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Is Sports Betting in Legal in Maine?
Maine legalized sports betting on May 2, 2022, granting its four federally recognized Wabanaki tribes exclusive rights to operate online sportsbooks statewide. Mobile wagering officially launched on November 3, 2023, with the tribes partnering with Caesars Sportsbook and DraftKings to take the state’s first legal online bets. This arrangement makes Maine one of the only states in the U.S. where mobile sports betting is operated entirely through tribal partnerships.
Top 5 Maine Online Betting Sites
Even with the opening up of locally licensed sportsbooks, the best ones will still tend to be licensed offshore. This is because they avoid the heavy tax burden that Maine imposes. Here are the top 5 sportsbooks that we recommend for bettors in Maine.
While Maine now has locally licensed sportsbooks, some bettors still choose to use offshore sites because they often offer different betting markets, bonuses, and odds structures not found on regulated platforms. Below are five offshore sportsbooks that remain popular with some Maine players.
Bovada
Bovada’s name is worth a lot. As the most known and trusted online sportsbook in the country, they do a lot to protect its name. If you are looking for a sportsbook in Maine with a trusted name, Bovada is a great choice.
BetOnline
BetOnline has extensive sports betting markets, and they are the kind that is most important to bettors in Maines. Because there is a lack of professional sports teams in Maine, having varied sports betting markets is especially important.
Sportsbetting.ag
Sportsbetting.ag specializes in having a great banking system. They accept a large amount of deposit and withdrawal options and will process these very quickly.
MyBookie
MyBookie will match 50% of your initial contribution, capped at a maximum of $1,000.
XBet
We recommend XBet to mobile bettors. Their website design team is truly extraordinary, and you can tell they have put resources into making their website a smooth experience.
Legal Sportsbooks in Maine
Sports betting is legal in Maine, and the following licensed sportsbooks are authorized to operate in the state. As of 2025, online sports betting is live and legal in Maine, with Caesars Sportsbook and DraftKings currently the only active operators, both partnered with Maine’s Wabanaki tribes.
| Sportsbook | Available in Maine |
| FanDuel | ❌ |
| DraftKings | ✅ |
| Caesars | ✅ |
| BetRivers | ❌ |
| BetMGM | ❌ |
| Fanatics | ❌ |
| Unibet | ❌ |
Don’t forget to check out the legal sports betting situation across the United States.
Maine Quick Facts
As of 2025, Maine’s sports betting market continues to grow, with online wagering available exclusively through tribal partnerships with Caesars Sportsbook and DraftKings. While no retail sportsbooks are currently open, residents can legally place bets online from anywhere within the state, making it a convenient and accessible option for local bettors.
| State | Maine |
| Sports Betting Law Passed | Yes ✔️ |
| Launch Date | November 3rd 2023 |
| Minimum Gambling Age | 21 ✔️ |
| Online Sports Betting | Yes ✔️ |
| Mobile Sports Betting | Yes ✔️ |
| Retail Sportsbooks | Yes ✔️ |
| Tribal Casinos | No ❌ |
| Daily Fantasy Sports | Yes ✔️ |
| Online Casinos | No ❌ |
| Horse Racing | Yes ✔️ |
| Dog Racing | No ❌ |
| Esports Betting | Yes ✔️ |
Why It’s Better To Use Offshore Betting Sites Over the Legal Ones
While Maine has legalized sports betting, many bettors are discovering that offshore sportsbooks still offer significant advantages. The offshore betting sites we promote are often more appealing to U.S. players than traditional legal sportsbooks for several key reasons.
Here’s Why Offshore Sportsbooks Are Often Better:
- Better Odds and Higher Payouts—Offshore sportsbooks are not restricted by the same tax and regulatory burdens, allowing them to offer more competitive odds and bigger payouts.
- No State Restrictions Nationwide Access—You can bet from anywhere in the U.S., regardless of whether your state has legalized sports betting or not.
- No Mandatory Personal Data Sharing with U.S. Regulators—Offshore books don’t require you to provide sensitive data to government authorities.
- Access to a Wider Variety of Betting Markets—Bet on international sports, entertainment, politics, and more—markets not always offered by U.S. sportsbooks.
