Caesars Adds Three Online Casino Brands To Maine Tribal Partnership
This positions the operator to launch iGaming in the state in 2026.
Caesars Entertainment has expanded its partnership with three of Maine's Wabanaki Nations to include online casino gaming, positioning the operator to launch iGaming in the state in 2026 once regulators sign off. The long-term agreement, announced on June 24, 2026, covers the Houlton Band of Maliseet Indians, the Mi'kmaq Nation and the Penobscot Nation, and builds on the Caesars Sportsbook the company launched in Maine in 2023.
New Online Casino Brands For Maine
Under the deal, Caesars plans to bring three online casino brands to Maine: Caesars Palace Online Casino, Caesars Sportsbook & Casino and Horseshoe Online Casino. The platforms would run on a single login and wallet through the company's Universal Digital Wallet, tying the casino product to the existing sportsbook and the Caesars Rewards loyalty program.
"As we look ahead to the launch of online casino gaming in Maine, we're proud to expand our partnership with the Houlton Band of Maliseet Indians, the Mi'kmaq Nation and the Penobscot Nation," said Eric Hession, President of Caesars Digital. He credited Governor Janet Mills, the Maine Legislature and the Maine Gambling Control Unit for their approach to gaming in the state.
A Tribal Exclusive Market
Maine's iGaming market is built on tribal exclusivity. The state's internet gaming law routes online casino rights through the Wabanaki Nations, which then partner with commercial operators such as Caesars to run the platforms.
Chief Kirk Francis of the Penobscot Nation framed the agreement as an extension of the earlier sports betting tie-up.
"Our experience working together on sports wagering has demonstrated the value of aligning with a partner that respects our sovereignty, understands our communities and is committed to long-term success for the Wabanaki Nations," Francis said.
Launch Still Depends On State Rules
A launch still depends on rules that are not yet final. The Maine Gambling Control Unit put proposed internet gaming rules out for written public comment in 2026, with comment periods closing on June 5, 2026, and July 27, 2026, and the unit has not yet posted adopted rules. Caesars said its plans, including the slot titles, table games and live dealer content it intends to offer, remain subject to regulatory approval.
The move would make Maine one of a small group of US states with legal online casino play, a market that has expanded far more slowly than online sports betting. Only a handful of states currently offer regulated iGaming, and Maine's tribal-run model is being watched as a template for how other states might open the vertical without a full commercial rollout.
What It Means For Caesars
For Caesars, the expansion deepens a relationship that began with retail and mobile sports betting and now extends to the casino product. The company, which trades on the Nasdaq as CZR, described the agreement as a long-term commitment that includes local workforce development and funding for tribal community programs.
The next milestone is the Gambling Control Unit finalizing its internet gaming rules and issuing approvals. Until then, Caesars and its three tribal partners have a signed framework but no live product.
Readers following the state can track updates through our US gambling news coverage as Maine moves toward launch.
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