AUGUSTA, Maine, Jan. 8, 2026 — The National Association Against iGaming expresses profound disappointment regarding Governor Janet Mills’ choice to abandon her previous opposition to online casino gambling and permit the iGaming legislation to take effect.
This move marks a distinct departure from the Governor’s earlier stance and overlooks significant public resistance, cautionary advice from her own regulatory bodies, and an established gaming system that has provided substantial advantages to Maine communities and tribal nations for over ten years.
Over the last 15 years, Maine’s two licensed casinos have produced over five hundred million dollars in tax revenue for the state. Those funds have bolstered education, public safety, community initiatives, local assistance, and tribal distributions. This track record of collective achievement is not hypothetical. It is quantifiable, transparent, and depended upon by communities throughout Maine.
Clarity is essential. Tribal nations currently receive benefits from the existing casino tax framework. Resistance to this legislation is not aimed at excluding tribes or safeguarding limited interests. It is focused on maintaining a system that has served Maine workers, Maine communities, and tribal governments equally. Characterizing these concerns as merely self-serving grievances disregards both the evidence and the considerable public interest at stake.
The Governor’s choice also ignores her own Gambling Control Board, which recommended a veto and cautioned that this measure would weaken existing casinos, jeopardize employment, and disrupt a mechanism that has consistently financed public priorities. These admonitions were reinforced by public health specialists who have voiced grave concerns regarding the addiction hazards linked to expanded online gambling.
Equally concerning is the Governor’s dismissal of public sentiment. Recent surveys indicate that iGaming faces widespread disapproval among Maine voters, even among tribal supporters. Maine residents recognize that online casino gambling presents distinct dangers and delivers questionable advantages when compared to the established system currently in operation.
This about-face is nationally notable. For over two years, no iGaming legislation has reached a governor’s desk, and 2025 was the first year since the Supreme Court’s PASPA ruling that no mobile sports betting measure was approved anywhere in the nation. Industry analysts did not anticipate any iGaming proposals moving forward in 2026, particularly not a comprehensive and exclusive measure such as this one. Maine’s decision represents a remarkable anomaly at a time when states nationwide are adopting greater prudence.
The timing of this determination cannot be overlooked. The Governor’s shift aligns with a U.S. Senate race and a contested primary challenge. While only the Governor can account for her reversal, it is challenging to interpret this decision as anything beyond a political maneuver rather than a policy guided by evidence or public welfare.
Maine voters merit superior representation. They are entitled to leadership that heeds regulatory guidance, honors public sentiment, and safeguards a system that has yielded tangible outcomes for years.
The National Association Against iGaming, together with an extensive coalition of partners, will spearhead initiatives to reverse this legislation through Maine’s People’s Veto mechanism. We are assured that when presented with the chance, Maine voters will repudiate this ill-advised expansion and reassert their dedication to responsible gaming policies founded on transparency, prudence, and responsibility.
We will not acquiesce to this decision silently, and we will guarantee that Maine citizens retain the ultimate voice.
Contact: Leo Rommel,
SOURCE National Association Against iGaming (NAAiG)