Lawmakers in Maine Propose Expanding Tribal Rights to All Internet Gambling
Federally recognized tribes in Maine have been offering online sports betting for about two months, and some state lawmakers now want to expand tribal rights to include all internet gambling, casinos, and electronic beano and harness racing. Public hearings on three such proposals will be held Wednesday as lawmakers return to Augusta for the first day of the second regular session.
The bills were carried over from the previous session and will likely face resistance from Gov. Janet Mills, who has long opposed gambling measures but relented in 2022, negotiating and signing a bill that gave tribes exclusive rights to online sports betting. Mills’ aides did not respond to questions about whether the governor would consider expanded gambling.
Public Hearings to be Held on Expanding Tribal Sovereignty in Maine
The gambling proposals represent the latest front in the push for enhanced tribal sovereignty in Maine. The state’s tribal communities are treated more like municipalities than sovereign nations because of the 1980 Maine Indian Land Claims Settlement Act. But they have been working with community activists and a bipartisan group of lawmakers to win some of the same rights and opportunities extended to the nation’s other 570 federally recognized tribes.
Mills has voiced opposition to and vetoed sweeping efforts to restore comprehensive sovereignty rights and has preferred narrower changes to the 1980s agreement. She met with tribal leaders at the Blaine House in late November. Although the 3.5 hour summit didn’t result in any breakthroughs, the two sides agreed to work together this session – a change from the previous session when tribal leaders worked around the governor.
Maine Governor’s Stance on Gambling Expansion Unclear as Lawmakers Push for Tribal Rights
A bill sponsored by Rep. Laura Supica, D-Bangor, has the backing of Democratic leadership, with Senate President Troy Jackson, D-Allagash, and House Speaker Rachel Talbot Ross, D-Portland, signing on as co-sponsors.
Supica’s bill, L.D. 1777, would allow federally recognized tribes to grow their internet gambling beyond sports betting to include other games of “skill or chance offered through the Internet in which an individual wagers money or something of monetary value for the opportunity to win money or something of monetary value.”
Maine Lawmakers Consider Bills to Allow Tribes to Operate Casinos and Expand Online Gambling
The bill would also reprioritize how the state uses its online gambling revenue. The state would continue to receive 10% of the adjusted gross receipts, but lawmakers would have less discretion over its uses.
Currently, 65% of the revenue goes to the General Fund while the state’s Sire Stakes Fund and the Maine Harness Racing Commission each receive 5.5%. But Supica’s proposal would allocate 40% to the state’s E-9-1-1 Fund to support the emergency communications system, 20% to the Opioid Use Disorder Prevention and Treatment Fund and 20% to the Emergency Housing Relief Fund.
Opposition and Support for Expanded Tribal Gambling Rights in Maine
The measure is opposed by Steve Silver, chairman of the Maine Gambling Control Board, who argued that licenses should not be limited to tribes and raised concerns about the proposal’s impact on the 19 groups that received more than $69 million in revenue in 2022 from the state’s two casinos, which could lose business as a result of the bill.
Silver said in written testimony that the current proposal could result in the loss of about $2.4 million for public education and other services. And the law’s broad definition of internet gambling could impact other businesses that offer sweepstakes, including online trivia, soda bottle promotions, and the Maine Lottery’s second chance drawings.
Rep. Ben Collings, D-Portland, is sponsoring two bills to expand tribal gambling rights, including a bill similar to one previously vetoed by Mills that would allow tribes to operate a casino.
Online sports betting launched in November, with Caesars Sportsbook partnering with the Penobscot Nation, Houlton Band of Maliseets and the Aroostook Band of Mi’kmaq Nation, and Draftkings partnering with the Passamaquoddy Tribe.
Through Dec. 28, Mainers have made nearly $76 million in wagers and have received $67.5 million back in winnings, while the state has received about $887,000 in tax revenue. Draftkings currently dominates the market, accounting for nearly $61 million of the total wagers.
Analyst comment
Neutral news.
As an analyst, the expansion of tribal rights to all internet gambling in Maine could lead to increased revenue for the tribes and potentially impact existing businesses in the gambling industry. The bills will likely face resistance from Gov. Janet Mills, but there is support from Democratic leaders. The allocation of online gambling revenue would also change, prioritizing funds for emergency communication systems, opioid use disorder prevention and treatment, and emergency housing relief. The outcome will depend on negotiations between lawmakers and tribal leaders.
