Mainers are set to enjoy legal sports betting as the new wagering regulations have been approved. Commencing this weekend, the Maine Department of Public Safety Gambling Control Unit declared that sportsbooks could start accepting bets. The widely anticipated pronouncement follows the release of the new sports wagering rules this week.
Specified events eligible for wagering will be unveiled on the department’s official website by the dawn of Friday, confirmed Executive Director Milton Champion.
The approval draws a close to an 18 months wait since Maine Gov. Janet Mills ratified the state’s new sports betting law. By acting on a critical Supreme Court decision of 2018 that ushered in legal sports betting, Maine has joined the ranks of the other thirty-odd states that strategically leveraged the ruling.
The state’s sports betting law confers the exclusive privilege of conducting sportsbooks operations to Maine’s four Native American tribes. Anticipating the market’s launch, the Gambling Control Unit conducted a meticulous review despite being a small agency with merely three full-time employees. The proposed rules yielded an unrivalled response, amassing over 600 comments during the review process.
Seeing that the majority of sports bets in Maine are projected to be online, mobile sportsbooks are expected to rake in approximately 85% of all sports bets. In the broader scheme of empowering the state’s four tribes, the Penobscot Nation, the Passamaquoddy Tribe, the Houlton Band of Maliseet Indians, and the Mi’kmaq Nation, known collectively as the Wabanaki confederation, Maine sanctioned sports betting.
Underpinning this move, established sportsbook operators have entered into partnerships with the tribes to extend mobile sports betting platforms in Maine. Aligning with this trend, Caesars Sportsbook joined forces with three tribes, the Penobscot, Maliseet, and Micmac nations, earlier this year to manage their sports betting activities. Subsequently, DraftKings set foot in the state through a partnership with the fourth tribe, the Passamaquoddy.
“We are in high spirits about partnering with the Passamaquoddy Tribe and bringing the pleasure of safe and legal sports betting to Maine. We look forward to sustained collaboration with the Maine Gambling Control Unit as we pioneer as the official mobile sports betting provider of the Passamaquoddy Tribe and make our mark in our robust 25th state,” said a jubilant Jason Robins, CEO and DraftKings co-founder.
In addition to mobile betting, the law also allows retail sportsbooks at the state’s two brick-and-mortar casinos, Hollywood Casino Bangor and Oxford Casino Hotel, and at racetracks and off-track betting facilities.
A central goal behind Maine’s decision to legalize sports betting was to invigorate the local economy and create a revenue stream for the four tribes. In a revenue-sharing model, Caesars and DraftKings will retain 40% of the revenues earned from Maine, with the tribes receiving half and the remaining 10% being channelled as tax to the state.
Following the legislative mandate, any Maine resident aged 21 or above is eligible to place bets. In an effort to combat problem gambling, resources are available via a state helpline, 211 Maine, or by calling 1-800-GAMBLER.
Acclimating to the newly launched sports betting market can trigger a desire to try online casino gaming. At the West Island Blog, we offer detailed articles and curated lists of the best online casinos available this month in Canada. Our thoroughly researched content can help ensure a smooth start to your digital gaming journey. As online casinos become increasingly popular, we strive to turn that surge into an opportunity to provide our readers with reliable information for a winning experience. Visit us for a safe and enjoyable online gaming experience.
