MaineSummary:

  • State Rep. Laura D. Supica’s Maine online casino bill was three votes short in the Maine House of Representatives.
  • 71 reps voted for LD1777, an iGaming measure that would make iGaming legal in the state and send revenue to the tribes.
  • Supica sent the “ought not to pass” motion from the Joint Standing Committee on Veterans and Legal Affairs to the Senate.

State Rep. Laura D. Supica’s Maine online casino bill was short three votes on Tuesday when 74 members of the Maine House of Representatives voted against LD1777.

71 representatives expressed their votes in favor of the iGaming measure that would have made iGaming legal for the people of Maine while sending revenue to the state’s tribes.

While the 74-71 defeat most likely means the bill is dead, its sponsor did manage to send the “ought not to pass” motion from the Joint Standing Committee on Veterans and Legal Affairs to the Senate from the House, where it will be taken into consideration.

Hope to “Recede and Concur”

This means that there is still a small chance that the Senate might decide to resuscitate the measure.

Supica commented on the April 9 vote, expressing hope that the Senate would choose to pass the motion, which would allow them to “recede and concur”.

Now, folks are on the record and folks can try to flip their votes.

Provided the House and Senate give the green light to LD1777, the gambling measure would ask for the signature of Gov. Janet Mills to be turned into law.

In case Maine manages to make online casinos legal, it could be the only state to do it in 2024, in the context of Maryland’s gambling bill failing to pass in the legislature adjournment on April 8.

The Online Casino, ”Maine State Citizen-Owned”

State Rep. Aaron M. Dana, who is a member of the Passamaquoddy Tribe, spoke in favor of LD1777.

Dana explained that a Maine online casino would be “Maine State citizen-owned”, as opposed to the retail casinos that belong to entities outside the state.

In case the measure would pass, all revenue would be reinvested in the Pine Tree State.

Dana further added that Maine’s tribes were kicked out of retail casino gaming, as both facilities operate as commercial casinos.

About the Author

Author Sadonna Price has been part of the online casino industry for over a decade, watching it develop and expand across the US. She enjoys playing online slots and table games, as well as Texas Hold’em.