Maine (ME)

After many twists, turns, and ups and downs, Maine sports betting is finally legalized as Governor Janet Mills signed the latest gambling bill into law on May 2, 2022. That legislative change was enacted on August 2, 2022, and finally, on November 3, 2023, the wait was over for Maine sports bettors.

Before this legislative update, the state legally allowed its residents to participate in horse racing and Daily Fantasy Sports betting. In addition to these options, the ME bettors could access many offshore sportsbooks that accepted customers from this state.

However, with Janet Mills signing the bill, the ME sports betting scene has embarked on a new, more open journey. The state set the proposed rules for sports betting, and on November 3rd, both Caesars and DraftKings Sportsbook went live in the state.

Online Sports Betting in Maine

In a nutshell, Pine Tree State's governing bodies have legalized sports betting, as Gov. Janet Mills signed a betting bill into law in May 2022. This legislative change occurred on August 2, 2022, and on November 3, 2023, the state officially launched legal sports betting.

Therefore, engaging in online sports betting in Maine is wholly legal, and currently, just DraftKings and Caesars Sportsbooks operate in the state. Additionally, betting on Daily Fantasy Sports has been legal in ME, ever since 2017.

Those who wish to participate in sports betting can download either DraftKings and Caesars to receive their new customer bonus, or they can wait until more sportsbooks launch when they obtain licenses.

Bettors in the state who still wish to take their chances on these offshore sites can do so at their own risk. The state cannot protect them from unfair dealings if these offshore site operators opt not to honor winning bets. They can also cease to operate anytime and take all the wagers from their bettors. Those who engage in sports betting on these sites should not hope for any legal means to get their money back in these scenarios.

Regarding legal online sports wagering, only in-state tribes can approve who operates. These tribes can apply for a license themselves, or they can partner with an online operator, which is why DK and Caesars were already able to launch. Land-based licenses can be applied for by racetrack and off-track betting facilities, most of which have been operating in the state for quite a while.

Sports Betting Legislation in ME

Around one year after the US Supreme Court overturned the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act (PASPA) in 2018, Maine was one of the front-runners to pass sports betting legislation. One new gambling bill proposal would have made it legal to place bets on both online and in-person channels. However, the draft bill got stuck in the subsequent legislative proceedings that followed from 2019 to 2020.

In February 2022, the ME sports betting scene got much-needed wind in its sails when Gov. Mills started to work on a new gambling bill that would grant Maine's tribes exclusive rights to offer mobile sports wagering in the state. This move led to the bill LD 585, which was passed in both Senate and the House on April 2022 in a relatively quick fashion.

And on May 2, 2022, Gov. Mills signed the new sports betting legislation, allowing state tribes to offer mobile sports gambling from August 2 onward.

On January 11, 2023, the state announced the initial proposed rules for sports betting and explained sports betting won't be ready to launch until after the Super Bowl. That would ultimately be the case as legal sports betting would not officially launch until November 3, 2023, which came as a surprise to most residents.

In-Person Sports Betting In Maine

Before the ME new gambling legislation, the residents in the state could legally place their bets only on horse races as the state allowed pari-mutuel betting on harness racing events at Scarborough Downs and the Hollywood Casino Hotel & Raceway. These racecourses were actually Maine's first land-based sportsbooks that offered in-person sports betting.

Some restrictions surrounding in-person betting included allowing only those 21 years old and above to wager on horse races. Bettors, of course, had to be physically located in the state before placing these bets. Other legal gambling venues, such as the state's lottery, casinos, charitable gaming events, and others, have also offered legal wagering on different games. However, these games were not allowed to be related to sports, and they mainly involved matching or numbers games such as bingo.

However, the whole sports gambling landscape is under total reform, as in-person, online, and mobile betting are all now legal in ME. Customers can place legal wagers at the state's two casinos and the few off-track betting facilities that have obtained licenses. However, some of these places are not yet accepting wagers and may need some time before officially launching to the public.

Sports Betting In Neighboring States

The nearest state neighbors to Maine include Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut, and New Hampshire. Among these states, sports betting is only legal in the last three mentioned. The other neighboring states are still waiting for the approval of their pending sports gambling bills.

In the case of Rhode Island, this state currently offers sports betting mainly at two in-state casinos. However, the state still has to legalize online or mobile wagering. For New Hampshire and Connecticut, in-person, online, and mobile betting are all already legal. The online sportsbook operators that are currently operating in Connecticut and New Hampshire include DraftKings, FanDuel, and SugarHouse.

Regarding the benefits of legal online gambling, NH sports betting is a great example, as the state receives around 51% of its gross gaming revenue (GGR) from online bets and 50% of GGR from retail bets. Meanwhile, Rhode Island accumulates approximately 51% of its GGR from sports gambling. In the case of Connecticut, the state has a 13.75% cut of the GGR for sports betting and 18% for online wagers.

How do mobile sportsbook apps work in Maine?

