Maine's Legalized IGaming Bill Faces Last Major Obstacle
Maine inched closer to legislating online gambling establishment video gaming, however a significant challenge stays.
- LD 1164 requires an 18% tax on online gambling establishment gaming operators.
- Gov. Janet Mills might ban the expense, likely ending Maine's chances of legislating iGaming this year.
- The proposition took a winding political road to reach the special appropriations table.
The state's Senate, accepting the House, put approved LD 1164, an iGaming expense, on the "unique appropriations table" Wednesday. The proposal is among 100 bills headed to Gov. Janet Mills' desk, the Maine Morning Star reported. Mills has 10 days to sign and enact the iGaming measure.
However, Mills might veto the bill, and the legislature, which currently adjourned, would likely not bypass it this year. While she hasn't spoken openly about the legislation, Mills hasn't preferred other gaming efforts. She shot down two sports wagering efforts before reaching a compromise to allow legal sportsbooks to operate in 2022.
There is currently kept in mind opposition to the proposal. The Maine Department of Health and Human Services and the Gambling Control Board Chair testified versus the bill, using issues about problem gambling and economic effects to in-person gambling establishments. In a state where DraftKings and Caesars operate online sports wagering through tribal partnerships, FanDuel, Fanatics, and BetMGM likewise refuted the law.
Creating 'economic opportunity'
LD 1164 is "an act to create economic opportunity for the Wabanaki Nations through web gaming." Four licenses would go to the Passamaquoddy Tribe, Penobscot Nation, Mi'kmaq Nation, and Houlton Band of Maliseet Indians. The people would then partner with iGaming operators.
DraftKings and Caesars both operate online gambling establishments in other U.S. jurisdictions, making them most likely candidates to benefit right away from legal iGaming in Maine.
Online casino business would pay the state an 18% tax rate on their adjusted gaming . That would produce an approximated $1.8 million in Year 1 and $3.6 million in fiscal year 2026-2027, according to a financial note included to the expense.
Maine's online sports betting operators produced over $93.7 million in earnings from more than $835 million in bets given that 2023. The Pine Tree State filled its coffers with over $9 million from the 10% tax rate on sportsbooks.
Windy roadway
Getting LD 1164 to Mills' desk wasn't simple. The House committee killed the costs in April, however it was reanimated during June's unique session, when it was changed to increase the tax rate from 16% to 18%.
After passing the House, the Senate pushed it through without a majority vote, leaving your house to enact it. Sen. Peggy Rotundo motioned to position the step on the special appropriations table, stalling it while lawmakers were still writing the state budget.
Rotundo abstained from voting on passing the proposal, leaving it to fail by one vote, before keeping it alive by voting versus a motion to reject the expense. After Rotundo removed it from the unique appropriations table, the Senate finally passed it and moved it along.