Maine

Fresh on the scene, Maine is one of the latest states to join the sports betting craze. On November 3, 2023, Maine officially launched two prominent online sports betting apps. In addition to the two online operators, retail betting is also available in Pine Tree State.

All betting on professional sports has no restrictions in Maine, but when it comes to collegiate sports, residents cannot wager on in-state colleges. Outside of sports betting, Pine Tree State residents can also bet on horse and greyhound races in person or through a mobile app. However, bettors in the state cannot wager on politics, entertainment events, and eSports.

Daily fantasy apps were made legal in the state in 2017 under LD 1320, and since then, many prominent operators in the market have joined the state. These operators include FanDuel DFS, DraftKings DFS, and Yahoo. There were quite a few more operators in the state initially, but recently, five of them, including Underdog, decided not to renew their licenses.

Online sports betting in The Pine Tree State

To put Maine’s sports betting bill history in sports terms, the state had been on the goal line for years, but they just could not cross the goal line to pass a bill. Maine was close to being one of the first states to introduce legalized sports betting. After a bill passed through both chambers in 2019, Governor Janet Mills did not take action, pushing it to a 2020 legislative session. On the final day before the bill would go into effect due to inaction, Mills decided to veto the bill.

Another sports betting bill would pass both chambers in 2021, but once again, it would be tabled until the following legislative session in 2022. After deciding that in-state tribes would receive exclusive rights to online sports betting and that retail betting would also be allowed in the state, Governor Janet Mills finally signed the bill.

While the bill was now signed, the process of getting sports betting off the ground continued to be slow. Even with the signature coming in 2022, online sports betting did not go live until November 3, 2023, when both Caesars and DraftKings launched for both Apple and Android users in the state.

The tribes that run sports betting in Maine include the Maliseet, Mi’kmaq, Passamaquoddy, and Penobscot tribes. Caesars Sportsbook aggressively approached the Maine market by partnering with three of the four tribes, essentially cornering the market for themselves.

However, even with Caesars securing three of the partnerships, DraftKings has still chosen to enter the market by partnering with the Passamaquoddy tribe. As a result, Maine residents will face a limited mobile betting market, although fortunately, they have ten retail locations available for in-person betting.

All legal ME sports betting apps in 2025:

Sports betting & gambling legislation in ME

While finally getting a sports betting bill across the finish line is exciting, Maine residents need to learn about the rules and regulations before diving in. For starters, bettors must be at least 21 to place a bet online or at a retail location. Any bettor this older than 21 is also subject to a 7.15% state tax on their winnings to go along with the 24% federal tax.

Maine also uses geofencing software to ensure all bettors are within state lines when placing a wager. While remote registration is available for mobile betting apps, bettors must ensure they are in the proper location when placing a bet. The Maine Gambling Control Unit enforces all state rules and regulations.

Gambling legislation is still a topic of conversation in Maine. The state has recently turned its attention to the legalization of iGaming, and multiple lawmakers are attempting to legalize online casinos to complement the sports betting market. If Maine can legalize online casinos, it can offer quite the gambling market since retail casinos and the lottery already operate in the state.

Turning L.L.Bean Boots Into Wagers: Novelty Betting at Maine Fairs

At Maine’s summer fairs and autumn festivals, the humble L.L.Bean boot may be the next frontier in quirky, regional betting entertainment. A “Bean Boot Toss Accuracy Challenge” where fairgoers compete by throwing the iconic Maine-made footwear at targets all while crowds cheer and bettors place prop wagers on precision or sheer distance.

With clear rules, simple competition regulations, and regional appeal, this contest could be gamified through geofenced mobile betting apps or on-site kiosks. Categories such as “Most Accurate Toss” or “Furthest Toss” open the door to numerous novelty betting markets. 

If even 0.05% of Maine’s sports betting handle were redirected to seasonal novelty contests like this, it could generate thousands in wagers each year. This would mean additional tax revenue, as well as support for local events such as fairs and small business vendors. For a state deeply rooted in craftsmanship and outdoor culture, transforming a staple of state fashion into a betting favorite could help Maine establish itself as an outside-the-box betting state.

