Maine has legalized sports betting. That makes 33 of 50 US states with legalized sports betting (plus D.C.), hair shy of a full two-thirds of the country.
How did the Maine sport betting bill shake out and what can bettors expect as far as launch timeline and operators? Read on to learn more.
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Maine Sports Betting — Bill Details And Timeline
Legal Maine sports betting became official on Monday, May 2. Gov. Janet Mills, who had nixed a previous bill, signed one into law that clears the way for the regulated market to open.
According to TheLines’ sister site Legal Sports Report, the timeline of the bill means we should expect a launch in mid to late summer. That means Maine sports betting should go live before the start of the NFL season, something the legalization stakeholders no doubt had in mind.
Up to 10 operators may open retail sportsbooks, and given the microscopic license fee and friendly tax setup, expect plenty to do so.
Of more interest to many bettors will be how the mobile betting market shakes out. That involves some guesswork and future negotiation.
The state opted to award all four of the mobile licenses to tribal groups, part of extensive negotiations with tribal interests to allow the bill to pass. That means it’s up to the tribes whether they want to build their own mobile sports betting platform or partner with more well-known national operators. Look for news in the future about possible partnerships with the likes of DraftKings Sportsbook, FanDuel Sportsbook, BetMGM and more.
While Maine has one of the smallest populations in the US with only about 1.4 million people, the low tax rate may incentivize operators to take a shot anyway.
Some outlets have reported that betting on local college team will be restricted. Luckily, even if that proves true, it will likely only affect markets on Maine Black Bears basketball.
