Maine Sports Betting: Best ME Sportsbooks For April 2024

Is sports betting in Maine legal?

Yes, Maine sports betting has been legal since May 2, 2022. However, online betting did not launch until November 3, 2023, as the state established regulations and considered license applications. 

The regulations came when the LD 585 bill was put into law. Governor Mills signed the bill on May 2, bringing it into effect on July 31. It allowed both retail and online sports betting throughout the state. 

With the law's signing, Maine became the 34th state to legalize sports betting. 

The bill also allows in-person betting at the state’s off-track betting locations and casinos. Maine's four federally recognized native tribes — Micmac, Maliseet, Passamaquoddy, and the Penobscot (or the Wabanaki, collectively known) — are responsible for online wagering. Each tribe is permitted to partner with one online sportsbook.

The regulation of sports betting in Maine is under the purview of the Maine Gambling Control Unit, and the legal betting age is 21.

As in most other states, wagering is only allowed within state borders, and sportsbooks use geolocation technology to ensure this. 

Bettors in Maine will be allowed to wager on most sporting events except those involving in-state college teams. This limit is common in several other states with legal sports betting. 

Notable Maine sports betting developments

Now that you know that sports betting is legal in Maine and only waiting for an official launch date, you’re probably wondering how we got there. Let’s review the most significant events in the regulatory sector since the United States Supreme Court repealed PASPA in May 2018:

Mar. 12, 2024: Maine regulators announce that betting handle (and overall revenue) decreased in February 2024, dropping to $33.6 million. It was $38.1M in January and $44.4M in December 2023.

Jan. 8, 2024: Maine legislators make efforts to legalize iGaming by the end of 2024, which would bring online casino gaming to the state. 

Nov. 10, 2023: Maine reports a strong start to legalized sports betting, seeing a first five-day handle of $5.4 million. 

Nov. 3, 2023: Online sports betting officially launches in Maine, with Caesars and DraftKings entering the market. 

Nov. 1, 2023: DraftKings announces they have a deal with Maine's Passamaquoddy Tribe, becoming the second online sportsbook in the state along with Caesars. 

Oct 31, 2023: Maine announces that they will launch legal sports betting on November 3, 2023, at 9:00 a.m. local time.

Maine sports betting quick facts

Legal Maine sportsbooks

Maine had some problems attracting gambling companies and their sportsbooks. After announcing they were accepting applications to award betting licenses, none materialized, even from the largest players in the game, like DraftKings, FanDuel, or Caesars. In the end, though, Caesars and DraftKings both submitted a licensing bid.

The Pine Tree State is one of the smallest in the country, with less than 1.4 million people. It's just not high on the priority list for most sportsbooks. This smaller customer base is one of the reasons why the Maine online betting launch has been pushed back a few times. 

Another reason for the lack of interest is that the officials have changed the rules several times. As you may expect, this led to insecurity among betting companies.

On top of that, the state government has placed a 30%–40% revenue cap on online sportsbooks and a 10% tax. As if that weren’t enough, each sportsbook will have to share the revenues with its native tribe partner — 50% will go to the tribe. From the sportsbook perspective, it's hardly the best deal in town. 

The start of legal sports betting already missed the beginnings of most major league seasons, including the NFL and NBA. Thankfully, the Nov. 3, 2023, launch date happened without a hitch, and there are now two legal online sportsbooks in Maine.

DraftKings 👑

DraftKings is a well-known daily fantasy sports (DFS) and sportsbook that already operates in most states where betting is legal. Naturally, this made it likely they would apply for a Maine license. However, the company didn't publicly show much interest at first. They announced their presence in Maine only days before legal sports betting was set to arrive. 

The betting platform is known for being high-quality and offering a user-friendly interface. The site covers most major and niche sports and leagues and provides a wide range of markets, including a great same-game parlay (SGP) selection. 

App Store Ratings: 4.8 (App Store) and 4.6 (Google Play)
Welcome Bonus: Bet $5, get $200 in bonus bets
Payout Speed: 60 minutes to 7 days

Maine Sportsbook: DraftKings review

Caesars 🏛

Caesars is a juggernaut in the world of casino resorts and sports betting. With its brand recognition, the Caesars Sportsbook is a trustworthy and high-quality betting platform that offers world-class service. Caesars has agreed to partner with three of the four tribes in Maine, making them a Day One addition to legal sports betting in the state. 

It comes with a wide range of betting markets, excellent coverage, and competitive odds. It’s also known for its robust loyalty rewards program, allowing customers to earn valuable perks as they play.

App Store Ratings: 4.6 (App Store) and 4.2 (Google Play)
Welcome bonus: Bet $1, get ten 100% profit boosts
Payout Speed: 1–5 business days

Maine Sportsbook: Caesars Sportsbook review

Maine sports betting neighbors

Maine is part of New England and the Northernmost and Easternmost state of the contiguous United States. It's surrounded mostly by Canada but still borders (or is close to) many other New England states. 

