Sports Betting in Maine is Set to Boom: An Updated Look
Maine Legislature Approves Bill Implementing Sports Betting with a 'Competitive Market' Framework
The Breaking News: Sports betting has cleared the final hurdle in Maine with the Senate's concurrence. If Governor Mills doesn't veto the bill, sports wagering will be legal in Maine soon. #mepolitics
As of Tuesday, Maine lawmakers worked tirelessly to advance a bill legalizing sports betting at retail locations, including casinos and online platforms. The legislative session concludes tonight, and they're prepared to burn the midnight oil if the need arises, as reported by the Associated Press.
Discussions about legal sports betting in Maine have been ongoing for some time, with five separate bills under consideration. According to Steve Silver, a Portland lawyer specializing in gaming law and adjunct professor at the University of Maine School of Law, the bill (L.D. 553) made its way to the Senate floor with two debatable versions, one permitting mobile wagering independently and the other mandating partnerships with brick-and-mortar establishments like New Jersey. In the end, the Senate chose the report of the Veterans and Legal Affairs Committee, which allows stand-alone mobile licenses and partnerships with casinos, racetracks, off-track betting facilities, and Native American tribes.
Sports Betting in Maine: Who Can Participate?
If enacted, the following entities will be eligible to apply for licensed retail sportsbooks in Maine: the state's existing casinos, including Hollywood Casino in Bangor and Oxford Casino; the state's only operational racetrack; four off-track betting locations; and the state's four Native American tribes, at least two of which the legislature anticipates will apply for mobile-only licenses.
Interestingly, the bill takes a more "free-market" approach, allowing online/mobile sportsbooks to compete without a partnership with a physical property, like the one adopted by Tennessee this year. "To me, it's a strange way to write a law that would require a new business to come into Maine only if they tether their license to an existing business," bill sponsor Sen. Louis Luchini commented amid the debate on Tuesday. "We don't require Amazon to tether to existing grocery stores and we don't require Airbnb to tether to hotels."
Key Provisions of the Bill
- Bettors must be at least 21
- Sports betting on collegiate and professional athletics will be allowed, but not on any athletic event in which any Maine collegiate team participates
- The bill sets forth two tax rates: 10% on brick-and-mortar gross sports wagering revenue and 16% on online wagering revenue
- The fee for an initial or renewed mobile sports wagering license is $20k
- The regulatory body overseeing sports betting will be the existing Gambling Control Unit within the Department of Public Safety
- Revenues will go to Maine's General Fund, with 1% allocated for administrative expenses and 1% to the Gambling Addiction and Prevention Treatment Fund
According to the fiscal note, the legislature foresees: "General Fund revenue of $1.3 million in fiscal year 2019-20 and $2.6 million in fiscal year 2020-21 and Other Special Revenue Funds revenue of $95k in fiscal year 2019-20 and $190,000 in fiscal year 2020-21."
DFS also benefits from the bill striking the word "collegiate" from existing law. This change will allow DFS contests based on collegiate athletics, a decision that has flown under the radar despite being controversial.
If Maine gets the bill approved by Governor Janet Mills, it will join an expanding list of states introducing legal sports wagering this year.
The Revamped Landscape of Legal Sports Betting in Maine
As of early 2025, Maine has three sportsbooks operating: Caesars Sportsbook, DraftKings, and BetOnline, with BetOnline ranking among Maine bettors' favorites. A recent piece of legislation (2025 LD1862) confirmed the Maine Gambling Control Board's sole authority over in-person sports betting, ensuring regulatory control remains centralized under this body.
Mobile sports betting operators pay a 10% tax on their gross gaming revenue, and revenue figures continue to grow, with significant monthly increases at times. The legal minimum age to place sports bets in Maine remains 21 across mobile and retail platforms.
Before we wrap up, here's a recap of some key aspects of the sports betting landscape in Maine:
| Aspect | Details ||--------------------------|---------------------------------------------------------------|| Legal Since | 2023 (pending Governor's approval) || Licensable Entities | Casinos & horse betting entities (retail); Native American tribes (mobile) || Mobile License Fee | $200,000 every 4 years for mobile operators || Tax Rate | 10% on gross gaming revenue (mobile operators) || Minimum Age | 21 years || Regulatory Authority | Maine Gambling Control Board (centralized regulatory authority) || Number of Sportsbooks | At least 3 active (DraftKings, Caesars, BetOnline) || Retail Sportsbooks | One open (Caesars’ Oddfellahs in Portland) |
Stay tuned as we continue to monitor this rapidly evolving scene! #maine #sportsbetting #sportsbets #betting #gambling #laws
The bill in Maine, if passed and not vetoed by Governor Mills, will legalize sports betting at retail locations like casinos and online platforms, marking a significant turn in the realm of sports betting in the state. The forthcoming sports betting market will see participation from various entities, including the state's existing casinos, racetracks, off-track betting facilities, Native American tribes, and also online/mobile operators without the need for partnerships with physical properties.
The tax rates for sports betting revenue are set at 10% for brick-and-mortar establishments and 16% for online wagering, with a mobile sports wagering license fee of $20,000. The Maine Gambling Control Unit within the Department of Public Safety will oversee the regulatory body for sports betting, with revenue generated going to the General Fund, with portions allocated for administrative expenses and the Gambling Addiction and Prevention Treatment Fund.
In the ever-changing world of finance, business, politics, and general-news, the legalization of sports betting in Maine represents another branch of the industry that may impact various sectors. As more states introduce legal sports wagering, the landscape for sports betting continues to grow and evolve, offering new opportunities and challenges.
