Maine Online Casino Legislation is on Life Support

In recent months, efforts have been made to bring legalized online casino gambling to the state of Maine. Since gambling in Maine is generally handled by the state's Indian Tribes, it has been a difficult process through which to navigate.

The latest attempt to get online casino gambling legislation passed in Maine came as a result of the recent introduction of House Bill LD1777. The bill's sponsor is Maine Rep. Laura D. Supica. She has put together legislation that would essentially give Maine's Tribal community the exclusive right to offer online casino gambling access to the state's residents. Therein lies the problem.

There are members of the House who would like to see the state's land-based casinos have the right to also offer online casino gambling services. While that might seem like a fair and equitable position, it's not one of which Tribal leadership is fond. The state's Tribes wield a lot of power in Maine, and they aren't afraid to use it to support their self-interests. As a result of Tribal leadership's position, LD1777 missed passing in the House on April 9, 2024, by a vote of 71-74.

Where the Bill Stands Now

When House Bill LD1777 was presented for a vote in the House, there was some optimism that it might squeak through. When the vote went in the other direction, there was a sense of disappointment among bill supporters and Maine residents. Is the possibility of online casino gambling dead in Maine?

In an interview with Heather Fletcher of Bonus.com, Rep Supica expressed that she has not given up hope that something can get done. She stated:

"the hope is the Senate will pass and we will recede and concur. Now, folks are on the record and folks can try to flip their votes.”

In most states, a bill like this would be considered dead on the House floor. However, Maine has a very unique legislative process. If a bill fails in the House, the Maine Senate might still decide to take the legislation under consideration. Here's how that works in this case.

When LD1777 came out of the Joint Committee on Veterans and Legal Affairs, the committee simultaneously sent recommendations to both legislative chambers. One recommendation was not to pass LD1777 while the other recommendation was to approve LD1777. While the House failed to pass the bill, they also sent the not-to-pass LD1777 recommendation to the Senate. In doing so, the Senate could take a contrarian position and defy the not-to-pass recommendation and proceed to vote on a pass the bill anyway.

What Will the Senate Do

At this time, it's not clear if a bill such as LD1777 has enough support in the Senate to get approved. However, it might be a moot point. Why?

In the past, Maine Gov. Janet Mills has been very clear about her reluctance to give the state's Tribes exclusive control over any facet of online gambling. She vetoed sports betting legislation for this very reason in 2020. Not knowing where she stands on LD1777, one has to assume she might veto this bill as well.