The Pine Tree State launched mobile sports wagering at 9 a.m. Friday morning. Three tribes - the Aroostook Band of Micmacs, the Houlton Band of Maliseet Indians, and the Penobscot Nation - all utilize Caesars Sportsbook, while the Passamaquoddy Tribe is partnered with DraftKings.
Retail sportsbook locations in the state will not open till later this year or early 2024. There are two commercial casinos in Maine (Hollywood Slots Hotel & Raceway, PENN Entertainment, Bangor; and Oxford Casino, Churchill Downs) and six off-track betting facilities in the state. All would be eligible for a retail Maine sports betting license.
“Maine sports fans deserve an elevated sports wagering experience that matches the pedigree of sports fandom in New England,” said Eric Hession, President of Caesars Digital. “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.”
First Bets Had Local Ties
The first bet in the state placed on the Caesars Sportsbook Maine app was $20 on the Duke Blue Devils (+1200) to win 2024 NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament. This wager could have been influenced by Maine’s heralded high school hoops start Cooper Flagg committing to Duke on Oct. 30.
“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,” said Chief Kirk Francis of the Penobscot Nation. “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. When consumers use the Caesars Sportsbook app they can do so knowing that they are supporting the vast majority of the Wabanaki Nations and a company that operates with respect and a commitment to Tribal Nations and a deep understanding of Mainers.”
Meanwhile, the first bet on DraftKings was a same game parlay on Notre Dame - Clemson football tomorrow, with $10 on the Irish moneyline and a Will Shipley anytime TD. Originally +240, the bettor added a 50% profit boost, to get a potential payout of $46.
Maine Betting Details
Maine is New England’s fifth state to launch sports wagering, as Connecticut, Massachusetts, New Hampshire and Rhode Island have already been legalized. Vermont awaits its launch in January 2024. The Pine Tree State is also the fourth state to launch this year behind Kentucky, Massachusetts and Ohio.
Some other sports betting details: each tribe will pay a 10% tax on gaming revenue; license renewal will be required ($200,000 every four years); brick-and-mortar licenses will cost $4,000 to renew every four years; betting on in-state college teams is prohibited; and there is a minimum age of 21 to bet. Last May, Gov. Janet Mills signed a bill allowing for legalized Maine betting apps and gave the rights to the online market to the state’s indigenous tribes.