Due to several regulatory challenges, it took a while before Maine legalized sports gambling, but starting in August 2022, online betting is finally fully allowed in the state. Seemingly out of the blue, the Maine Gambling Control Unit then announced the official launch of sports betting on November 3rd, and thanks to partnerships with local tribes, Caesars and DraftKings launched on that day.

Users can sign up for betting apps or sites by creating an account and filling in the requested personal details such as name, country of residence, age, etc. All these steps will be very similar to other states that have legalized mobile betting.

Of course, the user interface varies a bit between each sportsbook, but the gist of the signing-up process is the same, and thus, pretty much all betting apps and sites operate similarly. They have almost identical sign-up processes and employ the same tactics to lure in potential bettors. These tactics include offering sign-on bonuses, freebies, refer-a-friend perks, and other similar strategies.

As time goes on, more sportsbooks will join the market, giving in-state bettors more promotions to take advantage of. Big-name shops like BetMGM will likely be one of the next apps to be made available for Maine bettors.

Getting started - Step-by-step

To start betting legally in Maine, local punters will need to set up their accounts on these gambling sites or sportsbook apps before they can start placing their wagers.

1. Sign-up. The registration process involves inputting the bettor's name, contact number, address, password, and other relevant personal details into a standard form on the website.

2. Download the preferred sports betting app. They can download the app from app stores such as Google Play or the Apple App Store.

3. Make a deposit. Once the bettor has completed the registration process, they can now start to fund their accounts. Some funding methods include eCheck, credit cards, and eWallets.

4. Claim offered bonuses / free bets. Most sportsbook sites offer bonuses to attract potential customers. Bettors should follow the instructions to claim these perks.

5. Place your bets. As soon as they fund their accounts, bettors can now start to wager on their favorite sports teams and employ the right strategies to increase their chances of winning.

Bonuses and ME sports betting offers

Some of the bonus offers or promotions that sportsbook apps and betting sites provide to Maine residents include doubling or matching deposits up to a certain amount and risk-free bets for first-time users. In the latter case, when a player places their first wager on the site, then if the bet is lost, the wager value is credited back into the player's account and can be used to place another wager.

Many gambling sites also often offer bonuses for making further deposits or reloading their account. They also provide higher incentives for those who use cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin. Some sportsbooks offer rebates on horse-racing events, and these betting sites automatically credit and deposit these rebates into the user's account.

Other types of promotions include live betting free plays. Since sports betting just launched in the state, customers should be able to find some really big promotions as sportsbooks enter the market.

Payment methods for depositing

All online sportsbook operators provide several banking options for depositing or withdrawing money into a bettor's account in Maine. In terms of banking options, there is a wide range of methods available to deposit funds into the bettor's account. Some choices include credit and debit cards, online bank transfers, bank wire transfers, and various eWallets. However, some of these methods, such as credit cards, are available only for depositing funds.

In general, big-name sportsbooks have an excellent range of withdrawal options that give customers the freedom to use e-wallets or online banking. Methods might vary depending on the sportsbook, but for the most part, with popular shops, all standard methods are available.

What is legal to bet on in Maine?

It is finally legal to bet on sports in Maine, and over time, more licensed sportsbooks with join the market. Horse racing has long been available, and ME residents can place their bets personally on the two racetracks in the state. They can also opt to access an online site to place their bets on horse or harness racing at these two racetracks.

Since legal sportsbooks are now operating in the state, residents have access to countless sports to wager on. Examples of the sports that legal online sports booking sites offer include popular sports and e-sports such as basketball, baseball, football, hockey, boxing, motorsports, and more. There are also in-play and live betting options, and some sportsbooks offer daily fantasy sports.

Legal operators need players to be over 21 years old.

What’s Next For ME Betting Apps

The long wait is over in Maine, as the state legalized both in-person and online betting in May 2022, and it went live on November 3, 2023.

The head of Maine's Gambling Control Unit, Milton Champion, had announced the license for sportsbooks to operate could come anytime between April and January, so this process was slow-moving. It is up to the Native American tribes to choose which vendor they would like to partner with, and so far, only two partnerships have been made. PENN-Gaming does own a casino in the state, so it is likely ESPN Bet will likely join the market soon.

Trusted Maine sports betting mobile apps in 2023

Given that the new sports gambling law is freshly launched, only two mobile sportsbooks are available in the state, along with daily fantasy apps that have been legal in the state for a while.

The following are some current state-regulated betting apps that the state's ME bettors can access.

DraftKings Sportsbook. One of the biggest names on the market partnered with the Passamaquoddy tribe so they could be one of the first sportsbooks to launch in ME. Known for great new and existing customer promotions along with a quality app, in-state bettors can't go wrong downloading DK.

Caesars Sportsbook. In order to launch day one, Caesars partnered with three of the Wabanaki Nations. Since most ME residents have not used a mobile sportsbook, Caesars is a great place to start since it is very user-friendly and offers an excellent range of sports with competitive odds.