Gambling in Maine explained

Legal forms of gambling in the U.S. state of Maine include parimutuel wagering on horse races, sports betting, the Maine Lottery, two casinos, and charitable gaming.

Horse racing

Parimutuel wagering on harness racing is permitted at the state's two racetracks, Hollywood Casino Hotel & Raceway in Bangor and Cumberland Fairgrounds in Cumberland.[1] Brief harness racing meets of up to eight days each also occur at six agricultural fairs throughout the state, from July to October, with parimutuel wagering offered.[2] [3]

Wagering is also offered at three off-track betting parlors located in Lewiston, Sanford, and Waterville,[4] [5] and by advance-deposit wagering through a single licensed provider.[6]

Casinos

Maine law allows two casinos: Hollywood Casino in Bangor and Oxford Casino in Oxford. The two casinos had a total annual net gaming revenue of $165 million as of 2022.[7]

Slot machines at horse tracks were approved in a statewide referendum in 2003, but were rejected by voters in the city of Scarborough, leading to Bangor having the only permitted casino.[8] The casino in Oxford was approved by a statewide referendum in 2010.[9] The racino law was amended the following year to allow table games at Bangor.[10]

Sports betting

Maine enacted legislation authorizing sports betting in 2022. Under the new law, the right to offer mobile sports betting was granted exclusively to Maine’s federally recognized tribes. Tribes will be able to partner with third parties to operate their online sportsbook platforms, but would still have to retain a significant portion of the overall revenue. Retail sports betting will also be permitted in person at Maine’s two commercial casino locations as well as at licensed racetracks and off-track betting facilities.[11]

Charitable gaming

Maine law permits many types of community organizations to conduct various games of chance for fundraising purposes, including bingo (with prizes up to $400),[12] raffles (with prize values up to $75,000),[13] and card games (generally with a maximum bet of $1 per hand).[14]

Indian gaming

State law grants Maine's four federally recognized tribes the exclusive right to offer mobile sports betting,[15] as well as the right to conduct high-stakes bingo games with unlimited prize values.[16] The tribes do not have casino gaming rights that tribes in other states possess, because the Maine Indian Claims Settlement Act subjects the tribes' lands to state law, and excludes the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act from applying in the state.[17]

Lottery

The Maine Lottery offers scratch-off and drawing games, including the multi-state Powerball and Mega Millions games.

See also

Notes and References

  1. News: Portland-area businessman reviving harness racing in southern Maine. WCSH-TV. August 5, 2021. Don Carrigan. 2023-09-04.
  2. Annual Report, Calendar Year 2022. Maine State Harness Racing Commission. February 15, 2023. 5. 2023-09-04.
  3. News: Through good times and bad, fairs racing on. Portland Press Herald. Jenn Menendez. September 25, 2005. NewsBank.
  4. Web site: Off-Track Betting. Maine State Harness Racing Commission. 2017-08-22.
  5. News: Off-track betting takes a piece, and a hit, from gambling in Maine. Portland Press Herald. Dave Sherwood. May 3, 2017. 2017-08-25.
  6. Web site: Advance Deposit Wagering (ADW). Maine Gambling Control Unit. 2024-05-14.
  7. State of the States 2023. American Gaming Association. May 16, 2023. 57.
  8. News: Track may seek out racino-friendly town. Portland Press Herald. Justin Ellis. November 6, 2003. NewsBank.
  9. News: Maine casino opponents give up recount challenge . Portland Press Herald . December 14, 2010 . 2012-08-15.
  10. News: Maine casinos get ready for table games. Associated Press. Clarke Canfield. November 25, 2011. NewsBank.
  11. State of the States 2023. American Gaming Association. May 16, 2023. 58.
  12. Web site: Maine Revised Statutes, Title 17, Chapter 13-A: Beano or bingo, Section 317: Rules and regulations. Maine Legislature. 2017-08-24.
  13. Web site: Maine Revised Statutes, Title 17, Chapter 62: Games of chance, Section 1837: Raffles. 2017-08-24.
  14. Web site: Maine Revised Statutes, Title 17, Chapter 62: Games of chance, Section 1835: Conduct games of chance. 2017-08-24.
  15. State of the States 2023. American Gaming Association. May 16, 2023. 58.
  16. Web site: Maine Revised Statutes, Title 17, Chapter 13-A: Beano or bingo, Section 314-A: High-stakes beano. Maine Legislature. 2017-08-26.
  17. Native American sovereignty in Maine. Stephen Brimley. Maine Policy Review. 2004. 13. 2. 21. 2017-08-26.