Maine’s local casino market is getting closer to a major expansion, although players should not expect legal online casino apps to appear overnight.
Caesars Entertainment has expanded its relationship with three Wabanaki Nations as it prepares for Maine’s regulated online casino market. The company has agreements with the Penobscot Nation, Mi’kmaq Nation and Houlton Band of Maliseet Indians, building on relationships established through Maine sports betting.
Caesars has announced plans for three online casino brands in Maine: Caesars Palace Online Casino, Caesars Sportsbook & Casino and Horseshoe Online Casino. Subject to regulatory approval, those platforms are expected to offer familiar online casino games including slots, table games and live dealer titles.
That gives Maine residents a much clearer picture of what the state’s eventual regulated casino market could look like.
The bigger question is when they will actually be able to play.
Maine enacted LD 1164, An Act to Create Economic Opportunity for the Wabanaki Nations Through Internet Gaming, in January 2026 after Gov. Janet Mills allowed the legislation to become law without her signature. The law gives the Wabanaki Nations a central role in Maine’s regulated internet gaming market.
Legal authorization, however, isn’t the same thing as having licensed casino apps ready for customers.
As of August 2026, Maine is still working through the regulatory and licensing process needed to turn the law into an operating market. The Maine Gambling Control Unit has published internet gaming applications, but its website states that those applications are not currently being accepted and that a submission date will be announced later.
Current Online Gambling Options In Maine
Maine already has legal mobile sports betting. Caesars Sportsbook and DraftKings are among the state’s regulated sports wagering operators, so residents are accustomed to placing legal wagers from a phone or computer.
Online casino gambling is a different matter. Until Maine’s licensed iGaming platforms receive the necessary approvals and go live, residents do not have a state-regulated real-money online casino equivalent to the legal casino apps available in established iGaming states.
That hasn’t stopped offshore gambling sites from being accessible online. The sites featured in our OnlineMaineCasinos.com gambling guide are all licensed by trusted gaming regulators and offer numerous customer protections despite being labeled as unregulated by state officials.
The Maine Gambling Control Unit says only appropriately licensed entities may offer online gambling covered by state law. It also warns that customers using unlicensed platforms do so at their own risk. If an offshore casino refuses a withdrawal, closes an account, or becomes involved in a dispute with a player, Maine regulators may be unable to intervene and resolve the issue.
That regulatory gap is one reason the arrival of licensed Maine online casinos would represent such a substantial change.
Instead of sending players to offshore websites without Maine oversight, the regulated market is designed to bring internet casino gambling under state rules that cover areas such as player accounts, geolocation, cybersecurity, responsible gambling, advertising, wagering systems, and complaints.
When Do Online Casinos Go Live In Maine?
Maine has already authorized online casino gambling by law. What the state does not yet have is a fully launched market of licensed online casino operators.
The next stage is implementation.
The Maine Gambling Control Unit has been developing the regulations that will determine how internet casinos operate. Proposed rules cover licensing, internal controls, house rules, cybersecurity reporting, internet gaming systems, player accounts, geolocation, responsible wagering, advertising, promotions, and disciplinary procedures. A public hearing was held on July 15, 2026, followed by a written comment deadline on July 27.
Operators also need licenses and regulatory approval before accepting wagers. The state has prepared applications for internet gaming operators, suppliers, management service providers, and certain employees, but the Gambling Control Unit currently says those applications cannot be submitted yet.
Caesars therefore has a head start in terms of commercial partnerships, but it cannot simply switch on its casino apps for Maine customers.
There is another issue hanging over the market: litigation.
Oxford Casino has challenged Maine’s tribal-focused iGaming framework in federal court, arguing that the structure improperly excludes commercial casinos from competing directly for online casino rights. The challenge adds another potential complication as Maine works toward implementation.
For now, Maine players are in an unusual middle ground. Online casino gambling has been authorized, major operators are preparing to enter the market, and the regulatory framework is taking shape—but licensed Maine online casinos have not yet opened for business.