Legal sports betting is coming to Maine! Sports betting became legal on May 2, 2022, thanks to Governor Janet Mills signing Bill LD 585 into law. This development paves the way for the state’s citizens to finally be able to place a legal sports wager.
After some legislative wrangling in the state’s two Houses, Bill LD 585 was born and passed in the House on April 19, 2022, by a healthy 23-11 margin. It wasn’t until the last day of the 2022 legislative session, May 2, that the Governor made it official. It will take some time before Maine residents are able to place a bet with any gambling provider, but the rules are in place for the licensing process to begin.
Maine joins other Northeast states New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Connecticut, New York and even their neighbors in Canada as jurisdictions that have adopted legal sports betting. Maine’s other nearby neighbor, Massachusetts, will also have legal sports betting in early 2023.
In an unusual twist, only the four federally recognized Indian Tribes – the Penobscot, Passamaquoddy, Micmac, and Maliseet, will be authorized to offer online sports betting in Maine. The tribes will be able to pursue partnerships with sportsbook operators hoping to enter Maine’s new sports betting scene.
It is a huge step up from the two casinos that currently operate in the state. For now, those casinos look as though they will be limited to retail sports betting only. The state’s six off-track betting facilities likely won’t get a crack at a mobile platform either… at least for now.
Latest News on Maine Sports Betting
The rulemaking process is now complete in Maine, and mobile sports betting launched on November 3, 2023. As mentioned above, the four tribes in the state are the only entities that qualify for a mobile betting license, and they recently announced their sportsbook partnerships. So far, Caesars Sportsbook and DraftKings Sportsbook are the only operators that are assured of launching their mobile sportsbook in the state. Three of the four tribes in the state decided to partner with Caesars, while the Passamaquoddy Tribe went with DraftKings.
Other large operators, most notably FanDuel, have publicly stated they have no intention of operating in Maine. This is in part due to the licensing requirements that favor the tribes, but it is also partially due to the very strict sportsbook advertising rules that would limit how much the operators could market to the state’s residents.
Right now, Caesars and DraftKings have a duopoly in Maine, though that could change later on. Whatever happens, we do not expect very many big-name operators to launch in Maine.
For more information on the latest developments in Maine, check out these recent news articles from SportsHandle, our sister website:
- Maine to launch legal digital sports betting on Friday with two operators
- Maine regulator aiming for early November launch
- Maine gambling control chief back at work after unpaid suspension
- Mobile sports betting expected to launch in three states by the end of 2023
Persons under 21 years of age may not participate in sports wagering. Gambling problem? Call 1-800 GAMBLER or visit Adcareme.org
Details of Maine Sports Betting Legalization
It hasn’t been for the lack of trying, but Maine finally got with the times and joined the U.S. legal sports betting family. The idea was floated and then vetoed in 2019 by the same Governor that passed it May 2, 2022 – Janet Mills. Maine’s House blocked another attempt for sports betting in Maine in 2020 and the battle had been ongoing until momentum picked up for legalization in the Spring of 2022.
After several years of setbacks that saw legalized sports betting wither on the metaphorical vine, 2022 began with a heavy push by Maine lawmakers to get some sort of sports betting legislation enacted. After a great deal of negotiation and dealing, LD 585 was approved by both houses April 19, 2022, and signed into law May 2, 2022.
Whether it was New York’s unprecedented emergence on the national scene or the popularity of sports betting in Connecticut, it was obviously the time in Maine to seize on the idea of sports betting, the revenues, and jobs it creates and the new form of taxation it generates for the state.
More on LD 585
Here are some details of what we can expect in Maine after the passage of LD 585:
- The Penobscot, Passamaquoddy, Micmac, and Maliseet tribes – all are part of the state’s Wabanki Nations, will be allotted one mobile license.
- The legal age for legal sports betting will be 21 years. Neighboring New Hampshire allows those 18+ to place a sports wager, but in Maine it is 21.
- The tax rate for online wagering is set at 10%
- Licensing fees for the tribes will be $200,000 for four years. Commercial sportsbook partners will be expected to pay an additional $40,000.
- The state’s two retail facilities are able to offer retail, in-person sports betting. Their licensing fee was set at $4,000 for four years.
