Maine Passes iGaming Bill And Becomes Eighth State To Regulate
2026 US iGaming regulation has started on the front foot, as Maine Governor Janet Mills has allowed bill LD 1164 to pass into law.
The bill gives the Pine Tree State’s four legally recognized Wabanaki tribes exclusive rights to offer online casino gaming.
Maine becomes the eighth state to regulate and will be the first to introduce regulated iGaming since Rhode Island passed legislation in June 2023.
Proponents of iGaming believe it could open the floodgates and see other states follow suit, with New York and Virginia lawmakers known to be pursuing bills in their territories.
Maine Gambling
Maine has two racetracks, in Bangor and Cumberland, which are both permitted to accept sports wagering bets.
Off-track betting is permitted at a limited number of venues.
In 2003, the state authorized slot machines at horse racing tracks, and in 2022, Governor Mills signed LD 686, granting mobile sports betting rights to the state’s tribes and existing tracks.
Hopes had been high that the introduction of mobile sports betting would ultimately lead to iGaming regulation.
In June 2025, the legislation passed both houses, effectively leaving the decision to Mills, who had the option of vetoing the bill, signing it, or letting it pass without signature.
At the time, a representative for the Wabanaki Nations said the governor had little interest in passing the bill. As such, Mills was widely expected to exercise her right to veto the legislation.
However, in a statement, Mills said she had spoken to the chiefs of the tribes, who had spoken “passionately about the importance of this bill in offering life-changing revenue for Tribal communities, as well as providing a form of economic sovereignty for their Nations.”
She went on to say that she did have concerns regarding the impact of gambling on public health, but outlined her belief that, “Maine’s Gambling Control Unit will develop responsible rules and standards to hold providers of this new form of gambling accountable while ensuring that Maine’s tribes benefit from its operations.”
Meanwhile, Penobscot Chief Kirk Francis said the bill, “represents a recognition of and support for economic Tribal self-governance and self-determination."
Mi’kmaq Chief Sheila McCormack said it “will provide new and sustainable revenue that will deliver needed resources to invest in our community.”
Looking For An Online Casino? Check Out Our Latest Reviews!
Further Regulations
Later this week, the legislature will move on to discuss the question of sweepstakes casinos.
Considering the passing of regulated online casino gaming, Mills is now expected to sign a bill that would prohibit the sites.
iGaming uptake has been slower than expected across the board.
While You Are Here, Why Not Check Out Our: Casino Games Hub & Free Slots?
In 2012, Delaware was the first state to pass iGaming regulation, quickly followed by New Jersey.
Michigan, Pennsylvania, Connecticut and West Virginia also introduced similar bills before Rhode Island became the most recent state to do so.
It passed iGaming legislation in 2023 that came into force in 2024, but despite ongoing debate in states including New York and Virginia, there has been no concrete movement since then.
