Digital sports betting becomes legal in Maine starting Friday, with two operators set to offer services.
Maine to Launch Digital Sports Betting at 9 a.m. on Friday
After almost 18 months since legalization, the State of Maine's Gambling Control Unit will launch digital sports betting this Friday, marking the fifth U.S. jurisdiction to do so in 2023.
DraftKings, a prominent player in the digital sports betting market, has partnered with the Passamaquoddy Tribe to offer digital wagering in Maine. Caesars Sportsbook, on the other hand, has partnered with three of the four Wabanaki Nation tribes, as previously announced in May. The fourth tribe has still not announced a partnership.
According to its press release, DraftKings will only offer digital wagering in Maine. The company currently holds a monopoly in New Hampshire, a duopoly with FanDuel in Connecticut, and operates in Massachusetts, where the sports betting tax rates stand at 20% for mobile and 15% for retail wagering.
Caesars, through its deal, has access to three digital licenses, though it remains unclear if the company will use all three under different banners or will only offer its flagship Caesars Sportsbook. Maine customers can download the app and preregister as of Wednesday, with new customers receiving $100 in bonus bets upon the platform's launch.
Maine State Police spokesperson Shannon Moss confirmed that operators could begin taking pre-launch signups Wednesday and live bets from Friday.
The launch marks a significant step for the State of Maine, which will join other states that have legalized digital sports betting, albeit with some of the strictest advertising laws in the nation. Regulators have banned celebrities and athletes from being used to market sportsbooks, and promotions may only be marketed on an operator's site. The law and regulations also call for revenue sharing of up to 40% between operators and the tribes they are partnered with.
Retail partnerships for brick-and-mortar sportsbooks at the state's two casinos and off-track betting parlors have not been announced as of yet.
Two states, North Carolina and Vermont, remain legal but not live. North Carolina regulators plan to launch by June 2024, while Vermont's regulator aims for a launch by the end of this year.
[1] Maine's sports betting market is managed by the state's four Indian tribes in partnership with operators like DraftKings and Caesars. The regulatory framework for sports betting in the state includes rules regarding mobile betting, advertising, and revenue sharing. The specific advertising regulations for digital sports betting in Maine are yet to be fully clarified, and it is recommended to consult the Maine state gaming regulatory body or relevant legislation for the most accurate and up-to-date information.
- Digital sports betting in Maine is being managed by the state's four Indian tribes in partnership with operators like DraftKings and Caesars, with regulations concerning mobile betting, advertising, and revenue sharing.
- As of Wednesday, Maine customers can download the DraftKings app and preregister, receiving $100 in bonus bets upon the platform's launch on Friday.
- The regulatory framework in Maine for digital sports betting also bans celebrities and athletes from being used to promote sportsbooks, and only on-site promotions are allowed. It additionally calls for revenue sharing of up to 40% between operators and the tribes they are partnered with, with the specific advertising regulations yet to be fully clarified.
