Maine could launch its regulated online casino market in the first quarter of 2027, Gambling Control Unit Executive Director Milt Champion said, citing pending regulatory reviews and preparations for operator licensing. The timeline remains provisional, with further changes to the proposed rules potentially delaying the launch.
Governor Janet Mills allowed legislation LD 1164 to become law without her signature in January, making Maine the eighth US state to legalize online casino gambling. The state would join Connecticut, Delaware, Michigan, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island and West Virginia.
Champion considers a launch before the end of 2026 unlikely. Maine legalized sports betting in May 2022, but its market did not open until November 2023. “As with sports wagering, iGaming is new, and the rulemaking process has followed in the same lengthy fashion as with sports wagering,” Champion said according to SBC Americas.
Regulatory Review Could Push Back Launch
The Gambling Control Unit published its third version of the proposed iGaming regulations on September 30. The 15-chapter document covers licensing, player accounts, gaming systems, advertising and responsible gambling. Public comments are due by 11:59 p.m. on October 30. No public hearing has been scheduled for this consultation period.
If feedback does not prompt substantial changes, the proposed rules will go to the Office of the Attorney General for a legality review. The office has up to 120 days to complete its assessment, although it may finish sooner. Significant amendments could require a fourth publication of the rules, followed by another opportunity for public comment. That would postpone the legal review and potentially delay final adoption.
The agency must also recruit six employees, train staff and establish an online licensing portal with a supporting database. Operators can prepare application documents in advance, but formal submissions must wait until the system becomes available.
The proposal allows the agency director to issue temporary licenses for up to one year or until a final decision on an application, whichever comes first. Applicants would need to pay the required fees, provide a recent system audit and demonstrate that they hold a comparable valid gaming license in another US state. Regulators have not confirmed whether temporary licenses will be used at launch.
Tribal Partnerships and Operating Rules
Maine’s framework reserves online casino rights for the four federally recognized Wabanaki tribal nations. Three have expanded their existing sports betting relationships with Caesars Entertainment to include iGaming: the Penobscot Nation, the Mi’kmaq Nation and the Houlton Band of Maliseet Indians.
The Passamaquoddy Tribe, which partners with DraftKings for sports betting, has not announced an online casino agreement. Caesars’ online casino brands and a potential DraftKings Casino offering could enter the market through these tribal relationships.
The proposed rules allow approved live-dealer studios to operate outside Maine, giving tribal operators more flexibility over game production. However, the main server that receives and stores live-dealer wagers must remain inside the state. Game engines, random number generators and other supporting systems may be located elsewhere.
Studios must meet security requirements, including continuous video surveillance of gaming tables and areas where goods are distributed. Dealers and other relevant employees must hold appropriate licenses. Regulators would inspect live gaming systems and studios quarterly, with operators covering inspection-related travel, accommodation and meal expenses. Independent laboratories must certify games, software and equipment before they become available.
The proposed fees include $50,000 for online casino operators and $10,000 each for management service providers and suppliers. Background checks would incur additional charges. The framework also proposes an 18% tax on adjusted gross revenue, without deductions for free-play games, sign-up bonuses or other marketing promotions.
Player Protection and Legal Challenges
Customers must be at least 21 and physically present in Maine when placing bets. Operators would be prohibited from accepting credit cards for account funding and would have to separate customer funds from operating accounts. The rules also require a $500,000 guarantee and sufficient reserves to cover player balances.
Platforms must provide records of spending, games played and net gains or losses, alongside real-time information about playing time and account balances.
Champion confirmed that IDPair will manage the automated universal self-exclusion program under a contract with the Maine CDC. Operators would use an approved third-party system to check the registry and process additions or removals, replacing email and fax notifications and monthly distribution of the full list.
Advertising rules would restrict campaigns targeting people under 21, including marketing on university campuses. Advertisements must display the beneficiary tribe’s name and logo with the same visual prominence as the operator’s branding.
A separate lawsuit could also affect the market. Churchill Downs Inc., owner of Oxford Casino Hotel, is challenging the law on the grounds that it creates a “race-based monopoly” by excluding Maine’s two commercial casino operators from online gambling.
The Wabanaki nations were added as defendants in April. Their position is that the lawsuit threatens their ability to provide for their communities. A court decision is not necessarily required before launch, although a later ruling could suspend or end online casino operations.
The Gambling Control Unit is also monitoring prediction markets. Champion said the agency has no active investigations involving these platforms because it has not detected negative effects on the gambling programs it regulates.
Maine’s launch schedule now depends on the public consultation, legal review and completion of its licensing system. The first quarter of 2027 remains a possible target, subject to further regulatory changes and developments in the lawsuit.