Online Casinos in New England? Massachusetts, Maine mull iCasino
Published:
Jul 3, 2025
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11:52 a.m.
ET
Key Points:
Both Massachusetts and Maine are actively considering legislation to legalize online casinos, also referred to as iCasino or iGaming.
If passed, advocates of the bills point out that these laws could significantly boost state tax revenue, as iGaming often generates far more revenue than mobile sports betting.
Opposition exists in both states due to public health concerns, especially the risk of increased gambling addiction.
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Massachusetts and Maine are the latest states to enter the national conversation around the legalization of online casinos. Often referred to as iGaming, these platforms include digital versions of popular casino games like slots, blackjack and roulette, providing fast-paced, 24/7 wagering from any smartphone or desktop.
Only seven states currently permit legal online casinos: Delaware, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Michigan, Connecticut, Rhode Island and West Virginia. Many more states are considering iGaming legalization, and it’s not hard to see why.
For example, Michigan reported iGaming gross receipts of $260.5 million in March 2025, versus $33 million from online sports betting in the same month. Gambling operators submitted $51.4 million in state taxes and payments, with iGaming taxes and fees contributing $50.5 million and online sports betting taxes and fees accounting for just $874,052.
With Maine’s bill advancing to Governor Janet Mills' desk and Massachusetts holding legislative hearings on two comprehensive proposals, New England may soon see a dramatic shift in how, where and how often its residents gamble.
Status of Online Casino legislation in Massachusetts and Maine
Massachusetts
Massachusetts has long taken a cautious approach to gambling expansion. The state only launched online sports betting in 2023 and legalized online lottery sales in 2024. Now, two bills – HB 332 and SB 235 – seek to legalize online casinos as well. These proposals would allow current casino licensees (three in-state casinos) to operate two online casino platforms each. They would grant up to four licenses to qualified out-of-state operators with a presence in at least three U.S. jurisdictions. These proposals would also permit interstate compacts for shared online poker pools and remote live dealer streaming.
Additionally, these proposals require a $5 million licensing fee, a 20% tax on gross gaming revenue, prohibit advertising to underage users and mandate responsible gambling safeguards, including self-exclusion tools and employee training.
Lawmakers remain wary, however, for a number of reasons, including the societal impacts in the Commonwealth. Also, the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe’s long-delayed plans for a new casino in Taunton could also complicate the political landscape if they feel disadvantaged by new online competition.
Maine
In late June 2025, Maine’s online casino bill LD 1164 cleared the Appropriations Table, making it one of just 117 bills to advance from over 300 initially introduced. If signed by Governor Mills, the bill would grant exclusive iCasino rights to Maine’s four federally recognized tribes: the Passamaquoddy, Penobscot, Houlton Band of Maliseet Indians and Mi’kmaq Nation. The bill would also establish an 18% tax on gross gaming revenue.
If signed, it’s estimated the bill would bring in $1.8 million in revenue during the program’s first year, with a structure modeled after Maine’s existing online sports betting system.
Just because the bill has reached Governor Mills’ desk does not mean this is a done deal. The Mills administration previously testified against LD 1164, alongside the state Gambling Control Unit. Now that the legislative session has adjourned, the governor cannot be overridden if she issues a veto or a pocket veto (opts not to sign the bill).
Some brick-and-mortar casino advocates are in opposition of the bill, arguing that expanding to online platforms could erode in-person gaming revenue and create new public health risks.
Are these iCasino bills likely to be passed into law?
In both Massachusetts and Maine, the outlook remains uncertain. While bills have advanced through key legislative checkpoints, powerful opposition remains, particularly around the potential for increased gambling addiction, regulatory complexity and political pushback from groups already invested in the current gambling landscape.
At the same time, economic incentives are hard to ignore. The seven states that have legalized iGaming have reported significant tax revenue gains.
These attractive figures have spurred growing interest in New England as budget pressures and the need for new revenue sources to fund public services are evident in many states.
Ohio also exploring online casino legalization
Like Massachusetts and Maine, Ohio is also weighing whether to expand into the iGaming space. The state introduced HB 298 and SB 197 in early 2025. These proposals aim to legalize online slots, table games and poker, with differing tax structures and regulatory scopes.
While economic arguments echo those heard in New England, highlighting substantial tax revenue potential, the concerns in Ohio also center on addiction risks, especially given the 24/7 accessibility of digital casinos.
Governor Mike DeWine recently warned about the “massive” potential for addiction, underscoring the shared tension between fiscal opportunity and public health seen across all three states
Considerations and debate around legalizing Online Casino in Massachusetts and Maine
Much like Ohio’s own iGaming debates, the policy discussion in Massachusetts and Maine centers around a classic tradeoff: economic opportunity versus public health risk.
Pros:
Increased tax revenue that could be directed toward schools, infrastructure or healthcare.
Improved consumer protections, such as age verification and gambling limits, compared to unregulated offshore sites.
New job creation in tech, compliance, and customer service roles within the iGaming sector.
Cons:
Increased addiction risk, particularly among young adults or those with preexisting mental health conditions.
Harder to monitor underage access on digital platforms.
Potential for financial harm due to the rapid, high-frequency nature of online casino games.
While sports betting has now expanded to 38 U.S. states (soon to be 39 with Missouri going live later this year), online casinos are considered a “step further,” often associated with more severe gambling outcomes.
Gambling Addiction treatment in MA and ME
The “house edge” on digital games like slot), combined with potential 24/7 access can create significantly higher play volume, more impulsive betting and faster financial losses. This is particularly concerning for New England’s youth, lower-income populations and people with prior mental health diagnoses.
Birches Health has seen firsthand how iGaming can lead to compulsive behaviors that impact careers, relationships and mental health. That’s why Birches provides discreet, evidence-based therapy, specifically tailored to treat gambling addiction.
Each patient receives a customized treatment plan built around cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), accountability strategies and self-management tools.
Best of all, Birches is available anywhere in Massachusetts and Maine via telehealth technology, and costs can be covered by all major insurance providers.
Ready to take the first step?
Call 833-483-3838
Email help@bircheshealth.com