With that in mind, let’s review the sports betting situation in Maine's nearest neighbors.

New Hampshire

New Hampshire made sports betting legal in December 2019. Both retail and online sports betting are permitted, but there is only one online sportsbook — DraftKings. The state only issued a single license, primarily due to the small population (which is similar to Maine's).

Thankfully, the market has done well in the few years it’s been around, and Intralot, the state's current lottery provider, plans to add sports betting in the future.

Vermont

Vermont is the second smallest state in the country, and it made sports betting legal at about the same time as Maine. The market has yet to launch and is expected to go live in early 2024. You can learn more about the state's outlook on sports betting in our dedicated Vermont sports betting section. 

The legislators planned for a competitive bidding process, similar to New York's, where operators must submit plans and the tax rates they expect to meet to get a license. 

Interestingly, Vermont hasn’t made retail sports betting legal, joining Tennessee as the only other state with online-only wagering. 

Massachusetts 

Massachusetts is the biggest state, population-wise, in New England. However, it was one of the last to make sports betting legal, having done so at the start of August 2022. 

Thanks to the relatively large population, high potential, and fair tax rate, it didn’t take long for the first Massachusetts sports betting apps to go live; this happened on March 10, 2023. The first six sportsbooks were DraftKings, FanDuel, Barstool, BetMGM, Caesars, and WynnBet, but the landscape has evolved since then, with some names changing and the overall number increasing to seven total books.

Maine sports betting step-by-step guide

The Maine sports betting market is yet to launch, but that doesn’t mean we can’t tell you how it will work. Whether you want to use Caesars or DraftKings (or both), the start-up process is basically the same across the board. 

Most sportsbooks in the U.S. function the same way throughout every state, and most even have the same websites, with slight modifications to accommodate for the difference in regulations and offerings. 

With that in mind, let’s take a closer look at how you’ll be able to start your betting journey in a typical future Maine sportsbook. 

1. Select a Maine sportsbook

Once the market goes live, you’ll likely have two Maine sportsbooks to choose from. You can (and should) create profiles on all of them to get the best odds every time and claim different bonuses, but you’ll have to pick one to start with: Caesars or DraftKings

The important thing is to pick a regulated sportsbook. It has to be legal and licensed in Maine, so you can’t choose a sportsbook that is only available in other states. More than that, you shouldn’t try an offshore or unlicensed sports betting site. We will only recommend reputable and state-licensed sportsbooks, so feel free to pick the one you like the most. 

2. Register an account

Once you’ve chosen a sportsbook, the next step is to create an account. Use our links and exclusive promo code (if applicable) for the best welcome bonus. Locate the "Join" or "Register" button to create an account on the website or app. 

You’ll have to provide some standard personal information, including your full name, phone number, email, date of birth, and address. The data must be correct, as the sportsbook must verify it to comply with know-your-customer measures and state regulations. 

For starters, you’ll need to verify your email or phone number. Identity and address verification will come later, so be prepared to provide documents if needed. Government-provided photo I.D. and a property tax or utility bill will usually do the trick. 

Remember that you’ll likely have to install geolocation software if you’re using the sportsbook on your computer and allow location services on your smartphone if you’re using the app.

3. Deposit

When your account is ready, visit the "Banking" or "Cashier" section. Find the "Deposit" button, which won't be hard to find.

Pick one of the available payment methods. Input the required information and the amount you want to deposit. Make sure to deposit enough to take advantage of whatever welcome promo you want to claim.

Complete the transfer and wait for the funds to hit your account, which normally happens almost instantly.

4. Make your first bet

Now that you have enough betting funds, you can head to the sports betting area. Look around to see which sports, leagues, and events are covered. 

Once you settle for one, pick the match you want to bet on and click on the odds for the exact wager you’re interested in. The selection will appear on the bet slip, where you can input the amount you want to stake. You can add more selections to make a parlay instead of a single. Once you’re done, submit the bet so the system can verify it. 

5. Claim the welcome bonus

Every welcome bonus is slightly different. Some only require an initial deposit, while others need you to wager a certain amount with your first qualifying bet to activate. Any sportsbook offering first-bet insurance will require losing your first bet to take advantage.

Whatever bonus you're eligible for, ensure you know the terms and conditions before starting. Make sure you deposit and wager enough to trigger your bonus funds.  

6. Withdraw

Hopefully, you picked some winners with your initial bet or using your bonus funds. If so, the sportsbook will automatically credit your account with the winnings, which you can withdraw anytime.

Head back to the "Cashier" or "Banking" section and find the "Withdraw" option. Pick a banking method, enter the relevant financial details, and the amount you want to cash out. The sportsbook will process your cash out as quickly as possible but expect to wait between one and seven days for the money to hit your bank account.

