Maine just became the eighth state to legalize online casinos, and the way it went down has the entire gambling industry buzzing.

Governor Janet Mills announced Thursday she would let the tribal iGaming bill pass into law — and the Passamaquoddy Tribe's Chief William Nicholas Sr. immediately called her "the greatest ever." Meanwhile, the state's gambling regulators are absolutely livid about getting cut out.

The Quick Hit

• What happened: Maine legalized online casinos, exclusive to four tribal nations
• The tribes: Passamaquoddy, Penobscot, Houlton Band of Maliseet, Mi'kmaq Nation
• Tax rate: 18% of gross receipts to the state
• Opposition: Gambling Control Board voted 5-0 to recommend veto, got ignored

This Was a Fight

The Maine Gambling Control Board wasn't subtle about their opposition. In December, they unanimously voted to send a letter urging Mills to veto the bill. The chairman admitted he actually supports iGaming — "just not in this format that cuts them out."

Translation: the existing casinos wanted a piece, didn't get it, and are big mad about it.

Mills didn't budge. She said conversations with the five elected chiefs of the Wabanaki Nations convinced her the bill was "vital for economic sovereignty" and would provide "life-changing revenue" for tribal communities.

The DraftKings/FanDuel exit from the American Gaming Association last week already showed cracks in the industry's united front. Now Maine's regulators are learning the hard way that tribal sovereignty trumps their preferences.

Where the Money Goes

The 18% tax on gross receipts will fund:

• Gambling addiction prevention and treatment
• Opioid use prevention
• Maine Veterans' Homes
• School renovation loans
• Emergency housing relief

Not a bad list, honestly.

The Opposition Isn't Done

The National Association Against iGaming has already announced plans to fight back through Maine's People's Veto process. They'll need to collect enough signatures to put it on the ballot.

Good luck with that. Trying to convince voters to overturn a law that funds veterans and schools while generating new revenue is a tough sell.

Why This Matters

Maine becomes the eighth state with legal online casinos, joining New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Michigan, West Virginia, Connecticut, Delaware, and Rhode Island. That's still a small club, but it's growing.

For degenerates in Maine, online casino games are coming. The timeline for launch isn't set yet, but tribal operators are surely already working on infrastructure.

The existing gambling tax changes that took effect January 1 — including the new 90% loss deduction cap — will apply to Maine's online casino winnings too. So plan accordingly.

The Bottom Line

Maine just handed exclusive online casino rights to four tribal nations, and the state's gambling regulators can pound sand. The "greatest ever" governor just created a new revenue stream while giving tribal nations economic autonomy.

Whether you're excited about more states opening up iGaming or annoyed that Maine didn't go with a competitive licensing model, one thing's clear: the online casino map keeps expanding. Eight states down, 42 to go.