The sports betting legislation in Maine will go into effect on August 8, however, Native American tribes in the state could be waiting months or over a year before sports betting begins in the state.
Maine Gambling Control Unit Executive Director Milt Champion said it could take until January 2024 to get the rules behind the legislation sorted out.
Champion commented: "This is not an easy process. We’re not trying to put this off. We just want to do it right."
The state estimates that it could take eight months to a year-and-a-half to draft state sports betting rules and regulations.
Maine will also need to hire several new employees to oversee the sports betting industry prior to the rules and regulations being drafted.
The law itself legalizes sports betting in Maine, giving exclusive online wagering rights to tribes while existing casinos can conduct in-person betting. It was Democratic Governor Janet Mills who gave control of the mobile sports betting market to Native American tribes.
Mobile sports betting in the state is expected to account for 85% of the revenue. In-person licenses are set aside for casinos and off-track betting parlors with a 10% tax on all proceeds.
Online sports betting is expected to go live first in Maine, followed by in-person wagering. Upon launch, it's expected that four sportsbooks will be operational, each partnered with one of the state's four tribes.
Both FanDuel and DraftKings are live in Maine via their Daily Fantasy Sports site. The DraftKings' headquarters are located near Maine, in Boston, Massachusetts.
