Wabanaki leaders praise new internet gaming law as a step toward economic self-sufficiency

The Wabanaki Nations in Maine celebrated a major victory last week following the passage of an internet gaming bill projected to generate millions of dollars in annual revenue for tribal and non-tribal communities across the state.

Drummond Woodsum attorneys played key roles in drafting and advocating for enactment of L.D. 1164, which grants the federally recognized tribal nations in Maine the exclusive right to operate internet casino games like poker, blackjack and roulette.

Tribal Nations Practice Group co-head Corey Hinton led the firm’s efforts, which included rallying support in the legislature and working across a multi-tribal workgroup to advocate for Gov. Janet Mills, who has been skeptical of gaming, to allow the bill to become law. Attorneys Naomi Bebo, Ryan Lolar and Andrew Sweeney contributed to campaign, as did members of Drummond Woodsum’s Strategic Consulting team.

Revenue generated through internet gaming will be used to fund vital community needs, including social services, infrastructure improvements, cultural preservation and economic development initiatives. Chief William Nicholas Sr. of the Passamaquoddy Tribe at Indian Township praised the law, calling it “an economic turning point” for tribal nations in Maine.

While tribes across the United States have gained increased authority to govern themselves and grow their economies over the last half-century, the Maine Indian Claims Settlement Act of 1980 has continued to undermine Wabanaki sovereignty. A 2022 report from the Harvard Kennedy School found that the law, which exempts Maine from most federal Indian legislation, has contributed to slow economic growth and limited self-governance.

Against this backdrop, the passage of L.D. 1164 reflects both persistence and progress toward the tribes’ goal of true sovereignty.

Attorneys in Drummond Woodsum’s Tribal Nations Law practice have worked alongside the Wabanaki Nations in Maine for years to advance practical, community-centered solutions. Their work has helped secure several significant victories, including the 2022 sports betting law that has enabled the Wabanaki Nations to generate millions of dollars through partnerships with DraftKings and Caesars Sportsbook, and the Passamaquoddy Tribe’s earlier effort to amend the Maine Indian Claims Settlement Act to help address acute drinking water problems at its Sipayik Reservation.