Legal Sports Betting Coming to Maine on Friday, Nov. 3

Maine’s legal mobile sports betting industry, eagerly anticipated, now has a set launch date. Following Gov. Janet Mills’ approval of online sports wagering legislation in May 2022, the law officially goes into effect on August 2, 2022. This Friday marks the end of the waiting period for excited Maine sports bettors, who will soon have access to some of the top sports betting sites in the state.

Legalizing Maine’s sports betting platform took 15 months, which was longer than most other legal sports betting jurisdictions in the American market, due to an extended public hearing timeline and a lengthy rule-making process.

According to Shannon Moss, spokesperson for the Maine Department of Public Safety’s Gambling Control Unit, licensed operators, their management service providers, and suppliers can begin pre-launch advertising to accept registrations and account deposits starting November 1. The go-live date for this is set for November 3, 2023.

Now for the what’s and where’s

The launch date for Maine sports betting apps is now confirmed, but details on which apps will be available and where they can be accessed remain unclear. Currently, Caesars Underscoreg is the only active sports betting site in Maine, with more expected to launch soon. However, it is unlikely that they will be operational in time to capitalize on Week 9 of the NFL season.

Governor Mills relinquished control of the state’s mobile sports betting platform to the Native American Tribes of Maine, with Caesars forming partnerships with three tribes in the state. An announcement regarding a fourth partnership is still pending.

Retail sports betting is currently available in the state through partnerships with Native Tribes. Seven locations, including Oxford Casino and Hollywood Casino, offer sportsbooks. Additionally, there are four off-track betting locations in Maine, and Cumberland Fairgrounds has the authorization to accept retail sports wagers.

On Friday, the introduction of Maine sports betting apps is anticipated to greatly boost the state’s gambling landscape. It is projected to make up 85% of all sports betting activity in the area.

It is unclear which national sportsbooks will enter the Maine market. Maine is ranked 42nd in the country in population, with 1.36 million residents, and has no professional sports teams. The state is also home to only one D-1 college sports program, the Maine Black Bears.

Due to its small market size, there is speculation that some of the top providers of sports betting apps may choose to bypass Maine as their next location.

What it will take to place a legal sports bet in Maine

According to Maine law, individuals must be at least 21 years old and physically located within the state in order to place a sports bet. Non-residents are also allowed to place bets as long as they are within state lines at the time of their wager.

Regrettably, betting on college sports is currently not allowed in Maine due to legal restrictions.

The benefits to Maine

Maine is the second-to-last New England state to introduce its own legal sports betting platform. Vermont will be the only state in the region without a sports wagering scene starting this Friday.

Up to now, Connecticut, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and, most recently, Massachusetts have seen success in their sports betting industries. The sports betting platforms in these states are robust, and the tax revenue generated has been significant for the participating states.

The Maine platform, set to become one of the nation’s smallest markets, is projected to generate employment opportunities and bring in between $3.8 million and $6.9 million in tax revenue for the state. Online casinos will be required to pay a $200,000 licensing fee over four years, with a 10% tax rate imposed on their earnings.