Tribal representatives in Maine are calling on lawmakers to support a series of three bills aimed at promoting economic development in rural areas. These bills seek to expand the operations of tribal gambling to include casinos and establish an office of tribal relations within the state government.
While the proposals have generated bipartisan support in the state Legislature, they have faced opposition from the state’s licensed casinos.
The push for tribal gaming expansion in Maine is part of a broader effort to restore the sovereignty of the four federally recognized tribes in the state. These tribes have been limited by the 1980 Maine Indian Land Claims Settlement Act, which treats them as municipalities rather than sovereign nations.
The proposed bills aim to expand the tribes’ exclusive rights to online sports betting to include all forms of internet gambling and allow them to operate electronic Beano and historical horse racing terminals. Additionally, the tribes seek permission to open their own casinos.
However, the state’s two licensed casinos, Hollywood Casino and Hotel and Oxford Casino, are opposed to the tribal gambling bills. They argue that the tribes should be subject to the same rules for opening a casino, including a statewide referendum and a 100-mile buffer from existing casinos. Representatives from these licensed casinos believe that the proposed expansion would be the largest in Maine’s history, leading to intense competition for limited gaming dollars in a rural state.
Tribal leaders argue that expanding their gambling operations will not only promote economic development but also restore tribal sovereignty. They believe that granting casino licenses to the tribes would bring much-needed revenue to rural areas and allow them to address the needs of tribal citizens. Additionally, they emphasize the importance of tribal sovereignty in overcoming the historical challenges faced by Native American communities.
In addition to the gambling bills, there is a proposal to create an office of tribal relations within the Maine Department of the Secretary of State. Originally, there was a plan to create a new constitutional officer overseeing tribal relations through a statewide referendum.
However, the revised proposal suggests establishing a full office that would work on a daily basis to address tribal issues, including economic development and education. The office would be led by a deputy secretary of state and supported by an advisory board of tribal representatives.
The proposal to create an office of tribal relations has garnered support from the governor’s office. While concerns have been raised about the timeline for finalizing the details of the proposal, the governor’s office intends to be actively involved in the process. This support demonstrates a willingness to foster a working relationship between tribes and the state government.
