Maine Becomes Ninth US State to Legalize Online Poker

Maine has formally joined the ranks of U.S. states providing authorized on-line poker, turning into the ninth state within the nation to authorize on-line poker. The transfer comes after LD 1164, titled “An Act to Create Financial Alternative for the Wabanaki Nations By means of Web Gaming,” grew to become legislation at midnight on Saturday, January 10, 2026.

Governor Janet Mills, who had beforehand expressed reservations concerning the growth of playing, opted neither to signal nor veto the invoice. Beneath Maine legislation, this allowed the invoice to turn into legislation mechanically after the expiration of a ten-day overview interval.

“I thought of this invoice rigorously,” stated Governor Mills. “And whereas I’ve considerations concerning the impacts of playing on public well being, I imagine that this new type of playing must be regulated.

“I’m assured that Maine’s Playing Management Unit will develop accountable guidelines and requirements to carry suppliers of this new type of playing accountable whereas making certain that Maine’s tribes profit from its operations.”

Maine joins Nevada, New Jersey, Delaware, Pennsylvania, Michigan, West Virginia, and Rhode Islandand Connecticut as the one states to have cleared the trail for authorized, regulated on-line poker.

The On-line Poker Panorama in Maine

The centerpiece of the brand new legislation is its deal with Maine’s 4 federally acknowledged tribes: the Houlton Band of Maliseet Indians, the Mi’kmaq Nation, the Passamaquoddy Tribe, and the Penobscot Nation. Collectively often called the Wabanaki Nations, these tribes have been granted unique rights to function on-line poker and on line casino gaming within the state.

Beneath the framework of LD 1164:

One Pores and skin Per Tribe: Every of the 4 tribes is permitted to companion with a single platform supplier (or “pores and skin”). This opens the door for websites reminiscent of BetMGM, BetRivers or WSOP to compete for Maine’s 4 accessible licenses.Income and Taxation: The state will impose a ten% tax on adjusted gross gaming income. These funds are earmarked for the tribes, in addition to state initiatives for playing dependancy prevention and emergency medical companies.

The “Poker Island” Problem

Whereas the legalization is a historic milestone for poker fans, the prospect of on-line poker in Maine nonetheless faces a major hurdle: liquidity.

In response to studies from Pokerfuse, the present model of LD 1164 doesn’t explicitly authorize Maine to affix the Multi-State Web Gaming Settlement (MSIGA). MSIGA is the interstate compact that enables gamers in states like New Jersey, Michigan, and Nevada, the place numerous authorized poker websites exist, to compete towards each other in a shared participant pool. In April 2025, Pennsylvania additionally joined the compact.

With out becoming a member of this compact, Maine will function as a “poker island.” Given Maine’s comparatively small inhabitants of 1.4 million, an intrastate-only market would probably end in smaller prize swimming pools and fewer energetic tables in comparison with bigger markets. Extra work will should be accomplished along with the passing of this laws earlier than Maine gamers can be part of forces with different states.

In any case, gamers should nonetheless await regulation to be drafted, with the Maine Playing Management Unit chargeable for drafting the precise guidelines and licensing necessities. Whereas a agency launch date has not been set, business specialists anticipate that the primary authorized poker fingers might be dealt later in 2026 or early 2027.

Based mostly in the UK, Will began working for PokerNews as a contract stay reporter in 2015 and joined the full-time employees in 2019. He now works as Managing Editor.

He graduated from the College of Kent in 2017 with a B.A. in German. He additionally holds an NCTJ Diploma in Sports activities Journalism.