- There will be four other retail licenses available in Maine. The state’s six off-track betting facilities will be in the running for those licenses.
- In-state college team betting is not allowed.
- Betting must take place within the geofenced Maine state lines. Registration for the state’s online providers can take place anywhere but you do need to physically be within Maine to place a bet
Existing Casinos in Maine
There are only two retail casinos in the state. Each will be immediately eligible for a retail sports betting license and will be able to partner with any sportsbook competing for market share in Maine. Maine’s six off-track betting facilities will also be eligible to apply for a retail sports betting license.
Oxford Casino
- Owner: TwinSpires
- Sports Betting: Not yet, but will launch sometime in 2023
- Games: Slots and Table Games
Hollywood Casino Hotel & Raceway Bangor
- Owner: Penn National Gaming
- Sports Betting: Not yet, but will launch sometime in 2023
- Games: Slots, Poker, Race Track, and Table Games
Maine Sportsbook Bonuses
One of the benefits of a licensed, regulated sports betting market is the perks that bettors gain. The state will gain 10% of the revenues from the industry for state and local coffers as well but for now, let’s concentrate on the bonuses and promotions that some of the big names in the sportsbook industry will be bringing to the Maine market.
U.S. sportsbooks have been in the midst of a gold rush. All are striving for a bigger cut of the American legal sports betting pie. While not proving to be the most prudent business decision, sportsbooks are offering huge Welcome Bonuses to lure potential bettors in and a host of continuing promotions to keep their clientele engaged.
Here are the most common sportsbook bonuses and new customer promotions, most of which will be offered by the sportsbooks that eventually open up in Maine:
- First Bet Bonus – A first bet promotion has gained in popularity in the U.S, market. It is essentially a guarantee that your first sportsbook experience with the new company won’t be a losing one. Any loss for that first bet will be returned to the customer in the form of site credits or a bonus bet.
- Deposit Match – The other main welcome bonus likely coming to Maine is the deposit match, which is considered the best of the Welcome Bonuses. The deposit match simply allows bettors to double their first deposit with the sportsbook – extra value for simply signing up and depositing into a sportsbook account. For example, if you signed up for DraftKings and deposit $1000 into your account, the DraftKings will also contribute $1000 to your sportsbook account. The added funds mostly come in the form of site credits and do have terms and conditions attached to them.
- First bet match – Sportsbooks will essentially double your first bet. On a $100 bet, you get the chance to win $200. If you lose, you lose.
- Bonus bet – Otherwise known as a “no deposit bonus,” sportsbooks may offer bettors in Maine Bonus Bets just for giving their sports betting platforms
- Refer a Friend Bonus
- Contests and tournaments
Maine Sportsbook Banking Options
The evolution of the U.S. legal sports betting industry has forced participating sportsbooks to adopt and support a broad set of banking options for their customers. Sure, the old methods of funding accounts are there, but now sportsbooks a branching out and supporting such deposit and withdrawal methods as e-wallets and even Apple Pay. Whatever way you want to fund your account will likely be OK with sportsbooks operating in Maine. Included on that list (although some of the options may not be available right away) are:
- Credit/Debit cards
- Online Banking
- Bank Wire Transfer
- ACH eCheck
- e-Wallet options such as PayPal and Apple Pay
- PayNearMe
- Cash deposits/withdrawals at the cages at one of the state’s retail sports betting locations
Available Sports
Along with the expected heavyweight providers to the Maine legal sports betting scene comes a huge menu of sports for people to bet on. There will be all of the usual favorites on the Maine sports betting menu plus some more obscure, overseas options. Bettors in Maine won’t have to search too hard to find sports betting action on any one of their desired wagering sports. The impressive list of sports to bet on will include most or all of the following:
- Football (NFL and NCAA)
- Basketball (NBA and NCAA)
- Baseball
- Soccer
- Hockey
- MMA/Boxing
- Golf
- Motor Sports
- Cycling
- Tennis
- Rugby
- Cricket
- Snooker
- Olympic Sports
- Table Tennis
- Volleyball
- Australian Rules
- Darts
- And many more depending on the sportsbook and time of year
Of note, betting on in-state college programs in Maine will be prohibited. There is only one D-1 team in the state, anyway.
