William Brown is a Content Writer with strong expertise in US and global gambling industry trends. Having covered the local sports betting market since the repeal of PASPA in 2018, William approaches his gambling guides with passion and diligence. He is a keen player of online slots, blackjack, and a regular sports bettor.
Maine Sports Betting – Best Sites and Apps 2024
By William Brown
Contributor
Updated: October 29, 2024
The Best Maine Sports Betting Apps
There are currently two Maine online sportsbooks to sign up to. These are the Caeasars and DraftKings sites, with both offering the best user experiences on the market. There are currently no land-based operators, though retail licenses are expected to be granted in 2025.
Both brands provide versatile payment options, with round-the-clock support provided to guarantee a reliable gambling experience. They also have user-friendly interfaces and dedicated mobile apps. Daily fantasy sports is also legal in the state as an alternative.
| Operator | Welcome Bonus | Site Rating | Secure Link | Payments | Terms |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| OwnersBox | 100% Up To $500 Deposit Bonus | ★ out of 5 | Play Here! |
|
Valid only for new players over 21 years of age. Full T&C's apply. |
The Status of Online Sports Betting in Maine
| November 1, 2023 | Legal online sports betting launches in Maine. |
| August 2, 2023 | Maine Gambling Control Unit finalizes rules for sports betting operations. |
| May 2, 2022 | Governor Janet Mills signs LD 585 into law, legalizing sports betting in Maine. |
| April 19, 2022 | Maine Legislature passes sports betting legalization bill LD 585. |
| January 8, 2020 | Governor Janet Mills vetoes sports betting bill LD 553, blocking its passing. |
| June 19, 2019 | Maine Legislature passes LD 553 to legalize sports betting. |
| May 14, 2018 | The U.S. Supreme Court strikes down PASPA, allowing states to legalize sports betting. |
Maine's journey toward legal betting began after the Supreme Court overturned the federal ban on the activity in 2018. The Maine legislature responded quickly, passing bill LD 553 to legalize Maine sports betting in the state. However, concerned by the social implications of legal gambling in the small state, Governor Janet Mills vetoed the bill.
With public acceptance of legal betting growing, the state legislature passed bill LD 585 in 2022, which allowed exclusive mobile betting rights to Maine's four federally recognized tribes. Governor Mills agreed to the new terms and signed the bill into law in May 2022.
Over the next year, Maine's Gambling Control Unit ironed out player safety and operator regulations. The state's tribes were then courted by several major betting operators, and eventually partnered with DraftKings and Caesars to bring their market-leading platforms to bettors. Both launched on November 1, 2023.
In the first six months of operation, the legal Maine sports betting sites generated $239 million in revenues, with roughly $2.3 million generated in state taxes. Considering the state has a population of less than 1.4 million and no retail betting is available, this signals a successful year for the burgeoning market.
Legal Maine Sportsbook Options
The Maine sports betting apps are regulated by the Maine Gambling Control Unit, which operates under the Department of Public Safety. The regulations require bettors to be over the age of 21, with a 10% tax rate applied to sportsbook revenues. Betting on local and international leagues and events is permitted, though wagering on in-state college teams is restricted.
While the Maine betting laws allowed for four operators to launch in the state alongside the four tribes, Caesars partnered with three of the tribes immediately. This left only one free license, which DraftKings claimed in a deal with the Passamaquoddy Tribe. The following section outlines the legal betting options at Maine betting sites.
Legal Bet Types in Maine
The legal Maine sports betting options are diverse, and permit a range of wagers on favorites such as the Big Four US Leagues and major international competitions. These include everything from single moneyline wagers to complex parlay bets that involve several market selections. That said, some markets may only be available for certain sports, with the NFL in particular offering a wide market selection.
It's worth mentioning that certain bet types will appeal more to newcomers. If you're just getting started, we suggest sticking with single moneyline bets. As you gain more experience, try two-or-three-leg parlays, with totals and spreads being relatively easy to understand for beginners. The following are some of the betting options in Maine:
- Moneyline
- Totals
- Spread betting
- Parlays
- Same Game Parlays
- Teasers
New bettors should be able to master point spread betting relatively quickly as the odds are simple to understand. Live betting is also legal at betting apps in Maine, though the fast pace of this activity is best left to those who've first gotten familiar with the fundamentals of the pre-match wagering.
What you Cannot Bet on
There are a few restrictions on Maine online sports betting. Like many states, Maine restricts wagering on games involving in-state college teams and also prohibits individual prop bets on college players. This aims to maintain the integrity of these games and reduce pressure on developing athletes.
