Maine governor signs bill to legalise sports betting
LD 585 would allow for the state’s four Native American tribes to apply for a licence to operate online sports betting. These tribes may then partner with one online operator each.
The licence fee for mobile sports betting is $200,000, which must be paid every four years.
In addition, the nine combined racetracks and off-track betting facilities but Churchill Downs’ Oxford Casino may apply for a licence to operate retail sports betting, which carries a $4,000 fee to be paid every four years.
Operators must pay 10% of their adjusted sports wagering revenue to the state.
Betting on matches including Maine-based collegiate sports teams is not permitted.
The legislation noted that the state’s tribes – all of which are part of the Wabanaki nation – had “previously been excluded” from most forms of gaming in the state, and said allowing them to operate online betting would go towards correcting that.
The bill also says that if mobile gaming is ever made legal in the state, the four tribes must be provided the same access to the market as commercial operators.
“This law provides meaningful economic opportunities for the Wabanaki Nations,” Mills said. “It incentivises investment in tribal communities, and it formalises a collaboration process on policy that sets the foundation for a stronger relationship in the future.”
“I am proud of the work that the Wabanaki Nations and the state put into drafting this legislation, and I am grateful for the honest effort, the extensive research and the hundreds of hours of negotiations and discussions which bore fruit in this bill.
“We will continue to work closely with the tribes to make progress for the Wabanaki people.”
Mills signing the bill follows years of efforts to introduce legal sports betting to Maine. In January 2020, the state legislature passed a sports betting bill but it was vetoed by Mills, while an effort last year was approved by the House but stalled after being assigned to the Special Appropriations Table.