Editor
The fate of Maine’s online casino chances this year now rest with the Senate Committee on Appropriations and Financial Affairs, and the passage of the state budget on Wednesday may mean the Committee has little reason to resurrect that legislation. The bill to grant iGaming rights to the Wabanaki Nations has deadlocked the Senate and still needs final approval if it is to make it to the Governor’s desk.
Earlier this week, the bill was engrossed to be passed in both chambers. In ordinary circumstances, that would mean it was as good as passed. However, the Senate was unable to reach a majority vote to pass or reject it. Instead, it engrossed the bill—that is, sent it for final editing and printing—without a roll call.
That effectively deferred the decision to the enactment step. The House, which had already voted in favor of the bill, was quick to enact it on Tuesday.
Rather than vote again immediately, however, the Senate placed the bill on the Special Appropriations Table. What that means, in effect, is that there won’t be a vote on the bill until the committee responsible for the state budget says there is.
The motion to table the bill in this manner came from Sen. Peggy Rotundo, who was also pivotal in the drama earlier in the week. Her abstention from the vote to pass the bill meant it failed by one vote. However, she actively voted against a separate motion to reject it, keeping hope alive.
Sen. Rotundo is the Chair of the Committee in question. The Senate passed a $320 million supplemental budget on Wednesday, and the lack of mention of the iGaming bill may mean the effort is over for 2025.
What is the Special Appropriations Table?
The Special Appropriations Table is a quirk of the Maine State Senate, customarily conjured into existence each year by Senate Order on the first day of the session.
Ordered, that all Bills and Resolves carrying or requiring an appropriation or involving a loss of revenue that are in order to be passed to be enacted, or finally passed, shall, at the request of a member of the Committee on Appropriations and Financial Affairs, be placed on a special calendar to be called up for consideration only by a member of the Committee.
In other words, Sen. Rotundo avoided passing the online casino bill, but reserved for herself and her Committee the right to resurrect the bill in case they needed the money.
Maine’s Supplemental Budget Came Down to the Wire
Maine passed its regular two-year budget in March, worth $11.3 billion. However, it needed an additional $320 million toward Medicaid, child care, and education.
Senate Democrats proposed finding that revenue through increased taxes on cigarettes and cannabis, and higher fees on hunting and fishing licenses. A few of their peers in the House crossed the aisle to vote against the supplemental budget at first.
However, it ultimately passed after Senators forced a second vote in the House.
Had there been a need to find additional funding, the online casino bill might have come back up for a vote. However, the fiscal note attached to it projected only $3.4 million in state revenue for the first full year of operation, even after an amendment that upped the tax rate from 16% to 18%.
Had the bill passed, it would have allowed tribes to partner with online operators to offer casino games and poker. The tribes currently work with Caesars and DraftKings for online sports betting.the s
Statements from Sen. Rotundo, Dissenting Dems
Sen. Rotundo told state media:
In the many years I have worked on state budgets, one truth has always guided me: these are not just numbers on a page—they represent people’s lives and well-being here in Maine. These investments go toward allowing Mainers to lead full lives, and to thrive. We did not make these budget decisions lightly.
One of the dissenting Democrat voices in the House was Rep. Nina Milliken, who gave a speech against the supplementary budget. She said the Senate’s proposal was “balanced on the backs of some of Maine’s poorest residents.”
