Maine isn’t really a gambling hotspot, or a sports team hotspot. They aren’t really the first state you’d think of to legalize sports betting off the bat. Since the PASPA ruling was overturned by the Supreme Court in May 2018, several states have jumped in with both feet and legalized betting and are already seeing millions of dollars of revenue pour in.
Maine is not one of those states. They’re likely riding it out, waiting to see how other states fare – they are in no rush as their state is home to no professional teams and few collegiate teams, so there isn’t a big push from the community.
Maine has two casinos, none of which are tribal casinos, and are commercially owned out-of-state. Maine is the only state to have this, as many states would prefer to regulate and bring in that revenue for their own gain.
Poker is also illegal in Maine – yet you can still walk into a card room in the casinos and play poker. Some of the laws are confusing and don’t make much sense – they obviously need a revamp.
Due to dated laws around gambling, online gambling isn’t mentioned in them, so technically you aren’t breaking any laws when betting online. You can sign up to play online poker, bet on sports online, you name it – and nothing really can be done about it.
They are working on a law around Daily Fantasy Betting, which includes fantasy football and basketball, but nothing set in stone yet. There is no law currently, but with DraftKings and FanDuel scooping up a lot of media attention they are looking at regulating it.
Can I bet on sports in Maine?
You can bet on sports in Maine at an online sportsbook. There are no real options other than that just yet, so betting online will have to do for now. You can sign up at an online sportsbook, and create your account, make a deposit and you can bet betting within minutes. It’s very simple and convenient – especially if you want to place a bet from a sports bar or on the go.
What to Look for in an online sportsbook
Finding a reliable, trustworthy online sportsbook is important when it comes to managing your hard-earned money. Before you sign up, you need to do your research and ensure that the sportsbook is legitimate, and secure. We have used many sportsbooks in our day, and we compiled a list of the top sportsbooks (in our opinion) and reviewed important criteria that bettors should look for when line shopping.
First, check out the deposit options. Many sportsbooks have limited options and if your preferred payment method isn’t there, you will either have to go elsewhere or find a new payment option. Sign up bonuses are a great thing to keep in mind as many sports books give you free money to bet with, if you deposit $50, they might do a 100% match bonus – giving you $100 to bet with, with a few rules of course. You usually have to rollover your bets several times, before you can cash out.
Check out our full sportsbook review page and find a sportsbook that will help you pad your bankroll.
