Caesars and Wabanaki Nations in Maine Expand Deal to Include Online Casino Gaming
Caesars Entertainment has expanded its partnership with three Wabanaki Nations in Maine, the Houlton Band of Maliseet Indians, the Mi’kmaq Nation, and the Penobscot Nation, to include online casino gaming.
Announced on Wednesday, the long-term agreement positions the partners for a possible iGaming launch later this year, once regulators give approval.
This expansion comes three years after Caesars Sportsbook successfully launched in Maine. Under the deal, Caesars plans to introduce three online casino brands in Maine: Caesars Palace Online Casino, Caesars Sportsbook & Casino, and Horseshoe Online Casino.
Caesars to invest in local workforce and support tribal communities
Caesars has committed to investing in workforce development by hiring, training, and developing members of each Wabanaki Nation. Alongside jobs, the company will provide financial support to fund programs and initiatives that strengthen tribal communities.
“As we look ahead to the launch of online casino gaming in Maine, we’re proud to expand our partnership with the Houlton Band of Maliseet Indians, the Mi’kmaq Nation and the Penobscot Nation,” said Eric Hession, President of Caesars Digital.
Tribal leaders welcomed the expansion. Chief Kirk Francis of the Penobscot Nation said the partnership “demonstrated the value of aligning with a partner that respects our sovereignty, understands our communities and is committed to long-term success.”
Chief Sheila McCormack of the Mi’kmaq Nation emphasized that online casino gaming “allows us to continue creating economic opportunities for our people while ensuring that any future platform is developed in a responsible, well-regulated manner.”
Chief Clarissa Sabattis of the Houlton Band of Maliseet Indians noted that the agreement “reflects our shared commitment to strengthening Maine’s rural communities” and will provide a secure source of revenue to support essential services and infrastructure.
Maine’s incoming iGaming market
Earlier this year, Governor Janet Mills signed LD 1164 into law, clearing the way for Maine to open an online casino market with the state’s four Wabanaki Nations at the center. The Mi’kmaq Nation, Houlton Band of Maliseet Indians, Penobscot Nation, and Passamaquoddy Tribes were each granted authority to operate internet gaming.
The law builds on Maine’s 2022 decision to place mobile sports betting under tribal authority, marking the second major expansion of online gambling in four years.
LD 1164 establishes a framework overseen by the Maine Gambling Control Unit, with the state set to collect 18% of adjusted gross internet gaming receipts. Lawmakers project that the new iGaming market will bring in $3.5m in annual revenue for the Pine Tree state.
Licenses are limited to federally recognized tribes, ensuring that the Wabanaki Nations remain the exclusive operators of iGaming in Maine. Application and license fees will also contribute to the state’s General Fund, while revenues are expected to support tribal programs and community initiatives.
Caesars has already secured agreements with three of the Wabanaki Nations, positioning itself to play a central role in Maine’s new iGaming market.
Tribal agreement continues to receive criticism in Maine
Not everyone has welcomed Maine’s new online casino law and the exclusive tribal agreement that comes with it.
When Mills allowed LD 1164 to become law earlier this year, she gave the Wabanaki Nations sole authority to operate iGaming in the state through partners of their choice. While tribal leaders celebrated the decision, opponents quickly raised concerns.
Oxford Casino Hotel and its parent company filed a lawsuit in federal court, arguing that the measure unfairly creates a monopoly. The case, which was sent to Maine’s U.S. District Court, claims the law crosses legal boundaries by granting exclusive control to the tribes.
In its filing, Oxford Casino stated, “Promoting iGaming through race-based preferences deals a gut-wrenching blow to Maine businesses like Oxford Casino that have heavily invested in the state and its people.”
Industry voices have also spoken out, with PENN Entertainment CEO Jay Snowden criticizing the structure during the company’s Q4 earnings call. He stated that the model shuts out commercial operators and limits competition.
“We’ve been operating as a casino entity there for two decades. We’ve invested hundreds of millions of dollars. We’re as involved in the community as you’re gonna find any business leader, and the governor in Maine decides to hand a monopoly to a third party that’s never invested a dollar in the industry,” he added.
Even with the criticism, several operators outside Maine have indicated interest in seeking agreements with the tribes. Rush Street Interactive (RSI), which owns BetRivers, confirmed in January that it “could see a lot of success potentially partnering with a tribe” in the state.
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