Bill to Legalize Mobile Sports Betting Advances in Maine Legislature
Maine’s Judiciary Committee on Wednesday introduced a bill that would allow four Wabinaki tribes to obtain statewide licenses to administer sports betting. The bill passed through committee with an 8-6 vote and will now face the full legislature. The four tribes: Penobscot, Passamaquoddy, Maliseet and Mi’kmaq negotiated the bill with the Mills administration. Governor Janet Mills previously vetoed a bill legalizing sports betting in 2020. Sports betting has been part of a larger effort to repair relations between Native American nations and the state government since the Federal Maine Indian Claims Settlement Act of 1980. have access to federal legislation called the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act,” said Maulian Dana, Tribal Ambassador for the Penobscot Nation. “And that’s what oversees a lot of these tribal casinos that you might see elsewhere. Due to the Settlement Act of 1980, we do not have access to federal law in Maine. Critics of the bill cite the relatively low tax rate for gambling earnings compared to other states. The rate in the proposed bill would be 10%. “I believe the minimum tax should have 25% in the general fund,” Rep. Christopher Babbage (D-Kennebunk) said. Babbage voted against the proposed bill in the Judiciary Committee. “The state has obligations to schools, public safety, essential services and infrastructure,” Babbage said. “And if we’re going to give permission to do sports betting, which will involve a lot of Mainers, then we have to help the Maine taxpayer offset some of the necessary expenses that we have an obligation to pay.” Dana says the appearance of sports betting will boost tribal economies and in turn help the state economy. “Tribal nations are largely found in rural areas of the state,” Dana said. savings, we’re really going to help a lot of Mainers around us too. The bill would also allow Oxford Casino and Hollywood Casino in Bangor to obtain in-person sports betting licenses, as well as harness racing tracks in Bangor and Cumberland.
Maine’s Judiciary Committee on Wednesday introduced a bill that would allow four Wabinaki tribes to obtain statewide licenses to administer sports betting.
The bill passed through committee with an 8-6 vote and will now face the full legislature.
The four tribes: Penobscot, Passamaquoddy, Maliseet and Mi’kmaq negotiated the bill with the Mills administration. Governor Janet Mills previously vetoed a bill legalizing sports betting in 2020.
Sports betting has been part of a larger effort to repair the relationship between Native American nations and the state government since the federal Maine Indian Claims Settlement Act of 1980.
“Tribes have access to federal legislation called the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act,” said Maulian Dana, the Tribal Ambassador for the Penobscot Nation. “And that’s what oversees a lot of these tribal casinos that you might see elsewhere. Because of the Colonization Act of 1980, we don’t have access to federal law in Maine.”
Critics of the bill cite the relatively low tax rate for gambling income compared to other states. The rate in the proposed bill would be 10%.
“I believe the minimum tax should have 25% to the general fund,” Rep. Christopher Babbage (D-Kennebunk) said. Babbage voted against the proposed bill in the Judiciary Committee.
“The state has obligations to schools, public safety, essential services and infrastructure,” Babbage said. “And if we’re going to give permission to do sports betting, which will involve a lot of Mainers, then we have to help the Maine taxpayer offset some of the necessary expenses that we have an obligation to pay.”
Dana says the onset of sports betting will boost tribal economies and in turn will help the state economy.
“Tribal nations are largely found in rural areas of the state,” Dana said. “So when we elevate our own communities and our own economies, we’re really going to be helping a lot of Mainers around us as well.”
The bill would also allow Oxford Casino and Hollywood Casino in Bangor to obtain in-person sports betting licenses, as well as harness racing tracks in Bangor and Cumberland.