- Crypto-Friendly Deposits & Withdrawals—Many offshore sites support Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies, allowing for anonymous and fast transactions.
- Lower Betting Limits & More Flexibility for Small Bettors—Casual bettors love the flexible options that aren’t always available on major U.S. platforms.
- No Arbitrary Limits or Account Restrictions—You’re less likely to be limited or banned for winning consistently.
- Bigger Bonuses and Better Promotions—Offshore books often provide larger welcome bonuses, reload offers, and loyalty perks.
- Less Strict Verification & Faster Account Approvals—Get started in minutes—no lengthy ID verifications or waiting times.
- No Withholding of Winnings for Tax Purposes—Unlike U.S. platforms, offshore sites don’t withhold your winnings for tax reporting.
What Can’t You Bet On in Maine?
Even though sports betting is legal in Maine, certain restrictions still apply as of 2025:
- No betting on in-state college teams or their players.
- Betting on out-of-state college teams is allowed, but some player prop markets may be limited.
- Limited esports betting options, depending on the operator.
- No novelty or political betting markets on regulated platforms.
- Fewer international and niche markets compared to many offshore sites.
With offshore sportsbooks, these restrictions don’t apply. You can bet on college props, politics, entertainment events, and a much wider selection of esports—all from one platform.
Who Can Legally Bet in Maine?
To legally bet in Maine through a regulated sportsbook, you must meet several requirements:
- Age Requirement: You must be 21 or older.
- Location Requirement: You must be physically located within Maine’s borders while betting.
- Eligible Participants: You don’t need to be a Maine resident, but you do need to be in-state.
- Restricted Individuals Include:
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Athletes, coaches, referees, and staff involved in the sports they’re betting on.
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Employees of sportsbooks or regulatory agencies.
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Officials or executives in sports leagues.
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People on state exclusion lists or with gambling restrictions.
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Retail Betting Restriction: While online betting is available, retail options are still very limited in Maine.
With Our Offshore Sportsbooks:
- You can bet from anywhere—even outside Maine.
- You only need to be 18+ in most cases.
- Sign-up is easier, and there are fewer barriers to placing your first wager.
Maine Sports Betting – Recent Updates
- August 15, 2025 – Maine’s online sports betting market remains active with Caesars Sportsbook and DraftKings as the only licensed operators. Both continue to operate under exclusive partnerships with the Wabanaki tribes. No interruptions or major licensing disputes have impacted the market in 2025.
- January 23, 2024 – While early reports suggested Maine’s sports betting market might face a halt in November 2024 due to licensing disputes, no such shutdown occurred.
- January 10, 2024 – Maine legislators advocate for iGaming legalization in 2024, complementing the existing online sports betting market that started in 2023.
- November 3, 2023 – First online sports bets in Maine taken by Caesars Sportsbook and DraftKings at 9:00 a.m. ET.
- July 19, 2023 – Maine Gambling Control Unit plans to issue temporary licenses and start legal sports betting in November 2023.
- January 13, 2023 – Maine’s sports betting rules are released; launch may happen between April 2023 and January 2024.
Four Reasons to Bet on These Maine Online Betting Sites
We take our time in choosing the best sportsbooks for bettors in Maine. Here are some of the main things we look for when choosing which ones to recommend to our readers.
Available to Maine Bettors
We always make sure that bettors in Maine can safely, easily, and legally access the sportsbooks we recommend here. This is an integral part of the due diligence of our Maine sportsbook reviews.
Welcome Bonus
A big welcome bonus is an important way to get started off on the right foot. This can really make all the difference in your bottom line, so we recommend sportsbooks that have big, juice initial deposit bonuses.
Helpful Customer Service
Customer service can come in many forms, and it is important to us that it does. This is because each and every user will have different needs and preferences, so we make sure that you can access customer service in the way that suits you best.
Fair Odds
We are wary of sportsbooks that offer odds that are too good to be true. They are almost always not true. We look for sportsbooks that are neither too sharp nor too generous to be sustainable.
