Maine Set for November Sports Betting Launch

Maine confirmed they are on track to launch legalized sports betting next month. The state’s top regulator, the Maine Gambling Control Unit (MGCU), said those rules will be finalized soon, setting them up to launch between November 5 and 15. The MGCU confirmed that the state’s Attorney General is reviewing and finalizing the rules for the industry, which should be done soon.

"Once they've approved it, then I will forward it to the Secretary of State's office," said the MGCU Milt Champion executive director. "They typically take three to five business days, and then once [the Secretary of State's office] posts the adopted rules on their website, then we go live."

After the Attorney General has signed off on the rules, the MGCU can award operating licenses to those who have applied. Maine requires all mobile sportsbook providers to partner with local Tribes that acquire operating licenses from the state. Caesars and BetMGM are the first two major sportsbooks to announce partnerships with Tribes in the state, meaning they will likely be available when sports betting goes live next month.

DraftKings and FanDuel Won’t Apply for Licenses

Both DraftKings and FanDuel have confirmed they have no plans to expand into Maine. They have cited the revenue-sharing model set by the state. The sportsbook believes the share they would receive would not be worth the cost of operating their platform in the state. 

FanDuel and DraftKings are by far the two largest sportsbooks in the country and have dominated the market share in each state they operate. This has become a problem for smaller operators struggling to capture market share. The lack of interest from these industry giants could drive smaller sportsbooks to focus on Maine. While the market isn’t expected to be large, it will give them a chance to capture a far larger market share than anywhere else in the US.