Sportsbook Resources
Maine Sports Betting
A handful of states have sports betting legislation in flux as 2022 marches on.
Maine, on the other hand, is close.
July 31 saw the Pine Tree State make history as the latest state to introduce mobile and retail sports wagering. Sports betting licenses and opportunities in Maine will be limited to specific state tribes, and the competition for space in the state’s legal wagering landscape is expected to be fierce.
Affiliate Disclosure: Sportsbook Review may receive advertising commissions for visits to a sportsbook betting site.
21+. Gambling can be addictive, please play responsibly
Sponsored
FanDuel
Easy transfers from DFS to sportsbook
Up to $1,250 On Caesars + 1000 Tier Credits + 1000 Reward Credits®
Pros
- Largest retail sportsbook in America.
- Elite rewards program.
Cons
- Live betting data can be slow to load.
- Smaller secondary market.
Caesars Review
Caesars is proving to be one of the most aggressively expanding brands in sports betting. Unfortunately, like all major U.S. sportsbooks, they are quick to limit you if you go on a tear and their odds boost promos offer low maximum bet limits.
$1,000 back in Bonus Bets
Pros
- Some of the best live-betting odds.
- Casino Operator of the Year in 2021 and 2022.
Cons
- Quick to lower your limits when you're on a heater.
- Random account reviews can lock your money.
BetMGM Review
BetMGM is one of the top-rated sportsbooks in the U.S. offering some of the best live betting odds in the industry. They’re also the largest iGaming operator across the U.S.
No Sweat First Bet up to $1,000
Pros
- Easy transition of funds from DFS to sportsbook.
- User-friendly interface.
Cons
- Odds boosts and promos have low max bet limits.
- Same game parlays offer no edge.
FanDuel Review
FanDuel reigns supreme right now as the No. 1 betting site in America. And it has largely earned that spot on the strength of superior brand recognition, an easy-to-use product, an overwhelming number of markets for North America’s most popular sports, and representation in every state in which it is permitted to offer legal sports betting.
Bet $5, Win $150 in Bonus Bets
Pros
- Lots of promos and odds boosts.
- Wide range of sports and bet types.
Cons
- Indirect and unhelpful customer service.
- Some promotion ads can be misleading.
DraftKings Review
DraftKings had a solid reputation as the leading DFS provider in the country, so the shift to legal sports betting felt natural. They offer one of the most voluminous collections of ongoing promos and odds boosts in the industry as they cater to the beginner crowd. However, their reputation has dwindled as outspoken CEO Jason Robins leads the charge of the anti-profitable bettor mentality that runs rampant amongst sportsbooks that are quick to limit winning players.
Bet $1, Get $365 in Bet Credits
Pros
- Global sportsbook.
- Quality live betting options.
Cons
- Issues with location detection.
- Will limit bettors on a hot streak.
bet365 Review
bet365 is one of the largest and most popular sportsbooks globally. With a well-received mobile app, popular same-game parlays, and a wide variety of sports leagues to bet on it’s no wonder 80 million sports bettors worldwide continue to use bet365.
5 Second Chance Bets up to $50 Each
Pros
- 100% independent.
- In-house odds.
Cons
- Expiration on certain promos.
- Limits users on a heater.
PointsBet Review
Online since: 2015
PointsBet’s innovative nature shows that they don’t want to just be another book you place typical bets. Unfortunately, they are quick to limit bettors on a hot streak and limit the number of promos you’re able to take advantage of, making it necessary for you to shop at other books regularly.
$1,000 New Player Bonus
Pros
- Interactive bets with their known personalities.
- Very flexible parlay options.
Cons
- Below-average odds.
- Will quickly limit bettors on a hot streak.
Barstool Sportsbook Review
With a large variety of ongoing promos and contests featuring Barstool personalities, Barstool Sportsbook is a solid option available for casual bettors.
Risk-free Bet up to $250
Pros
- Massive selection of markets.
- Easy-to-use interface.
Cons
- Drab design.
- Quick auto-sign-outs.