Betting on buoy toss events: A unique addition to Maine’s gambling landscape

At Maine’s historic maritime festivals, harbor-side games like buoy tossing offer a slice of local tradition and maybe one day some extra money in bettors' pockets. With competitors throwing buoys across docks or toward targets, the sport already includes measurable outcomes like distance and accuracy. That makes it ideal for novelty wagering.

If Maine were to expand its legal betting markets to include festival-based markets, buoy toss contests could reel in seasonal revenue and spark additional community engagement. Prop bets could cover everything from “longest toss of the day” to “closest hit on a buoy barrel,” drawing in both longtime locals and interested tourists looking for lighthearted action.

A novelty betting category like this could not only boost foot traffic to coastal towns, and help promote lesser-known festivals, but it could potentially generate thousands in wagers and valuable tax income each summer.

Most recent updates from the ME sports betting scene

• March 10, 2025: The Maine Black Bears are one of four teams remaining in the America East Tournament, as they are (+750) to win the title.

• November 18, 2024: Legendz Social Sportsbook enters the US market in Maine and 42 other states, offering props, parlays, and high RTP. Players 18+ enjoy free play, daily rewards, and the opportunity to win real prizes in its social betting platform.

• October 30, 2024: Heading into SEC country, the Maine Black Bears are set to play Oklahoma this weekend in Norman. The Black Bears are (+34.5) point underdogs.

• October 25, 2024: The Maine Black Bears will head on the road to Rhode Island this weekend, where they are (+5.5) point underdogs.

• September 14, 2024: The first official in-person wager has been accepted in Maine. After a long road, retail sports betting is off the ground, with Caesars taking the first legal sports bet in Portland.

• September 5, 2024: State casino inspectors have taken a vote of no confidence in the executive director of Maine's Gambling Control Unit. Some accusations against the executive director claim he has created a toxic workplace environment.

• June 4, 2024: Maine Senator Joe Baldacci has written a letter to the head of the state sports betting regulatory agency expressing his frustrations that no sports betting retail operator has begun operations there.

• May 6, 2024: Maine's tax coffers saw a significant decrease in tax revenue in March despite the state's record-setting month in terms of handle. The state saw around a $150,000 decrease in tax revenue from February to March.

In-person sports betting sites and locations

Retail sports betting is legal, but as of January 29, 2025, Oddfellahs Sportsbook and Bar, located in Portland, was the only retail sportsbook accepting real-money physical wagers in the state. Due to its license suspension, Oddfellahs had to stop operating. Mike Cianchette, the owner of Oddfellahs, remains optimistic that the venue, which operates in partnership with Caesars, will be permitted to reopen.

Thus, currently, the retail wagering scene in Maine is at a bit of a halt. However, a total of ten retail licenses are available in the state, so Maine bettors will have plenty of options once in-person betting just fully arrives. The state's two casinos, the Hollywood Casino Hotel & Raceway and the Oxford Casino Hotel, will likely be the next retail locations to take legal sports wagers.

The underground poker scene of Maine’s logging camps – Myth or reality?

Tucked away in the lush forests of Maine, where logging camps have existed for centuries, rumors circulate about an underground poker scene known only to those who frequent the land among the towering pines. Stories passed down through generations suggest that after long days of grueling labor, such as chopping timber and hauling logs, some loggers unwind by gathering in secluded cabins to play high-stakes poker.

These secret games allegedly take place far from the public eye, where cash, alcohol, and even equipment are said to be wagered. Some claim that fortunes have been won and lost on a single hand, while others are insistent that these stories have turned into nothing more than tall tales told around a campfire.

While Maine’s strict gambling laws prohibit unregulated poker games, the remoteness of logging operations makes regulation nearly impossible. Whether these underground games still operate today or are simply part of the state’s folklore is up for debate, but with limited casinos in the state, it would not be shocking to hear that these games are still run frequently.

Sports betting in neighboring states

Maine was late in legalizing sports betting compared to the surrounding states. While the legislation differs for each state, New Hampshire, Connecticut, and Massachusetts have been waiting for their New England counterparts to join the market

All three surrounding states had their own issues getting a sports betting bill passed. To find out more about each state's specific regulations, click the state name below.