Maine Sports Betting Bet Types
Just like the impressive list of sports that Maine bettors are able to wager on, the volume of bet types has followed the elite providers to Maine. Markets, or “bet types” have become a focus for some sportsbooks around the country. The more exciting and the more expansive list of bet types a sportsbook can generate has served them well so far in the American market.
The list of bet types that Maine’s mobile and retail sports betting providers bring to the state are:
- Spread – A spread bet gives bettors a chance to bet on the amount of points a winner will win by or a loser will lose by. Sportsbooks set the “Spread.” If the Philadelphia Eagles are favored by 3 points (-3) over the New York Giants (+3), a winning bet cashes ONLY if Philadelphia wins by more than 3 points. A bet on the Giants would cash if the New York wins outright or loses by less than 3 points.
- Total or Over/Under – A total bet is betting on the total number of points/goals recorded by two combatants. The “Total” is determined by sportsbooks. If sportsbooks think 200 points will be scored in a game featuring the Boston Celtics and New York Knicks, an “Over” bet wins if the teams surpass a combined 200 points. An “Under” bet wins if the teams fail to reach 200 combined points.
- Moneyline – A moneyline bet is picking the winner of a match. There is almost always a favorite and underdog. With moneyline bets, payouts on favorites are always less than a bet on the Underdog.
- In-play / Live betting – Live bets are bets that take place after a match has already started and relies on the ebb-and-flow of a game. You can place a bet after the first round of a fight or at halftime of a football game for example.
- Player prop bets – Betting on the performance of an individual player or team is a prop bet. If you think a player is going to have a good game, for example, you can bet on them to score over a certain number of points. Prop bets are unrelated to the outcome of the game but are a fun way to have action on a game you’re watching.
- Futures – A futures bet predicts the outcome of a season-long event like the winner of a Conference, league, or the MVP of a specific league.
- Parlay – Parlay bets combine two or more bets into one. Parlays are a more risk/reward type of betting as they are more difficult to win. You can bet on two or more games in the same sports, different sport or can partake in two or more wagering opportunities in the same game.
- Teasers – A teaser bet is a parlay, but with the spread “teased” up or down by a certain amount, normally 6 points for NFL. So if you think the Patriots will win, but not by the 10-point spread, you can combine it with another teased bet to tease the spread down to 4. The payout is lower, but the chances of winning are better than a parlay because the spread is more favorable to the bettor.
More on Sports Betting in Maine
Maine ranks as the 42nd most populous state in America with 1.36 million residents. There are no professional teams that call Maine home and there is just one D-1 college program in the state, the Maine Black Bears.
There is no shortage of benefits of having a legal, regulated sports betting market for Maine residents. We have already mentioned the bonuses, the markets and the tax revenue that will be staying at home but there is also a huge safety element that is gained by bettors shying away from offshore and black-market books in favor of regulated ones.
Sportsbooks operating in Maine will have to pass stringent regulatory hurdles and require only the best in SSL encryption software to keep your personal and banking information safe. It took some time, but Maine bettors are finally on the path to their own legal, regulated, and safe sports betting platform, one that will be taxed to the benefit of home-grown programs.
Maine Sports Betting FAQ
Is sports betting legal in Maine?
Yes. On May 2, 2022, Bill LD 585 was signed into law by Governor Janet Mills. The legislation allows for both retail and online sportsbooks in Maine. Caesars Sportsbook and DraftKings Sportsbook launched their mobile apps in the state on November 3, 2023.
Is online sports betting coming to Maine?
Yes. Each of Maine’s 4 Indian tribes (Penobscot, Passamaquoddy, Micmac, & Maliseet) have been given permission to seek partnerships with third-party online sportsbooks. Online sports betting should be available in Maine sometime in November 2023. The Passamaquoddy tribe partnered with DraftKings, and the other three tribes partnered with Caesars to bring mobile betting to the state.
What is the legal age of Maine sports betting?
The legal age to place a bet in Maine is 21.
Do I have to be a resident of Maine to place a bet?
No. But you do have to be within Maine state lines in order to place a bet with one of their online sports betting providers.
Which sportsbooks are coming to Maine?
Caesars Sportsbook and DraftKings Sportsbook launched in Maine on November 3, 2023. It is uncertain right now whether any additional sportsbooks will open up in the state later on.