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Which online casino operators are coming to Maine?

Maine's online casino market hasn't launched yet, but existing tribal partnerships point to two brands as the likeliest operators to enter the state.

ByJeremy Olson·Updated: Oct 09, 2026 3:17PM ET·8 min read

Although Maine has legalized iGaming, no online casinos are currently licensed or offering real money play in the state. This page tracks announced and expected partnerships under the tribal-exclusive licensing model. The goal is to give you a better idea of which Maine online casino operators will be, or could become, available once licensing approvals are complete.

Passed in January 2026, Legislative Document 1164 grants tribal exclusivity to the Wabanaki Nations, including the Houlton Band of Maliseet Indians, Mi'kmaq Nation, Passamaquoddy Tribe, and Penobscot Nation. These tribes are the only entities eligible to receive a Maine iGaming license.

Commercial operators can still participate in the market as a platform, management partner, or technology provider. The key is that they must be one of the Wabanaki Nations casino partners. 

Opportunities are limited, considering there are only four tribes that can obtain licensing. In June, Caesars announced they have secured three tribal partnerships. That means the number of open spots for Wabanaki Nations casino partners could be down to just one.

The Maine online casino operators model is similar to the state's tribe-tethered sports betting market. Caesars maintains partnerships with three Wabanaki Nations license holders, including the Houlton Band of Maliseet Indians, Mi'kmaq Nation and Penobscot Nation. DraftKings has the other, aligning with the Passamaquoddy Tribe.

The LD 1164 framework essentially extends the sports wagering model to online casinos. Each tribe's relationship with commercial operators determines which Maine Casino apps will be coming soon.

This Maine online casino guide dives into the inner workings of LD 1164, the market's timeline, geolocation, payment methods, and more.

As of October 9, 2026, the Maine Gambling Control Unit is still working on iGaming regulatory rules. Once finished with the rulemaking process, it can begin accepting license applications from tribes. The licensing process will provide a clearer picture of future Maine online casino operators.

But even with uncertainty surrounding future providers, the Caesars announcement and existing sports betting tribal partnerships provide some insight. 

That said, here are the likeliest candidates for Maine casino apps coming soon. 

Caesars presents the clearest case for a commercial brand that might be available in the Pine Tree State. If the June announcement stays true, it will partner with the Penobscot Nation, Mi'kmaq Nation, and Houlton Band of Maliseet Indians. Caesars is a natural fit for these tribes, given it already works with them on the sports gambling side.

This operator features two distinct brands, including Caesars Palace Online Casino and Horseshoe Online Casino. It's unknown which brand would be associated with which tribe.

Caesars Palace Online is the showier of the two, featuring a Vegas feel and design to reflect its namesake land-based casino. It has one of the largest game selections in U.S. iGaming, typically offering 2,000+ games in most states it serves. 

I'd expect Caesars Maine to provide several hundred games in the beginning, then quickly ramp up to 1,000+ titles. Looking at Caesars Palace Online Casino in other states gives a better idea of the game selection, jackpots, promos, and more.

Horseshoe would be the platform for more serious players, featuring high-stakes slots, unique table games, and large progressive jackpots. Our guide to Horseshoe Casino in other states shows that this operator has an interesting two-deposit welcome bonus. I can't be certain if Horseshoe Maine would have the same deal, but it's possible.

DraftKings has strong potential to be among the Maine online casino operators when the market goes live. It's already partnered with the Passamaquoddy Tribe for sports betting and could continue this relationship for online casino gambling.

Unlike Caesars, DraftKings hasn't announced an agreement with its Wabanaki Nations partner for casino gaming. However, its existing sports gambling relationship does increase the odds that it could be among the Maine casino apps coming soon.

Assuming this did happen, DraftKings would bring some unique prospects to the market. Its sitewide Single-Level jackpot is capable of reaching seven figures, even in a smaller state like Maine. This prize holds the U.S. iGaming record for the largest online slots jackpot at $22.4 million.

DraftKings Casino is also more liberal with demos than most licensed operators in other states. It doesn't even require an account to access demo play, which would give Mainers an easy way to test games before risking real money. 

