Maine Legalizes Online Poker: What You Need to Know

Maine has officially become the ninth state to legalize online poker in the US. Governor Janet Mills announced her intention to allow LD 1164, titled “An Act to Create Economic Opportunity for the Wabanaki Nations Through Internet Gaming,” to become law. This legislation grants exclusive internet gaming rights to the state’s four federally recognized tribes: the Houlton Band of Maliseet Indians, the Mi’kmaq Nation, the Passamaquoddy Tribe, and the Penobscot Nation.

However, Maine online poker players should not get their hopes too high. LD 1164 does not include any explicit provision allowing the state to join multi-state online poker compacts. With a population of roughly 1.4 million, Maine is a very small market, and for online poker to be viable in such a state, participation in agreements like the Multi-State Internet Gaming Agreement (MSIGA) is essential. Since the legislation does not address this, operators are unlikely to have much incentive to roll out full-scale online poker offerings in the Pine Tree State.

DraftKings Poker and WSOP Online are the only potential online poker operators in Maine. DraftKings could, in theory, introduce Electric Poker in Maine. The Maine Gaming Control Board urged Governor Mills to veto the bill, citing concerns over the structure of the market.