(The Center Square) — Maine’s federally recognized tribes will have exclusive rights to develop sports betting in the state under a proposal that outgoing Gov. Janet Mills has allowed to become law without her signature.

The legislation, which has been debated for years, will update a decades-old compact with the state’s Wabanaki Nations – the Passamaquoddy, Penobscot, Micmac, and Houlton Band of Maliseet – allowing them to set up an online sports gambling market, including setting regulations and taxes on bets placed on professional sports. Each nation will get a state license to host online sports betting venues such as MGM and DraftKings. 

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