Caesars Entertainment Set to Launch 3 Online Casino Sites in Maine Deal
Caesars Entertainment is preparing to launch three online casinos in Maine following a partnership deal with the state’s tribes.
The gambling company, which runs online casinos in the U.S., including Horseshoe Online Casino, will roll out the sites across Maine. Caesars already offers legal online slots and table games in multiple states, including New Jersey.
Three of Maine’s tribes — Penobscot Nation, the Houlton Band of Maliseet Indians, and the Mi’kmaq Nation — now have Caesars as a partner. Only the Passamaquoddy Tribe has no official online casino partner.
At a Glance:
- Caesars Entertainment to provide online casinos to three Maine tribes
- Under Maine casino law, tribes can partner with one commercial operator
- Horseshoe Online Casino and Caesars Palace Online Casino set to roll out
Maine online casino expansion to 'benefit tribes'
Maine legalized online casinos in January with LD 1164: “An Act to Create Economic Opportunities for the Wabanaki Nations Through Internet Gaming.”
Gov. Janet Mills said in January: "I considered this bill carefully, and while I have concerns about the impacts of gambling on public health, I believe that this new form of gambling should be regulated, and I am confident that Maine's Gambling Control Unit will develop responsible rules and standards to hold providers of this new form of gambling accountable while ensuring that Maine's tribes benefit from its operations.”
The bill had widespread support from all of Maine’s tribes. In fact, the tribes already have entrenched partnerships with gambling operators following the state’s legalization of sports betting in 2022.
Three of Maine’s tribes have a current deal with Caesars Sportsbook. Only the Passamaquoddy Tribe has gone out on its own with a DraftKings deal. It’s likely that DraftKings Casino will be the partner of choice for the tribe.
Existing Wabanaki Nations sports betting deals in Maine
- Houlton Band of Maliseet Indians: Caesars Sportsbook
- Mi’kmaq Nation: Caesars Sportsbook
- Penobscot Nation: Caesars Sportsbook
- Passamaquoddy Tribe: DraftKings Sportsbook
Maine joins 7 states with legal online casinos
Maine’s online casino bill passed through the state legislature in April, with a rough July 15 launch date penciled in.
With Maine’s tribal gaming expansion, it will become the eighth state in the U.S. to have regulated online casinos.
The range will be limited, so residents won’t be able to play Playtech games at bet365, nor exclusive slots at BetMGM.
However, Caesars’ online casinos do offer around 1,000 slots each, some of them unique to the sites.
States with regulated online casinos in 2026
- New Jersey (launched 2013)
- Delaware (launched 2013)
- Pennsylvania (launched 2019)
- Michigan (launched 2019)
- West Virginia (launched 2020)
- Connecticut (launched 2021)
- Rhode Island (launched 2024)
Maine's online casino move follows sweepstakes ban
The legalization of tribal casinos in Maine follows a general ban on sweepstakes casinos in the state.
Maine is one of a handful of U.S. states that is clamping down hard on sweepstakes casinos, which it treats as unregulated gambling sites.
With the launch of online casinos in Maine, the state is enacting the Act Regarding the Prohibition of Online Sweepstakes Games. It will prohibit dual-currency gambling sites that offer a mix of Gold Coins and Sweeps Coins that players can use on slots and other games.
Soon, over-21s in Maine will only have access to regulated slots and games for real money. Both Caesars Entertainment and the Maine tax collectors will surely be hitting the jackpot, too.
