Gov. Janet Mills effectively pressed pause on legalized iGaming in Maine, refusing to take action on a bill that would create a legal iGaming sector in the state.
Lawmakers will now consider the proposal again during the 2026 legislative session.
Key takeaways
- Gov. Janet Mills took no action on iGaming bill LD 1164
- The bill would give the state's four federal tribes exclusive online casino rights.
- Critics cite Mills’ past resistance to gambling expansion as a reason for the pause.
The proposed legislation, LD 1164, would have given the state’s four federally recognized Wabanaki Nations exclusive rights to operate online casinos, with each tribe permitted to partner with one licensed platform provider.
Licenses would cost $50,000 per year, and operators would pay 16% on revenue.
Yet, Gov. Mills has shown continued resistance to gambling expansion in the past. This included a veto of Maine’s sports betting bill in 2020, which the state Senate later overrode.
LD 1164 initially passed both the Senate and the House in June, awaiting Gov. Mills’ signature before it could be signed into law. Yet, instead of either signing the bill or vetoing it, the governor chose to take no action, effectively halting the proposal's outcome until lawmakers reconvene in January.
After that, Gov. Mills then has three days to make a final decision.
Heated debate over Ohio iGaming bill
Maine isn’t the only state where progress on legalization slowed. In Ohio, lawmakers are debating House Bill 298, which would legalize online casino games such as poker, slots, and roulette.
Supporters claim the measure would become a new tax generator for the state.
“With Ohio's large, growing market, we believe that iGaming can contribute more than $600 million in annual tax revenue," FanDuel's head of government relations, Cesar Fernandez, told News 5 Cleveland. "And that's net new tax revenue for the state."
However, concerns remain over the risks of increased problem gambling and the impact on retail casinos.
There's also been criticism over the proposed online gaming tax, which, at 28%, is lower than the 33% land-based casinos pay, and the $50 million licensing fee, which opponents say is excessive.
Virginia iGaming push stalls
Virginia’s push to legalize online casinos also stalled. HB 2171 was referred for further study, following lawmakers' concerns about its timing and impact.
Gaming Committee Chair Paul Krizek went on record suggesting gambling was being expanded too quickly in the commonwealth, citing the strain on the Virginia Lottery, which would oversee the new market.
At a time when several brick-and-mortar casinos were still being built, some lawmakers argued iGaming legalization could backfire.
The fiscal note issued for the proposal raised concerns about online casino gaming taking funds from the state’s iLottery, which might outweigh the new online gaming revenue.
The bill's supporters claimed the pause is a strategic delay, but with limited time left in this legislative session, progress on iGaming seems unlikely before 2026.
