Maine

Maine Online Gambling & Sportsbooks in 2022

After significant changes to proposed bills, legal online sports betting was finally pushed live for players in Maine in May of 2022 with the first sportsbooks launching in August of 2022. Anyone over the age of 18 can now bet on live sports in Maine.

There is still no availability for any online casino in Maine, however, there have been numerous attempts to make change here but nothing has changed yet. With legal online sports betting having emerged, there is the potential for change in the future.

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Best New Casinos in Maine

The state of Maine has just two land-based casinos. Given the lack of competition, is it any wonder that players from the state turn to BTC & USD online casinos accepting Americans? The best new casinos in Maine listed below offer a wide selection of online slot machines, video poker, roulette, blackjack, online poker, and more.

Designed by leading providers, including Realtime Gaming, WGS Technology, and others, play these online gambling slots and casino games for free or real money. They also usually have a sportsnook attached and offer very good deals on online sports betting.

Sign up, and you may qualify for a no deposit bonus. Collect free spins and match deposit bonus money when making your first (or sometimes first few) USD/BTC deposits. Regular players will likely also be interested in VIP programs, loyalty points, comp points, or other casino promotions.

US dollar & Bitcoin casino deposits and withdrawals are fast, safe, and secure using a Bitcoin wallet or using a credit card, including Visa or Mastercard.

There is plenty more to discover about each of our recommended online casinos by reading the accompanying review.

Best Bonuses in Maine Casinos

Signing up is easy, taking less than 10 minutes, and you may even qualify for a signup no deposit bonus. Here, you get to play a few rounds of selected slots and maybe even keep a few dollars.

When you’re ready to take the leap and make your first casino deposit, the best bonuses in Maine casinos can deliver competitive amounts of bonus money and free spins. The important thing to also consider is that the bonus T&Cs are fair. An excessive wagering requirement can make it next to impossible to withdraw any potential winnings.

We’ve reviewed the bonuses of each of the casinos listed below. In our opinion, the bonus T&Cs and wagering requirements are fair. Read about it in the casino bonuses section of each casino review.

Maine Gambling Overview

The history of gambling in Maine dates back to the late 1800s, when casinos started to appear. The state also has a long equine history with the fastest half-mile track in New England.

The Maine Gambling Control Unit is responsible for regulating and supervising casino slot machines and table games. Although there are two state casinos, only one can accept horse racing wagers inside and outside Maine. These facilities do not operate under the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act of 1988.

Charitable gaming is legal in the state, as are high-stakes bingo halls on tribal land. More recently, fantasy sports betting was legalized. Online casinos and other forms of online gambling are prohibited. Despite efforts, online sports betting remains illegal for the foreseeable future.

Lottery

The Maine Lottery is run by the state and is a member of the Multistate Lottery Association. It was founded in 1974 and operates a tristate lottery with New Hampshire and Vermont. Products include draw games and instant games that are sold at over 1,300 authorized retailers.

Charitable Gaming

Charitable gaming falls under the regulatory oversights of the Gambling Control Unit. Maine law permits charitable gaming run by community organizations to raise money. Permitted games include bingo where prizes do not exceed $400. Raffles with prizes of up to $75,000 are also permitted, as are card games with bets not exceeding $1/hand.

Pari-Mutuel Racing

The Maine State Harness Racing Commission is responsible for regulating horse racing and pari-mutuel betting in the state. Pari-mutuel harness racing in Maine is popular at the state’s two main raceways in Scarborough and Bangor. Off-track and on-track betting on horse racing are also permitted. Advance deposit wagering online is permitted through Penn ADW LLC only.

Fantasy Contest

Fantasy contests fall under the responsibility of the Maine Gambling Control Unit. Maine defines a ‘Fantasy contest’ as a simulated game or contest where:

One or more fantasy contestants pay an entry fee to participate;

“Fantasy contestants compete against each other by using their knowledge and understanding of sports events and persons engaged in those sports events to select and manage a simulated team roster whose performance directly corresponds with the actual performance of human competitors on sports teams and in sports events; and

The outcome of the game or contest reflects the relative knowledge and skill of the contestants and does not depend on the performance of any one participant in a sports event or the outcome of any one sports event but is determined predominantly by accumulated statistical results of the performance of individual competitors on sports teams and in sports events.”

A provider must be authorized in the state and pay a 10% fee on gross revenue. Under Maine gambling laws, Fantasy Sports do not count as a form of online sports betting.

Land-Based (State) Casinos

At present, Maine has only two state casinos. These offer live poker rooms, video poker, slots, and table games: Three Card Poker, Mississippi Stud Poker, Blackjack, Spanish 21, Ultimate Texas Hold’Em, Dragon Bonus, and Mini-Baccarat.

