Campaign for Fairer Gambling criticizes Maine's iGaming legalization plan

• Following Gov. Janet Mills iGaming veto reversal, the Campaign for Fairer Gambling released a new statement
• The organization criticized the Governor's decision, warning that legalizing online gambling won't replace the black market
• One of the main concerns of the Campaign for Fairer Gambling is online slots, which are highly addictive and can target impact on gamblers and their families

Last week, Maine made a huge leap forward with plans for legalizing online gambling.

While previously, Gov. Janet Mills was in opposition to the iGaming expansion, she didn't veto the proposal that seeks to grant Maine Tribes rights over the activity.

Not unexpectedly, this reversal of the Governor's position faced scrutiny and raised concerns.

The online gambling legalization in the state raises concerns

On Thursday, the Campaign for Fairer Gambling, an organization advocating for consumer protection from gambling, released a statement, warning about the dangers of online gambling.

The organization criticized Gov. Mills for the reversal of her plan to impose a veto on the iGaming law.

The Campaign for Fairer Gambling acknowledged that online gambling activities legal in Maine include sports betting, adding that the majority of iGaming, such as slots and online casinos, remain illegal.

Derek Webb, the Campaign for Fairer Gambling's founder, commented on the topic, Casino Guru News learned from a press release.

"I thought that we had reached the point where there was a consensus that the US expansion of online gambling has been a disaster," he explained.

Finally, Webb pointed out: "Janet Mills has proven that as Governor she has failed to protect the people of Maine with integrity."

iGaming is expected to result in harm

The Campaign for Fairer Gambling criticized Maine's plan to regulate online gambling, casting doubt that legalization of the activity will replace the illegal gambling sector.

"It does not – it normalizes the activity, growing the total market, the total consumption, the total harm, and the illegal sector. Besides, the Mills Administration has done little to attempt to combat illegal online gambling," the organization's statement reads.

Focusing on online slot games, the Campaign for Fairer Gambling warned that they represent one of the most addictive forms of gambling that are "targeting anybody, anywhere, anytime, in any condition."

Painting a grim picture of online gambling and its impact, the organization predicted that the number of gamblers affected by harm will grow year after year.

"The vast majority of the losses will be from a small percentage of adults, including those most harmed," it further explained.

Concerningly, the Campaign for Fairer Gambling pointed to the impact gambling harm has on families and communities.

It also predicted that proceeds from regulated gambling would not be sufficient to cover the increased costs of state services and exponential harm.

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