FanDuel is a dark horse to become one of the Maine online casino operators. It's the largest regulated U.S. sports betting app and one of the highest-grossing casino sites. It has the clout to try to score a Wabanaki Nations casino partnership.

The issue is that three of the tribes already plan to work with Caesars Entertainment. The fourth, Passamaquoddy, might lean heavily toward DraftKings considering their existing sports wagering alliance.

FanDuel's most likely path into Maine would be convincing the Passamaquoddy Tribe to choose it over DraftKings. My best guess is this won't happen, but anything is possible in the market's pre-licensing phase.

If this operator did somehow get into the Pine Tree State, it would bring a unique set of daily jackpots. FanDuel features Mega, Major, Minor, and Mini Jackpots across most of its slots. Each prize must be won at least once within 24 hours, with the Mega prize sometimes reaching six figures.

While Maine's four Wabanaki Nations are guaranteed opportunities to apply for iGaming licenses, the state's two commercial casinos are left out under LD 1164. Hollywood Casino Hotel & Raceway (Bangor, ME) and Oxford Casino Hotel (Oxford, ME) cannot obtain licensing or partner with Maine online casino operators.

Oxford has filed a federal lawsuit against Maine Gambling Control Unit Director Milt Champion under parent company Churchill Downs Inc. It alleges that the current market structure under LD 1164 amounts to a "race-based monopoly" for the Wabanaki Nations.

This lawsuit is significant because it threatens the foundation of the state's iGaming market. If a federal courtroom rules LD 1164 unconstitutional, it would disrupt the Maine online casino operators' licensing process and launch timeline.

However, the case should currently be treated as a separate legal issue that could affect iGaming's launch. No injunction to halt regulatory activities has been issued, meaning everything will proceed as planned until a judge states otherwise.

The Maine Gambling Control Unit (GCU) is still making rules for licensing and other regulations. So, the first step is the GCU completing the regulatory framework. The agency released its third publication on rules on September 30, with public comments due October 30.

Next, the four Wabanaki Nations can start applying for iGaming licensing. This process will likely involve the tribes filling out all applications correctly and submitting them. The GCU has prepared the licensing paperwork but won't accept applications until a TBA date.

Commercial entities providing platforms, management services, or software to Wabanaki Nations will also need to pass state requirements. This includes Maine online casino operators, software developers, and commercial tech providers.

No concrete timetable has been set for when all these milestones will happen. After rules are established, I should have a better indication of when Maine casino apps will be coming.

Although iGaming is legal in Maine, no casino app has received licensing from state regulators yet. The ME Gambling Control Unit is still developing market rules and will proceed to the licensing stage afterward. Only the state's four Wabanaki Nations can apply for and receive an online casino license. Commercial operators like DraftKings and Caesars must become Wabanaki Nations casino partners because they're not directly eligible for licensing.

LD 1164 gives the state's Wabanaki Nations exclusive rights to the iGaming market. Commercial casino brands can't apply for licenses like Maine's four federally recognized tribes, meaning they have no direct path to obtain regulatory approval. Instead, they must partner with a Wabanaki Nation to participate in the market.

Caesars isn't officially confirmed to launch as a Maine online casino operator because the market's regulatory framework is still being developed. However, Caesars will most likely be among the commercial operators participating in the market. It made a June announcement regarding iGaming partnerships with the Houlton Band of Maliseet Indians, Mi'kmaq Nation and Penobscot Nation. We can reasonably speculate that Caesars and its Horseshoe Casino brand will be available Maine casino apps.

DraftKings is the likeliest of these candidates to join the Maine online casino operators. It has an existing sports betting partnership with the Passamaquoddy Tribe that could easily extend to iGaming. FanDuel is a longer shot because it has no foothold in the state right now. It would have to convince the Passamaquoddy Tribe to choose it over DraftKings, considering Caesars announced it will partner with the other three tribes.

The Maine Gambling Control Unit's website features links to Problem Gambling and Self-Exclusion sections. The problem gambling page provides tips and a dozen resources, such as 211maine.org, Gamblers Anonymous, the National Council on Problem Gambling, and the Maine Prevention Store. The self-exclusion link leads to the Adept Educational Institute of Maine's page, where related topics and self-exclusion options are covered.

Written by Jeremy Olson

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