The Maine online gambling bill has encountered a setback in the state assembly, failing to secure approval from both the House and the Senate.
The legislation initially failed in the House on April 9th, but was forwarded to the Senate nonetheless, an unusual occurrence. However, the Senate also dismissed the proposal the following day, deciding to postpone it, implying they could reconsider it before the end of the legislative term.
The future of the Maine online gambling bill is now uncertain, marking the second unsuccessful attempt to legalize online casinos in state legislatures this week. Maryland’s legislative session concluded on April 8th without legalizing it. Maine’s session is scheduled to conclude on April 17th.
The bill faced a double setback in the Maine legislature, first being voted down 71-74, and then the Senate rejecting it a day later by a vote of 14-20. Ultimately, the Senate shelved the bill on April 10th by a vote of 27-7.
In May 2022, Maine lawmakers passed a legal sports wagering bill that granted a monopoly to four indigenous groups in the state. While the tribes did not seek legal sports betting, lawmakers were pushing a bill to create an open competitive market through the legislature. However, Governor Janet Mills sought to extend a gesture of goodwill to the four Wabanaki tribes, who do not have the same level of federal recognition as most other tribes in the nation. There has been a long-standing conflict between the state and the tribes.
At present, only seven states offer online gaming services.
As part of the deal, the tribal group has the authority to provide online gambling venues in Maine. However, legislators need to create a structure for this, and making online casinos legal has been a difficult task. To date, only seven states in the US have taken this step.
The proposed legislation would prevent the state’s two physical casinos (managed by Churchill Downs and Penn Entertainment) from offering online gambling. Under the sports betting law, these two companies are also prohibited from providing digital sports betting services. Both companies expressed opposition to the recent online casino legislation.
The bill would establish a $200,000 licensing fee and a 10% tax rate.
“I don’t believe it’s the appropriate course of action,” stated one legislator, reflecting the concerns of many in Maine and other states grappling with the idea of making a range of casino games readily available to every resident.
Republican Senator Jeff Timberlake cast his vote against online gambling in Maine.
“Essentially, it’s suggesting that individuals can stay at home all day and engage in slot machine games on their computers, and I don’t think that’s the right approach,” he stated to Maine Public Broadcasting. “This represents a significant expansion of gambling within Maine.”
Sign up for the iGaming Newsletter