The long and arduous wait for Maine sports betting is finally coming to an end this weekend. On Friday, November 3rd, Maine will become the 36th state with live, regulated betting on sporting events. That day will be more than 15 months after the activity was legalized.
The governor signed the Maine sports betting bill back in May of 2022. That bill gave the exclusive rights to online sports bets to the state’s Indian tribes. The state Gambling Control Unit will regulate sports gambling, and they published regulations in January of this year.
Even though the activity has not officially launched just yet, residents may have already started to see advertisements. The Department of Public Safety has allowed service providers and vendors to begin advertising ahead of the official launch, as well as accept registrations and deposits.
The Executive Director of the state Gambling Control Unit, Milt Champion, believes that up to $6 million a year in tax revenue could be collected as a result of legalized Maine sports betting . Industry experts believe that number could be considerably lower. I guess we’ll find out who’s right.
Some of the regulations require that a bettor be located in the state to place a bet. Additionally, the minimum age to participate is 21. Bets on the state’s , and there are no wagers allowed on in-state college or professional teams (Maine has professional teams?).
How does law enforcement feel about Maine sports betting? Well, a spokesperson for the Maine State Police, Shannon Moss, recently stated that “That wait is almost over. Sports gambling goes live on Friday.” I guess we’re free to interpret that as enthusiasm or empathy.