Maine: sports betting hopes revived with new bill
The state senate in Maine has introduced a bill to legalise and regulate sports betting.
US.- After a first attempt to legalise and regulate sports betting in Maine in January 2020, a new bill has been introduced in the state senate.
Governor Janet Mills vetoed last year’s bill, claiming that the state was not ready for sports wagering despite public support.
The new bill, Senate Bill 1352, was introduced by Senator Luchini. It calls for the authorisation of sports wagering under the Department of Public Safety Gambling Control Unit.
The proposed legislation would allow sports betting licences for commercial racetracks, off-track betting facilities, slot machine or casino operators and federally recognised tribes.
Each operator would be allowed to receive one licence, with the fee set at US$20,000.
The bill also proposes that land-based licensees be taxed 10 per cent on retail revenue and 16 per cent on mobile revenue. Betting on in-state college sports would be banned. Players must be aged 21 or over to place bets under the proposed law.
