AUGUSTA — A proposal to grant tribes in Maine exclusive access to online gambling for games such as blackjack, roulette and poker cleared a significant hurdle Thursday, though it still faces opposition from the Mills administration and public health advocates.

The bill, sponsored by Rep. Ambureen Rana, D-Bangor, cleared the House of Representatives in a bipartisan, 85-59 vote. That marks progress for the proposal in the lower chamber, which killed a similar bill last session by three votes. 

But the bill’s final passage is less certain. The Senate voted 17-17 on the measure late Thursday, meaning the motion to pass it failed, before deciding to table and revisit it later. The Mills administration also opposed Rana’s proposal during a public hearing in March.

LD 1164 would grant exclusive iGaming rights to four federally recognized tribes in Maine — the Passamaquoddy Tribe, the Penobscot Nation, the Houlton Band of Maliseet Indians and the Mi’kmaq Nation.

The state would receive 18% of the gross receipts, generating millions of dollars annually for a variety of programs, including gambling addiction prevention and treatment, opioid use prevention and treatment, the Maine Veterans’ Homes, Fund for Healthy Maine, school renovation loans, and emergency housing relief.

Proponents argued that giving tribes exclusive access to online gambling would provide a much needed economic boost, not only for tribes, but surrounding communities, especially in Aroostook and Washington counties. Online gambling is already happening illegally here and regulating it will allow the state and residents to benefit from additional tax dollars, they said.

But opponents argued that online gambling is a public health concern, since it’s easily accessible through cell phones, and could hurt the brick-and-mortar casinos in Bangor and Oxford, which generate significant revenue.

Rep. Brian Reynolds of the Houlton Band of Maliseets said the bill would “lay the foundation for self-reliance through modern tools,” noting that tribes already have experience with online gambling, since the state granted them exclusive rights to online sports betting, which went live in 2023.

“This is a chance for us to meet economic needs without waiting on federal grants or new appropriations,” Reynolds said. “It allows us to stand on our own through a legal regulated system that’s already functioning throughout the United States of America.”

Rep. Aaron Dana, of the Passamaquoddy Tribe, said the bill would promote economic development and job opportunities for both tribal and nontribal communities. He said tribal communities will reinvest their profits in local communities, rather than shipping it out of state.

“It offers hope and opportunity, not just for the tribal communities, but also for rural Maine in counties like Washington and Aroostook,” Dana said. “The bill is about more than business — it’s about fairness and dignity and long overdue economic inclusion, especially for rural Maine.”

Opponents, however, highlighted the addictive nature of online gambling.

Rep. Nathan Carlow, R-Buxton, said the bill is not about economics.

“(Online) gaming preys on our poorest and most vulnerable people,” he said. “It’s way more addictive than casino gambling. People — particularly young men — are signing away their financial health, freedom and future, and it’s wrong for this body to exploit them for money.”

The bill was also opposed during a public hearing by the Maine Center for Disease Control and Prevention and the Gambling Control Unit.

Maine CDC Director Puthiery Va warned that “internet gambling is a format that can be isolating, and isolation is a risk factor for poor health outcomes.”

“Electronics, including computers and cellphones, are also isolating and addictive devices, and for that reason there are public health concerns about increasing access to gambling in such a manner that allows for play at all hours with opportunity for impulsive and problem gambling behavior,” she said.

But Rep. Anne Graham, a nurse practitioner who said she rarely disagrees with the Maine CDC, does on this issue.

“I think this situation is different,” Graham said. “Unfortunately, iGaming is happening illegally now. I believe the ‘horse is out of the barn’ and regulating iGaming is the smart thing to do.”

Just this week, the Department of Public Safety issued a warning about unregulated online gambling sites offering real payouts that are being operated by out-of-state and foreign entities.

“The Gambling Control Unit wants to make it very clear: no online casino, iGaming, or sweepstakes site is licensed by the Gambling Control Unit,” GCU Executive Director Milton Champion said in a written statement. “We strongly encourage everyone to avoid these websites; however, patrons who choose to engage with these unlicensed platforms do so at their own risk.”