Sports betting launches in Maine
Governor Mills signed a law to legalise sports betting in May 2022.
US.- Maine has launched its sports betting market. The market opened on Friday November 3. Governor Janet Mills signed a law to legalise sports betting in May 2022, giving tribes exclusive rights to conduct online wagering.
Caesars Sportsbook started accepting sports wagers on mobile and desktop through its partnership with three of the Wabanaki Nations, the Houlton Band of Maliseet Indians, the Mi’kmaq Nation and the Penobscot Nation. Earlier in November, DraftKings reached an agreement with the Passamaquoddy Tribe for the launch of its online sportsbook in the state.
Eric Hession, president of Caesars Digital, said: “Maine sports fans deserve an elevated sports wagering experience that matches the pedigree of sports fandom in New England. The launch of Caesars Sportsbook delivers on that pedigree with a platform built for the modern sports fan 21 and older with exciting ways to wager responsibly on the sports they love. “We’d like to thank Gov. Janet Mills and the Maine Legislature for making this launch possible, as well as the Maine Gambling Control Unit for all they have done throughout this process.”
Chief Kirk Francis of the Penobscot Nation, added: “Penobscot Nation is excited to partner with Caesars Sportsbook, the Mi’kmaq Nation and the Houlton Band of Maliseet Indians to bring online sports betting to Maine. We chose to partner with Caesars over other companies because of Caesars’ decades-long history of working with Tribal Nations throughout the country, their commitment to Tribal sovereignty and their understanding of our State’s deep history with horse racing.”
Chief Edward J. Peter-Paul of the Mi’kmaq Nation added: “The Mi’kmaq Nation is proud to launch mobile sports wagering in Maine jointly with the Penobscot Nation, the Houlton Band of Maliseet Indians and Caesars Sportsbook. We appreciate the work of the Maine State Legislature, the Governor, and the Maine Gambling Control Unit to bring sports betting to the State in a way that promotes gaming integrity and offers a vitally needed economic opportunity to each of the Wabanaki Nations.”
Chief Clarissa Sabattis of the Houlton Band of Maliseet Indians, commented: “The Houlton Band of Maliseet Indians is thrilled to offer the first legal online sports wagering in Maine in partnership with the Penobscot Nation, the Mi’kmaq Nation, and Caesars Sportsbook. Our three Wabanaki Nations searched long and hard for a partner who shares Maine values. We found that partner in Caesars Sportsbook.”
Under Maine’s sports betting legislation, each of the state’s four Native American tribes can apply for a single mobile sports betting licence. The state will receive 10 per cent of adjusted gross sports wagering receipts. Sports betting is expected to generate between $3.8m and $6.9m in revenue for Maine. Casinos and other legal gambling generated $64m in 2022.
