The Rise of Maine’s Online Gambling Market
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Many different types of gambling are legal in Maine, and the form most recently made accessible to residents is sports betting, which has contributed to a massive increase in revenue.
Figures suggest that this upward trend will only continue, especially thanks to online gambling. At the moment, the legal forms of in-state gambling include horse racing, sports betting, the lottery, and land-based casinos, but there are offshore options and hopes for future legalization of other types. For those who enjoy casino games but do not want to visit a retail site, offshore sites are a great option.
Expert Aneeca Younas has compiled the best picks for Maine residents; anybody interested can see casinos compared and listed here. As Techopedia's expert, Aneeca Younas says: "these sites don’t fall under the jurisdiction of state and federal gambling laws, allowing players to access them safely and without hassle."
The Dominance of Sports Betting in Maine
Since becoming legal in November 2023, sports betting has made a big impact in the Maine gambling world. The sports betting handle increased by 40.8% from February, hitting a staggering $47.6 million in March. These numbers make it the highest earnings since the industry opened up its markets 6 months ago.
Although still in its infancy, sports betting is clearly extremely popular with residents already. This is because it allows them to place bets on their favorite teams and players, of which there are many in Maine, from the Maine Celtics to the Portland Sea Dogs.
As it stands, Maine has two licensed sports betting providers: Caesars and DraftKings. Both of these operators are able to offer their services because they partner with tribal groups, as per the conditions of a law signed in May 2022. Tribes have exclusivity over online wagering, and so any sportsbook that wishes to operate in Maine must do so in collaboration with these groups. Although there are only a couple of choices for residents to pick from, there is no doubt that in the coming years this number will rise considerably.
Other Forms of Gambling and Their Impact
As previously mentioned, there are other kinds of gambling besides bricks-and-mortar casinos or sports betting. Online casinos are quickly becoming one of the most accessible and popular ways to place a bet, but unfortunately are not available in all US states yet. For those residing in Maine, offshore casino sites are the only easy-to-access option at current. There is a huge variety of offshore online casinos to choose from, many of which offer welcome bonuses, live dealers, regular tournaments, and loyalty schemes. Unfortunately, because of their out-of-state status, these sites are not counted in the total revenue figures released by Maine lawmakers. This means that overall earnings from the gambling industry are much higher than the official numbers.
There is optimism amongst many that Maine will soon legalize online casino games, therefore increasing revenue even further, and providing gamers with the chance to play all of their favorites, from poker to slots, from anywhere in the state.
If you or anyone you know has a gambling problem, call 1-800-GAMBLER.
