Caesars Entertainment Partners With Maine’s Wabanaki Nations to Launch iGaming Platform

Caesars Entertainment has announced a new partnership with three Wabanaki nations to bring online casino gaming to Maine. The deal expands the company’s current sports betting business, which launched in the state in 2023.

The partnership was announced on June 25. If state regulators approve the final rules, Caesars hopes to launch its online casino platform sometime in 2026.

Building on an Existing Tribal Relationship

Caesars already works with the Wabanaki nations through its mobile sports betting platform in Maine. That partnership began in 2023 after state lawmakers gave tribal nations the exclusive right to offer online sports betting.

The company says this new iGaming agreement is the next step in its relationship with the tribes. Caesars also says it wants to create a safe and reliable online gaming experience for players in Maine.

Partnerships like this are becoming more common across the United States, where tribal nations often have special rights to operate certain forms of gaming.

What iGaming in Maine Would Actually Look Like

iGaming includes online casino games such as slot machines, blackjack, poker, and roulette that can be played on a phone or computer. It is different from sports betting because players wager on casino games instead of sporting events.

States like New Jersey, Michigan, and Pennsylvania already allow online casino gaming, and those markets have brought in significant tax revenue.

Earlier this year, Maine approved iGaming legislation, although Governor Janet Mills allowed the bill to become law without signing it. State officials are now writing the rules that will decide how online casinos will operate, who can offer them, and what protections players will have.

Oxford Casino Pushes Back in Court

Oxford Casino and Sportsbook is challenging the new law in court. The company argues that giving tribal nations exclusive rights to online casino gaming creates an unfair monopoly and leaves other casinos out of the market.

The lawsuit could slow down the launch of iGaming in Maine. Similar legal disputes have happened in other states where tribal gaming rights have been expanded.

For now, the legal case and the state’s rulemaking process are moving forward at the same time, making the launch timeline uncertain.

Community Investment and Workforce Development, and What’s Next

Caesars says the partnership will do more than expand gaming. The company plans to provide job training for members of the three Wabanaki nations and invest money in tribal community programs.

Supporters say these partnerships help tribal nations create new sources of income that can be used to fund local services and community projects.

The next major step is a public hearing in Augusta next month, where state officials will gather feedback on the proposed iGaming rules.

Caesars hopes to launch the platform in 2026, but that will depend on when the state finishes its regulations and whether the lawsuit is resolved.

If the project moves forward, Maine could add online casino gaming to its existing sports betting market, creating a new source of revenue for the state while expanding legal gaming options for residents.