Maine sports leagues and teams to bet on

Maine may be small, but its residents are big sports fans. No major professional franchises exist here, but a few minor league and NCAA Division I teams do call Maine home.

There are four minor league teams and one NCAA Division I college team. Many Maine sports fans also gravitate towards teams from neighboring Massachusetts, like the New England Patriots or the Boston Celtics.

Here’s a quick overview:

Sports betting by category

Check out our resources on the best sportsbook for specific sports and leagues:

Maine sports betting and taxes

The current gambling law in Maine comes with a 10% tax rate applied to sports betting revenue. The tribes take 50% of the revenues, while the operators can get at least 30% and request up to 40%. These tax rates are one of the main reasons for the lack of interest on the side of major sports betting companies.

Moreover, sportsbooks will have to pay $200,000 for the license, while the commercial partners will have to pay $40,000 once every four years.

When it comes to bettors, they have taxes to deal with as well. You must pay a 24% federal income tax on all gambling winnings. Also, Maine has a state income tax that you must comply with, set at 7.15%.

What’s missing from Maine sports betting?

Legal sports betting may have finally arrived in Maine, but not every single betting market is on the table. The legislation still imposes a few important limits on what markets sportsbooks can offer betting odds on. 

Here's a quick rundown of what you can and can't bet on:

Esports ❌

Currently, esports are not included in the latest laws and regulations on sports betting. You won't be able to bet on major gaming competitions like League of Legends, Counter-Strike: GO, DOTA 2, or Rocket League's RLCS. 

Entertainment awards ❌

Even non-sports fans like to throw down the odd wager. A popular alternative is placing bets on which film will take down Best Picture at the Oscars or which music artist will win the Album of the Year award at the Grammys. 

Unfortunately, these (or any other entertainment-based ceremonies) are not included in the current Maine regulations and will remain off-limits for the foreseeable future. 

Politics ❌ 

Betting on politics is prohibited anywhere in the United States, and Maine is no different. Even though legal sportsbooks have arrived in the state, you can't bet on political races like the 2026 Presidential campaign.

Daily fantasy sports ✅

Daily fantasy sports contests have been legal in Maine since August 2017. Both FanDuel and DraftKings offer their DFS services in the state.

Maine college sports betting 🎓

When online sportsbooks arrived on Nov. 3, 2023, college sports betting was officially on the menu. However, like many other states, Maine doesn’t allow betting on in-state college teams. The only exception is when Maine college teams play in major inter-state tournaments, like the NCAA's March Madness.

If you’re a fan of college sports betting, you won’t miss out on much. Maine has only one Division I college — the University of Maine — so you’ll have plenty of options to bet on other college teams.

Even though the University of Maine is the only Division I college in the state, the Black Bears made history in 1993 when the men’s hockey team won the national championship. Moreover, they finished the season with just one defeat and a staggering 42–1–2 record.

Responsible Maine sports betting and resources

Now that legal online sports betting has launched in Maine, it's important to play responsibly. Gambling can be addictive, but there are plenty of ways you can seek out help.

The best option is to bet with a limited budget and not risk more than you are willing to lose. Also, ensure you don’t spend all of your free time betting. Sportsbooks all have self-imposed deposit and time limits you can use, so check those out before you start. 

If those tools aren't enough, you can seek out additional help and resources at the following places:

Maine Council on Problem Gambling

National Problem Gambling Helpline

Toll-free helpline: 1-800-GAMBLER

Sportsbooks to avoid in Maine

Just because online sports betting is legal in Maine doesn't mean you should trust any random sportsbook claiming to be legit. You should only sportsbooks that are licensed and regulated by the state's regulatory body, which are DraftKings and Caesars.

Even though some offshore books might seem high-quality, they can’t be licensed, so there’s no way for you to remain protected. If something happens to your account or funds, the Maine regulatory body won’t be able to help. It's just not worth the risk, especially with legal sports betting on the horizon.

We maintain a complete list of blacklisted offshore sportsbooks that you should simply avoid, and here are just some examples:

Growth of sports betting 📈

When the U.S. Supreme Court repealed PASPA in 2018, the growth of legal sports betting in the United States skyrocketed. Close to three dozen states have since legalized some form of sports betting, with the most common legislation including the licensing of online sportsbooks and mobile betting apps. Check our legal sports betting tracker to find out more about any state you're interested in. 

Over the past two years, large states like Ohio and Massachusetts have enjoyed massively successful online betting launches. Sports fans get an extra way to engage with their favorite teams, and the states earn plenty of much-needed revenue from licensing fees and taxes.

Most recently, legal North Carolina sports betting arrived on March 11, 2024, bringing eight of the best sportsbooks in the country to the Tar Heel state.