Casinos in Maine
As of 2025, Maine has two commercial casinos: Oxford Casino and Hotel in Oxford and Hollywood Casino, Hotel, and Raceway in Bangor. Hollywood Casino is the only venue that also offers live poker and harness racing. Depending on where you live, visiting either location may require significant travel, but both facilities provide a range of slots and table games. While these casinos do not currently host retail sportsbooks, Maine residents can place legal online sports bets through Caesars Sportsbook and DraftKings.
Maine Sports Betting Timeline
2025
The market continued to stabilize with Caesars and DraftKings as the sole licensed operators. Efforts to expand betting options, including retail locations and broader market offerings, were discussed but not yet implemented. Maine maintained its position as one of the few states with exclusive tribal control over mobile sports betting.
2024
Maine’s first full year of legal sports betting saw steady growth, with Caesars Sportsbook and DraftKings maintaining exclusive online operations through partnerships with the Wabanaki tribes. Lawmakers revisited online casino (iGaming) legislation, though no bill passed. Retail sportsbooks remained absent despite being legally permitted.
2023
After initial uncertainties hinted at a possible delay to 2024, the Maine Gambling Control Unit set November as the launch month of legal sports betting. Caesars Sportsbook and DraftKings, partnering with the Passamaquoddy Tribe, made history by accepting the state’s first legal online sports wagers on November 3.
2022
Governor Janet Mills signed a bill in May 2022 granting Maine’s federally recognized tribes exclusive rights to offer statewide mobile sports betting. The law took effect later that summer after the standard 90-day legislative period. It followed the Senate’s approval of the measure, which emphasized tribal control over online wagering and permitted in-person betting at the state’s two commercial casinos.
2021
A bill that would grant mobile sports betting privileges to the state’s Tribes passed both the House and the Senate. However, it was not a priority in the Appropriations Table and did not move past that.
2020
Early in the year, Governor Mills vetoed the sports betting bill that was passed last year. There was a strong attempt to override the veto. They needed 94 votes, and gained 85, thus failing to override the governor’s veto.
2019
In the final stretch of the legislative session, Maine passed a sports betting bill. This bill would authorize sports betting at 11 locales. Online operators would not need to partner with retail locations.
Governor Mills neither signed nor vetoed the bill, and will be able to make the final decision in the early days of 2020.
Maine Sports Betting Resources
Explore the following resources to gain a deeper understanding of sports betting in Maine:
- Maine Gambling Control Unit: The regulatory authority overseeing gambling activities in the state.
- Maine Sports Betting Bill (HP 428 – LD 585): The legislative framework that legalized sports betting in Maine.
- Maine Council on Problem Gambling: Offers resources and support for promoting responsible gambling practices.
- Maine Self-Exclusion Program: Enables individuals to voluntarily exclude themselves from all gambling activities.
Maine Sports Betting FAQ
Find answers to common questions bettors like you have when researching which sportsbook to join.
As of 2025, there are two casinos in Maine: Oxford Casino and Hotel in Oxford, and Hollywood Casino, Hotel, and Raceway in Bangor.
Hollywood Casino is the only one offering live poker and harness racing.
Yes, sports betting is legal in Maine as of 2025. Online wagering is available exclusively through Caesars Sportsbook and DraftKings, both operating in partnership with the state’s Wabanaki tribes.
Yes, mobile sports betting is legal and active in Maine as of 2025.
It is available exclusively through Caesars Sportsbook and DraftKings, both partnered with the Wabanaki tribes.
Bettors can also bet with offshore sportsbooks, which offer a wide range of mobile betting opportunities.
We make several recommendations for Maine betting sites on this page. Bovada is a top choice of our readers.
The legal gambling age in Maine is 21 for sports betting and casino gaming. For pari-mutuel wagering on horse racing and lottery games, the minimum age is 18.
Trent is a professional sports journalist specializing in UFC, MMA, and esports coverage. His work has been featured in prestigious publications such as USA Today Sports, Vice, Bloody Elbow, Fight! Magazine, UFC 360, and Narratively. Trent's connection to MMA dates back to the early days when he and his friends pooled their resources to purchase the pay-per-...
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