Maine also has four federally recognized tribes that can offer bingo games with no prize limits. Unlike Indian tribes in other states, the Maine Indian Claims Settlement Act binds tribes in Maine to state law. This stops the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act from applying in the state. The tribes have tried but failed to legalize tribal casinos in the past.

State Casinos	Address	Website
Oxford Casino Hotel	777 Casino Way, Oxford, ME 04270	oxfordcasino.com/gaming/
Hollywood Casino Hotel and Raceway Bangor (Racino)	500 Main St, Bangor, ME 04401	hollywoodcasinobangor.com/casino

Maine Casinos Map

 

 

Maine Gambling History

Rep. Arthur Genest sponsored a bill that would introduce a state lottery that was voted on and approved in 1973. The Maine Lottery began operating a year later (June 1974). In 1975, bingo was legalized and regulated, followed a decade later (1985) by the first interstate lottery between Maine, New Hampshire, and Vermont.

In 1947 an Act legalized horse and dog racing and betting in Maine. Almost half a century later, in 1993, greyhound racing was subsequently banned. Over 10 years later (May 2004), an Act was passed to allow licensed and regulated slot machines at commercial racing tracks. This was followed by simulcast wagering in 2011 and online betting on horse races in May 2020.

2003 saw the Penobscot Indian Nation and the Passamaquoddy Indian Tribe try and fail to receive ballot support to amend the Maine Indian Land Claims Settlement Act. The Act would have allowed the tribes to operate a gambling casino for 20 years. In 2018, House Representatives rejected another bid to create tribal casinos in Maine that might challenge Hollywood Casino Hotel.

Oxford Casino Hotel was approved in a statewide referendum in 2010, and amendments to the racino law in 2011 allowed table games at the Hollywood Casino Hotel and Raceway Bangor.

Fast forward to August 2017, when Maine passed legislation (Bill SP 449) to legalize fantasy sports. Two years later, lawmakers introduced bills to legalize sports gambling in 2019. Still, only one Bill made it to Democrat Governor Janet Mills to sign, which she killed. Nonetheless, this shows a willingness on the part of lawmakers to pass a sports betting bill.

Maine Gambling FAQ

Is pari-mutuel betting legal in Maine?

Yes, off-track and on-track pari-mutuel betting on horse races is permitted. Advance deposit wagering is also allowed. These are the ony forms of sports betting you can legally enjoy in Maine, without visiting an offshore casino.

Is there a state lottery in Maine?

Yes, the Maine Lottery offers draw games, instant games and operates a tristate lottery with Vermont and New Hampshire. It is also a member of the Multistate Lottery Association.

What are the legal forms of gambling in Maine?

Legal gambling forms include a state lottery, pari-mutuel horse racing, charity gaming, gambling at only two commercial casinos offering slot games, tribal bingo halls, and fantasy sports betting.

It is hoped that, in due course, online casino gambling could join them, and a sports betting bill could still make its way through Congress and be signed. Until that happens, however, online gambling and a live poker room are going to remain elusive other than through offshore casino gambling.

Is sports betting legal in Maine?

No, sports betting is currently not legal in Maine. Efforts continue to find a sports betting bill with provisions that can be agreeable across all branches of state government. In the absence of such a Maine sports betting bill, online gambling in Maine including sports betting will remain a theoretical possibility.

Is online gambling legal in Maine?

No, online gambling such as online casinos and online poker is not legal in Maine. However, online betting on horses is permitted under the right circumstances. Given this fact, it seems reasonable to expect that an online gambling bill could be passed, but it’s not happened yet.

What is the legal gambling age in Maine?

The legal age for gambling in Maine is 18 and over to purchase lottery tickets, participate in fantasy sports, or charitable gaming. However, Maine’s minimum gambling age rises to 21 and over for casinos like Hollywood Casino Bangor.

If Maine ends up legalizing sports betting at online sportsbooks, or live poker room gaming, it’s likely that the minimum age for this will be pegged at 21 as a concession to ensure the passage of the bill.

Conclusion

In terms of population, Maine is definitely one of the smaller states. Still, players from this state do have a few options, although limited, including casino gambling. Maine has 2 casinos including Hollywood Casino Bangor that offer Vegas-style slot machines and table games if you’re willing to make the drive.

Although online gambling is not authorized, some players have turned to offshore operators who accept Maine players for convenience, quality, bonuses, mobile betting, or other reasons. You can find some of our recommended online casinos for slot games and legal sports betting above.

Because gambling laws are constantly changing, visit our Maine page periodically for updates. If sports betting is legalised, or online casino games are permitted, you’ll find out here as we highlight where you can gamble online.