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Live Online Sports Betting in Maine
LD 585 was enacted in May 2022. It authorized online and retail sports betting in Maine. It established the Maine Gambling Control Unit (MGCU) to oversee the business.
Only the state’s four federally acknowledged Native American tribes- the Maliseet, Micmac, Penobscot, and Passamaquoddy- are eligible for online sports betting licenses. The tribes can collaborate with a single commercial operator. Retail sportsbooks in the state are limited to commercial racetracks, casinos, and off-track betting facilities.
Tribes will receive 50% or more of mobile revenue, the state will receive 10%, and the remaining 0.25% will be paid toward federal taxes. The MGCU, particularly Executive Chairman Milton Champion, was chastised throughout the regulatory process for its stringent rules and regulations. While many of them were repealed, two remained.
Operators are not permitted to use celebrities in their marketing, nor are they permitted to advertise special deals. Betting on Maine college football teams is also illegal.
Caesars Sportsbook Opens in the Pine Tree State
Those interested in placing online sports bets can do so immediately through Caesars Sportsbook. The state’s first official bookmaker, Caesars, is affiliated with the Maliseet, Micmac, and Penobscot nations.
Other bookmakers, like BetMGM Sportsbook and DraftKings, have obtained licenses to operate in the state.
BetMGM has signed agreements with two off-track gambling facilities in the state to launch in-person sportsbooks. Meanwhile, DraftKings Sportsbook has teamed with the Passamaquoddy Tribe. The tribes have no financial interest in the retail sports betting sector.
Sports Betting Market in New England is Nearly Complete
With the recent inclusion of Maine to the United States sports betting market, which now includes nearly 40 states, legal sports betting in every state in New England is on the verge of becoming a reality.
Maine is the fifth state to allow sports betting, following Massachusetts, Connecticut, Rhode Island, and New Hampshire. Vermont is now the lone state without it; however, in June this year, Gov. Phil Scott approved a Vermont sports betting bill into law. All of the following companies have applied: BetMGM, DraftKings, Fanatics Betting and Gaming, FanDuel, along with Penn Sports Interactive (ESPN Bet). The state is set to go live in early 2024.
