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Maine’s regulated online casino launch could slip beyond the first quarter of 2027 if regulators make major changes to the state’s proposed iGaming rules. Milt Champion, executive director of the Maine Gambling Control Unit (MGCU), said Oct. 20 that significant revisions would require the agency to publish the rules a fourth time and open another public comment period.
The MGCU published its third draft of the regulations on Sept. 30. Written comments are due Oct. 30, according to the agency’s official rulemaking page. Maine has not confirmed a launch date, and the market’s opening will depend on the remaining regulatory and operational steps.
Once it launches, Maine would become the eighth US state with a regulated online casino market.
Fourth publication could delay final rules
What happens after the comment period closes depends on whether regulators accept major substantive changes. If the MGCU does not make significant revisions, the rules can proceed to the next stages of review and adoption. If it does, the agency must publish a fourth version and solicit additional public comments.
Under the timetable outlined in Legal Sports Report’s Oct. 20 report, the MGCU has up to 120 days after the applicable comment period closes to adopt the rules, while the Attorney General’s Office has up to 150 days from that date to complete its legality review. These are maximum time frames, not estimates of how long each step will take.
A fourth publication could add another comment period and extend the process, putting the first-quarter 2027 target at risk. Even if the current draft proceeds without major changes, the state must complete the remaining review and implementation work before online casinos can open.
Third draft revises live dealer rules
The Sept. 30 draft includes several changes from the version published in July, particularly regarding live dealer games, which use real dealers or presenters to host games streamed to online players.
Under the proposed rules, live dealer studios could operate outside Maine with approval from the MGCU director. Certain backend technology could also be located outside the state, but the primary server that accepts and stores live dealer wagers would have to remain in Maine. The revised draft would also allow routine game updates, including security fixes and software patches, without separate approval for each change.
The proposal also sets advertising and player-protection requirements. Marketing could not target people younger than 21, and advertisements would have to display the name and logo of the beneficiary tribe in the same font size as the operator partner’s branding.
The rules would also establish a real-time, automated self-exclusion system administered by a third party. Self-exclusion allows individuals to block themselves from gambling.
These provisions remain part of the proposed regulatory framework and are not yet final requirements for an operating market.
Tax rate and licensing fees unchanged
The proposed financial terms remain the same as in the previous draft. Online casino operators would pay:
- 18% tax on adjusted gross iGaming receipts
- $50,000 licensing fee
- $500,000 bond
Gaming suppliers and management service providers would each pay a $10,000 licensing fee. The proposed rules would also prevent operators from deducting spending on free play, sign-up bonuses and other promotions from the amount subject to taxation.
Licensing portal approved as hiring continues
Champion said the MGCU had received approval to implement a new licensing database and online portal. The system would allow applicants to submit license applications, pay fees and manage approvals and invoicing online. Licensees would also be able to create accounts and receive notifications.
Companies preparing to enter the market can get their application materials ready, but they cannot submit filings until the portal is available. The agency is also working to hire six additional staff members to oversee online casino gambling.
Champion said the workload has been comparable to Maine’s 2022-23 sports betting rollout, but more demanding because online casino gambling is a new product for the state.
Tribal exclusivity faces legal challenge
Gov. Janet Mills allowed LD 1164, the law authorizing online casino gambling, to take effect without her signature in January. The law gives Maine’s four federally recognized Wabanaki tribal nations exclusive rights to operate online casinos through partnerships with commercial gaming companies.
Three tribes — the Mi’kmaq Nation, the Penobscot Nation and the Houlton Band of Maliseet Indians — partner with Caesars for online sports betting. The Passamaquoddy Tribe partners with DraftKings.
The law faces a legal challenge from Churchill Downs Inc., the parent company of Oxford Casino Hotel. The company argues that the tribal-exclusive framework unlawfully excludes Maine’s two commercial casinos.
The Wabanaki tribes joined the lawsuit as defendants in April. The litigation adds uncertainty to the market’s longer-term outlook, although a court ruling is not necessarily required before the state can launch online casinos.
For now, the immediate milestones are the Oct. 30 comment deadline, completion of the rulemaking and legal reviews, and preparations for licensing. A fourth publication could push the launch beyond the first quarter of 2027, but the state has not announced a firm opening date.
