulations covering internet gaming and scheduled a public hearing for July 15th. Written comments on the latest draft will be accepted until July 27th, after which regulators must finalise the rules and process licence applications.
No online casino has yet been authorised to launch.
Three of the four eligible tribes have already selected Caesars Entertainment as their platform partner. The Houlton Band of Maliseet Indians, Mi’kmaq Nation and Penobscot Nation expanded their existing sports betting agreements with Caesars in June to include online casino gaming.
The partnership is expected to support Caesars Palace Online Casino and Horseshoe products under tribal licences once regulatory approval is secured. Caesars said at the time that a launch during 2026 remained possible, although it was dependent on completion of the state process.
The Passamaquoddy Tribe has not publicly announced an online casino partner.
Maine’s model limits the market to four tribal licences, with each nation permitted to appoint a management services provider. That structure is being challenged in federal court by Oxford Casino, owned by Churchill Downs. The casino argues that granting exclusive rights to the Wabanaki Nations creates an unconstitutional monopoly and excludes existing commercial gaming businesses from the market. Maine’s tribes have intervened to defend the legislation. This legal challenge has not produced an injunction, allowing rulemaking and platform preparations to continue.
Maine therefore has a legal online casino framework and several commercial partnerships in place, but the timing of the first wagers will depend on regulatory approval and the progress of the court case.