Sports betting revenue impact on Maine's economy

There are two types of licenses available in Maine. Online licenses are strictly for the four Native American tribes, which allows them to partner with one online operator apiece. All online operators are subject to a 16% tax rate, and each license has a $200,000 fee. Ten retail licenses are available for a fee of $4,000, but those retail operators are subject to a 10% tax rate on revenue.

Although Maine had only two sportsbooks active in its first month of legalization, it had a successful coming-out party regarding handle and revenue, clearing over $37.4 million in handle and $4.5 million in sportsbook operator revenue in November 2023. However, during the first full year of legal sports betting (2024), Maine's monthly averages in handle (approx $44m) and revenue (approx $4.8m) far exceeded these starter figures.

Since Maine ranks in the bottom ten in the U.S. for population and does not have the most expansive market, it will never be one of the highest-earning states. However, compared to other states within those guidelines, like Vermont, Maine has already shown it can generate a strong monthly betting handle, revenue, and tax income.

Maine sports betting record months:

• Sports betting handle: December 2024 ($52,813,495)

• Revenue: November 2024 ($8,286,281)

• Tax income: November 2024 ($800,344)

Latest ME sports betting revenue report breakdown (February 2025)

• Total betting handle: $41,382,258

  • Mobile betting handle: $41,159,368

  • Retail betting handle: $222,890

• Winnings paid to players: $35,925,337

  • Hold: 13.19%

• Gross revenue: $5,456,921

  • Adjusted (taxable) revenue: $5,228,947

• Tax revenue for the state: $522,895

Reported by the Maine Gambling Control Unit (MGCU).

Top performing sportsbook apps in the state in February 2025:

1. DraftKings (Passamaquoddy Tribe)

   • Handle: $35.4m

   • Adjusted revenue: $4.8m

2. Caesars (Penobscot, Maliseet & Micmac Tribes)

   • Handle: $5.8m

   • Adjusted revenue: $487,651

The current ME mobile sportsbooks market shares - February 2025

Maine online sports betting market shares for the whole 2024 year

Recent revenue report data - Compared to the previous year (YoY)

ME sports betting revenue in 2025

The following table shows all the essential figures regarding the Maine sports betting market for the current 2025 year. In addition to the monthly handle, revenue, and tax income, it also presents how such figures have evolved compared to the previous month (percentage in brackets).

2024 revenue data

Yearly revenue totals

Maine’s Fizzy Betting Frontier: Why Moxie Fest Could Fuel Seasonal Handle

Maine’s legendary Moxie Festival is a quirky celebration of the state’s most famously polarizing soda. While non-Maine residents may have never heard of the soft drink, for locals, it might just hold untapped potential as a playground for novelty sports betting. Every summer in Lisbon, Maine, the Moxie faithful gather to compete in everything from chugging contests and costume parades to the beloved Moxie recipe cook-off. But the buck doesn’t just have to stop at friendly wagers. 

Imagine betting lines for "Fastest Moxie Chugger" or even “Which county will consume the most Moxie per capita during festival weekend.” These low-stakes, community-driven betting markets could drive additional engagement and tourism while piquing the interest of curious bettors from beyond the state.

With mobile sportsbooks already legal in Maine, integrating novelty bets tied to local events like Moxie Fest could generate $100,000–$250,000 in seasonal handle, especially if paired with app promos or local sponsorships. That is all assuming in-state sportsbooks would be willing to adopt a local market like this. The biggest argument for the apps to lean into a market like this, though, is that it’s a fizzy fusion of Maine pride, humor, and profit potential that could become a signature summer event in the betting world.

How betting on lobster boat races could boost Maine’s gambling revenue

Maine’s lobster boat races are a thrilling, high-speed tradition where working fishing vessels compete for bragging rights and, at times, cash prizes. But could this adrenaline-fueled coastal sport evolve into a legal betting market?

As novelty sports betting gains popularity, events like cornhole and competitive eating have garnered attention from bettors in numerous states. Considering Maine’s strong ties to lobster fishing, permitting bets on which boat will prevail on the water could turn these local races into a profitable gambling attraction.

Certainly, legalization would require strict regulations, and finding a group of people who could properly set the lines and markets for these events could be challenging. However, if managed properly, lobster boat race betting could enhance tourism, stimulate local economies, and introduce a unique touch of Maine to the sports gambling industry.