Good to go
Online sports betting is launching in Maine before the weekend, with all the state’s four tribes having aligned with sportsbook partners. On X, industry analyst Steve Ruddock shared The Department of Public Safety’s rule approval and go-live time of 9am Friday:
As Ruddock’s comment on the “fourth tribe” reveals, DraftKings left it late to announce its partner. The Boston-based brand later shared its tie-up with the Passamaquoddy Tribe in a Tuesday release.
The upshot of tribes and sportsbooks getting their ducks all in a row means that, finally, after a year-and-a-half of regulatory back and forth, Maine bettors can finally begin account sign-ups and deposits Wednesday.
About time
Friday’s launch also means Maine Gambling Control Unit’s Executive Director (MGCU) Milt Champion can make good on his promise of “going to Disneyland” to celebrate the market going live.
Champion’s comments came last week as the Maine gambling kingpin stated the MGCU was “raring to go,” while also dishing out a hefty fine to Underdog Fantasy. Champion, however, hasn’t exactly been burning the midnight oil to push the launch of online betting, stating in May 2022 that the market could launch as late as 2024.
I’m the Executive Director. I’m not going to do anything to embarrass myself”
“I need to look into a lot of things, from acquisitions to violations,” Champion said back then. “I’m the Executive Director. I’m not going to do anything to embarrass myself,” he stated. Around two weeks later the MGCU suspended him for ill-advised Tweets that were sexist and seemed to praise white supremacists.
Choose your sportsbook
All that remains for bettors is to choose an online sportsbook. Caesars Sportsbook has the lion’s share of the market, having partnered with three of Maine’s tribes for the four available digital sports betting skins.
DraftKings, with its late announcement, takes the final available skin despite being part of the lobbying group Sports Betting Alliance (SBA), which also includes FanDuel, BetMGM, and Fanatics.
Maine’s Friday launch leaves Vermont as the sole New England state without a regulated sports betting market.