Betway Review
While this book won’t wow you with its design, you won’t find many apps easier to navigate – or with the sheer volume of sports markets Betway offers. And although you'll find more generous signup offers elsewhere, Betway remains a strong global sports betting brand that deserves to be mentioned among the second-tier sportsbook options in the U.S.
Maine betting apps
Each of Maine’s Wabanki Nations (Penobscot, Passamaquoody, Micmac and Maliseet) will be able to host one commercial online sportsbook provider (meaning only four operators will be permitted to offer mobile sports wagering come July 31.)
When Maine does join the ever-growing list of states with legal sports betting, you can expect all the major players in the U.S. sports betting space to be in the mix, with FanDuel, DraftKings, BetMGM and Caesars among them. And we’ll be there with our list of the top online sportsbooks to consider.
Maine promos and bonuses
The addition of mobile sports betting will mean plenty of Maine sportsbook promos, bonuses, and offers for anyone making wagers within state lines. We encourage everyone to maximize their bonus and offer exposure, since many of these first-time inducements result in real cash landing in sports bettors’ accounts, with little playthrough required (for the most part).
Maine sports betting quick facts
| 🚀 Launch Date | TBD |
| 💰 # of Betting Sites | 0 |
| 📱 Online Sports Betting | ❌ No |
| 🎰 Retail Sports Betting | ✅ Yes (coming soon) |
| 🖥️ Online Casino | ❌ No |
| 🃏 Retail Casino | ✅ Yes |
| 🏈 College Sports Betting | ✅ Yes (but not on in-state teams) |
| 🌎 2022 Population (est.) | 1.38 million |
| 💸 Tax Rate | 10 percent |
How to bet in Maine
Choose your sportsbook
When sports betting is legalized in ME, you can consult our top list for the best sports betting options available to you. Our interactive list will allow you to sort sportsbooks based on a number of criteria, including banking options, bonuses and quality of customer service.
If you’re looking for more information before making your choice, be sure to check out our detailed, unbiased reviews for each of the top sportsbooks in Maine once sports betting is legalized. This is especially important if you want to understand how each book’s bonus offers work.
Register online
Registration requirements will vary slightly by sportsbook, but most follow the same protocols. Be sure to have your personal information (name, address, phone number) and credit card details (number, expiry date, CVV) handy.
Deposit and claim your bonus
Once you’re comfortable with how your sportsbook’s new signup bonus works, it will be time to make your initial deposit and claim that sweet bonus. The majority of first-time offers for Maine residents should come in one of two forms:
- Risk-free bets: This offer guarantees you a refund on your first wager if it is graded as a loss. The sportsbook will refund your initial bet amount (up to a specific limit) either as cash or as site credit.
- Deposit match: This offer sees the sportsbook match your initial deposit dollar-for-dollar, though there are two caveats. The deposit match will come with a maximum limit, and in the majority of cases you will be required to “play through” your initial deposit by a certain multiple in order to earn the bonus.
Select and finalize your bet
Congratulations! You’re ready to place a wager. Take some time to familiarize yourself with the app interface before diving in. Most mobile operators make it easy for new sports bettors to navigate, but it’s still a good idea to know where everything is.
From there, you can place any type of wager you like; the most popular bet types are the moneyline, spread or total. You can also dive into team or player props, or even kick things off with a futures bet.
Once you have the desired wager(s) in your betting card, take one last look to ensure you’ve made the selections you want. If everything is good, simply click the “Bet” button – and you’re off!
Maine legal sports betting history
We applauded Maine for being on a direct path to legalized sports betting – but as we’ve seen with other states, the journey wasn’t an easy one.
Between vetoes, overrides, Appropriations Table involvement and multiple promising bills stalling out before reaching the final stages, there was a time when the future of sports betting in Maine looked bleak. But thanks largely to a change of heart from Governor Janet Mills, a bill did eventually pass to open the state to sports wagering.
Here’s a look at Maine’s sports betting history:
2020: House, Senate disagree on bill
Maine’s legislature had snuck in a sports betting bill on the last day of its 2019 session, an unexpected turn of events for a state that was thought to be in the preliminary stages of planning for mobile sports betting.
