Maine Residents Don’t Want iGaming in Their State, Survey Finds

According to a poll commissioned by the National Association Against iGaming (NAAiG) and conducted by Lake Research Partners, 64% of Maine voters are against the legalization of iGaming, while 49% are strongly opposed to it.

Survey Comes at a Crucial Time for Talks about iGaming in Maine

Interestingly, this date comes at a time when the Maine Gambling Control Board (MGCB) has urged Governor Janet Mills to veto LD 1164, a bill aimed at legalizing iGaming for the Wabanaki Nations. Their concerns center around the risk of an iGaming monopoly and potential job losses at current casinos. According to the board, leaving out Oxford and Hollywood Casinos from the iGaming opportunities would negatively impact Maine’s workforce.

If LD 1164 gets approved, it would permit the state’s four tribes to offer online casino games. The proposed 16% tax rate in Maine is relatively low when compared to the tax rates in the other seven active markets across the US. 

Interestingly, the governor has a history of opposing gambling legislation. In 2020, Mills was hesitant to move forward with sports betting legislation, despite later signing a bill into law in 2022. In 2021, she blocked a proposal that would have expanded the ownership rights of tribal casinos.

According to Jason Gumer, NAAiG board member and executive vice president & general counsel at Monarch Casino & Resort, Inc., if Maine legalizes iGaming, the state will stand out as an exception in New England. Gumer also pointed out that other governors and legislatures are responding to their constituents’ concerns and choosing not to proceed with allowing iGaming, which he described as a highly addictive form of gambling.

Here Are Some Numbers

Conducted from December 13–16, 2025, amongst 500 likely voters for the 2026 general election in Maine, the survey showed that only 16% would support the legalization of online casinos in the state. What’s even more interesting is that the opposition to iGaming is seen across all major political parties, with 69% of Democrats, 58% of Republicans, and 70% of independents expressing their disapproval.

When presented with arguments for and against the legalization of iGaming, the opposition amongst voters grows even stronger, rising to nearly 60%. Additionally, the survey found that 51% of voters would be less likely to support a lawmaker who votes in favor of legalizing iGaming after hearing both sides of the debate.

The survey highlighted that voters were particularly concerned about the industry’s failure to prevent minors from accessing online gambling. Following that, the second biggest concern that the surveyed had was the potential increase in addiction and problem gambling that may stem from iGaming.