Ayuh!
That word is an essential word in Mainers’ vocabulary. I’m sure there was a lot of people shouting that when Maine finally legalized sports gambling. After long political battles and arguments, a bill was officially signed to make sports betting legal across the state in 2022.
The biggest city in Maine is Portland with around 70,000 people. There are no professional sports teams in the state and only one Division 1 team, the University of Maine. Most sports fans in the state root for the New England based teams primarily located in Boston.
The Pine Tree State might not have very many local sports teams to get behind, but there is clearly a passion for sports betting. After years of pushing for legalization, lawmakers got it done to allow their residents to wager on sports around the country.
Yes, gambling is legal in Maine. Governor Janet Mills signed LD 585 into law April 19th, 2022. This authorized retail and mobile sports gambling in the state. Four online licenses will be given to the four Native American tribes. These will be the only four online operators. There can be up to 10 retail sportsbooks operating at casinos, racing tracks or off-track betting sites.
While sports gambling is now officially legal, nothing is operational in Maine currently. Projections have the earliest legal bets being taken anywhere from April 2023 to January 2024. Let’s hope operations can be up and running before then. Mainers who are looking to bet legally before then can go next door to New Hampshire.