Unfortunately, despite coming in just before the 2019 deadline, the bill stood no chance of getting past Mills. She promptly vetoed the piece of legislation over concerns that the people of Maine weren’t interested in expanded gambling opportunities. Both chambers felt differently – but while the Senate overrode the veto, the House came up short.
That effectively killed the quest for legal sports betting for the remainder of 2020.
2021: Bill close, but not finalized
Senator Louis Luchini reanimated the state’s sports betting hopes with the introduction of Bill LD 1352; this legislative item had an intriguing clause in which mobile operators wouldn’t need to be affiliated with retail locations.
Yet, while the bill passed by the House, Senate approval came with an amendment: That online sportsbooks are required to be connected with an existing casino. Luchini made his objections known, but in the end, the amended bill went forward.
Unfortunately, by the time lawmakers had something in place that satisfied all (well, most) parties, the legislative session had come to an end, closing the door on a signed sports betting bill for 2021.
2022: Betting approved in the spring
While Luchini took an advocate position with the U.S. Small Business Administration early in 2022, his piece of sports betting legislation remained in play. And this time, Governor Mills felt that the skeleton of a successful bill was in place.
After amending the bill further to give the state’s tribes exclusivity with regard to mobile sports wagering, Mills’ legislation moved through the Senate and past a special Appropriations Table, where it had become stuck the year before. Mills signed the bill into law May 2, with a launch date of July 31.
Responsible gaming in Maine
Like most states, Maine has put safeguards in place to ensure that bettors have a way out of any potential trouble spots.
The Maine Council on Problem Gambling offers access to a variety of helpful tools, including organizations, support groups and self-help resources.
Visit the Maine Council on Problem Gambling site.
Sports leagues to bet on
It will come as no surprise to see a rather extensive list of major professional and amateur sports available to Maine bettors – a list that includes (but is not limited to):
- NFL
- NCAA Football
- NBA
- NCAA Basketball
- MLB
- NHL
- Golf
- Auto Racing
- Tennis
- Soccer
- MMA
That doesn’t leave much off the table, but there are three major markets in which wagering in Maine is prohibited:
- Politics
- Entertainment (including major awards ceremonies)
- Esports
Maine retail sportsbooks
Maine residents won’t have many options when it comes to betting in person.
With just two commercial casinos and six off-track betting facilities in the Pine Tree State, the list of available brick-and-mortar options will be a relatively short one. Expect most, if not all, of those retail locations to apply for a license and subsequently align with an established sportsbook operator; for most, that will be their only way into the state.
Sports betting in other regions
Sports betting in legal U.S. states
Sports betting in potential legal U.S. states
| California sports betting | Mississippi sports betting | Texas sports betting |
| Delaware sports betting | North Carolina sports betting | Wisconsin sports betting |
| Florida sports betting |
Sports betting in international regions
- Canada sports betting (excluding Ontario)
- Ontario sports betting
- U.K. sports betting
Maine sports betting FAQ
Can I legally wager on sports in the state of Maine?
Not yet – but soon! Retail and mobile sports betting will open up to Maine residents on July 31.
Will I be permitted to bet in Maine even if I don’t live there?
You will be able to create an account, deposit, make bets and withdraw at any retail or mobile sportsbook, even if you don’t reside in Maine.
Will I be able to bet on esports in Maine?
Esports was not part of Maine’s sports betting bill and will remain illegal even after sports wagering is legalized at the end of July.
How big is the Maine sports betting market?
You can comfortably limit the number of online licenses you hand out when you don’t have that large a population to begin with – and Maine certainly fits the bill there, ranked 42nd among U.S. states with 1.4 million people (2022 estimate).
Who is responsible for overseeing sports betting in Maine?
The State of Maine Gambling Control Unit has jurisdiction over sports betting in the state. You’ll find plenty of information on the website, including details on gaming and regulatory oversight and monthly gaming reports.
Which mobile sportsbook operators will make the cut in Maine?
With only four online licenses available, the big-name sportsbooks will be at the front of the list here – including Barstool Sports, which has the best shot at getting a license by virtue of being owned by Penn National Gaming, which owns Hollywood Slots Hotel and Raceway in Bangor.