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Maine Governor Janet Mills announced Thursday, January 8, that she would let LD1164a bill that gives the state’s Wabanaki Nations the right to run online casino gamesbecomes law. The move quickly sparked strong reactions, both from tribal leaders and the National Association Against iGaming.
The bill, officially titled “An Act to Create Economic Opportunities for the Abenaki Nations,” allows tribes to operate online gaming platforms as a way to stimulate their local economies. It complements a 2022 law which already gave them the possibility of offering online sports betting.
iGaming is coming to Maine. That’s according to a statement released earlier today by Gov. Janet Mills.
From the wording of the declaration, it appears she is letting it become law without her signature. pic.twitter.com/0GKMFjUlTC
–Steve Bittenbender (@BittGDCG) January 8, 2026
Mills said she made her decision after sitting down with tribal leaders and carefully considering how the bill could affect the state.
“This fall, I met with the five elected leaders of the Wabanaki Nations, who each spoke passionately about the importance of this bill in providing life-changing revenue for tribal communities, as well as providing a form of economic sovereignty for their nations,” Mills said in a statement. release.
“I have reviewed this bill carefully, and while I have concerns about the public health impacts of gaming, I believe this new form of gaming should be regulated, and I am confident that Maine’s Gaming Control Unit will develop responsible rules and standards to hold providers of this new form of gaming accountable while ensuring that Maine tribes benefit from its operations.
Tribal leaders welcomed the move, calling it a big step toward economic self-sufficiency and more investment in their communities.
Chief William Nicholas Sr. of the Passamaquoddy Tribe of Indian Township called the bill “an economic turning point for the Passamaquoddy people and for all Wabanaki Nations,” adding that “our economies are undoubtedly stronger because of the positive state policy changes under the leadership of Governor Mills.”
Chief Kirk Francis of the Penobscot Nation said revenue from the bill would fund “essential government services for our people like health, education, housing, law enforcement, social services, environmental management” as well as “cultural and youth programs” and tribal infrastructure.
Chief Clarissa Sabattis of the Houlton Band of Maliseet Indians said the bill would help combat illegal gambling while creating a regulated system. “LD 1164 will create a tightly regulated iGaming market with strict controls and ensure much-needed revenue stays in Maine,” she said, adding that “the state will generate tens of millions of dollars to combat opioid addiction and provide emergency services.”
Under Maine’s constitution, Mills could either veto the bill or let it become law once the Legislature finished its session. Her office said LD 1164 was among 61 bills she reviewed during that period, and that “nearly every bill passed would become law, with just one veto.”
National Association Against iGaming Condemns Decision to Introduce Online Casino Bill in Maine
However, the National Association Against iGaming, a group that opposes online casino gaming, strongly criticized the move.
Governor Janet Mills’ decision to reverse her long-standing opposition to online casino gaming and allow #iGambling The bill on his desk to become law represents a sharp departure from the governor’s previously stated position and ignores overwhelming public opposition, experts say… pic.twitter.com/U64fuCLspp
– NAAIG_Official (@NAAIG_Official) January 8, 2026
“The National Association Against iGaming is deeply disappointed by Governor Janet Mills’ decision to reverse her long-standing opposition to online casino gaming and allow the iGaming bill on her desk to become law,” the group said in a statement. statement.
The group said the governor brushed aside regulators, public opinion and Maine’s current casino system. “This decision represents a clear departure from the Governor’s previously expressed position and ignores overwhelming public opposition, expert warnings from his own regulators, and a proven gaming framework that has delivered significant benefits to Maine communities and tribal nations for more than a decade,” the statement said.
The group also said Maine’s current casino system is a reliable source of state revenue, noting that the state’s two licensed casinos have brought in more than $500 million in taxes over the past 15 years. In its statement, the association called this record “measurable, transparent and relied on by Maine communities.”
He also said Mills ignored warnings from state regulators. The association said the Gambling Control Board had requested a veto and warned that the bill would “harm existing casinos, put jobs at risk and destabilize a system that has reliably funded public priorities.”
The organization also described Maine as an outlier, saying the state is moving in that direction even as other states retreat from gaming expansion. “Maine’s action is a striking exception at a time when states across the country are exercising increased caution,” it said.
The group also linked the governor’s decision to politics, noting that the reversal coincided with a U.S. Senate campaign and a competitive primary, which it said makes the move appear to be “a political calculation rather than a policy driven by evidence or the public interest.”
The association said it plans to try to block the law through a statewide referendum. “We will not accept this decision quietly and will ensure that Maine people have the final say,” the group said.
According to the governor’s office, LD 1164 is expected to take effect 90 days after the end of the next session of the Legislature, unless lawmakers designate it as emergency legislation.
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