Like most states, wagering on "exotics" is also prohibited. These include non-sporting events, such as the outcomes of political elections and nominations and the winners of entertainment awards. Wagering on eSports is also restricted, though this could change when the market matures. The following includes all restricted betting activities at Maine sportsbooks:
- Politics
- Entertainment and award ceremonies
- eSports
- College player prop bets
- In-state College teams
Daily Fantasy Sports
Maine officially legalized daily fantasy sports in 2017, and since then, locals have been able to compete in contests with friends or strangers. Of the two Maine sports betting apps, only DraftKings provides a DFS platform. Users of the sportsbook can use the same account to join competitions and fund their accounts.
For the uninitiated, daily fantasy sports are weekly contests that require contestant roster fantasy lineups of players from one league. These are drafted within a set salary cap, with contestants earning points based on the real-life performances of players. This is a great alternative to gambling for sports fans.
Maine Sports Betting Promotions
There are two Maine sports betting bonuses available to new players, with one each on offer at DraftKings and Caesars. These are restricted to players who have never held an account with the site and can be claimed on registration with a bonus code. You can claim the offers when you follow the links on this page.
There are several benefits to claiming sportsbook bonuses, with each site offering distinct perks. Promotions can include risk-free bets, cashback offers, free bets, and site credits. Return customers may also claim promos through VIP schemes, whether it be live betting bonuses or odds and profit boosts.
| Online Sportsbooks | Bonus Offer | Min. Deposit | Bonus Code | Terms | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| OwnersBox | 100% up to $500 Deposit Bonus | $10 | Not Needed | Claim Your Bonus | Valid only for new players over 21 years of age. Full T&C's apply. |
It's essential to read the terms and conditions of the Maine betting bonuses before claiming them, as these will include important details. Take note of the validity period, the minimum odds requirements, market restrictions, payout limits, and wagering requirements. Failure to adhere to the terms could result in bonus forfeiture.
Legal Betting Apps in Maine
To ensure a more versatile wagering experience, the two Maine sports betting platforms have created mobile apps that are compatible with iOS and Android devices. These both offer the full range of betting options available on the web platform, including parlays and live betting. New customers can register and claim the welcome bonus through the apps, too.
| Betting Apps | Betting Offer | Compatibility | Secure Link | Terms |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| OwnersBox - | 100% up to $500 Deposit Bonus | AndroidiOS compatibly, | Play here! | Valid only for new players over 21 years of age. Full T&C's apply. |
Mobile betting allows customers to place wagers from their smartphones and tablets anywhere within Maine's state lines. This way, it's easy to bet while watching sports events. Payments are also especially easy through Maine sports betting apps, as is access to account controls. While the mobile options aren't as extensive as other states, they still offer a quality experience.
Deposits and Withdrawals Options
Both Maine sportsbooks offer a range of secure and reputable payment options to make deposits and withdrawals. While the minimum deposit limit is $5 at DraftKings, it is $10 at Caesars. Options include debit and credit cards, eWallets, mobile payments, and bank transfers. Deposits are processed instantly and without fees.
The best deposit and withdrawal options tend to be eWallets such as PayPal and Venmo, as they have the fastest transaction times and versatile limits. You can expect to receive funds within 24 hours with both methods. Bank transfers, on the other hand, can be as slow as seven days.
Popular Sports and Leagues to Bet on
Maine's sports betting options are diverse, and include all professional major US leagues for football, basketball, hockey, soccer, and baseball. There is also an array of popular international leagues and events, with tennis, golf, and English soccer betting especially popular. These wide betting options ensure that there's something to bet on all year round.
Combat sports such as boxing and MMA provide good odds, as do motorsports such as NASCAR and Formula 1. Maine betting sites also offer odds for college sports such as NCAA football. However, you won't be able to wager on games involving local college sports teams or make college player props.
Major Sports Leagues
The Big Four Leagues are the most popular sports leagues to bet on in Maine. This includes the NFL, NBA, MLB, and NHL. The MLS league is also quite popular. While Maine isn't represented in the NFL, football betting is popular for New England teams. These markets tend to have the most competitive odds and bonuses.
There are also niche sports leagues available for these sports, whether it be Korean baseball or German basketball. Of the international leagues, soccer offers the widest spectrum of markets, with the English Premier League among the most highly-wagered sporting bodies in the world. The Italian La Liga and German Bundesliga are also worth considering.
Popular Sports Teams With Maine Residents
Due to Maine's small population, there are no professional sports teams located in the state. The most popular in-state teams are the college teams, though as we've mentioned, these cannot be bet on in Maine. Below, we've provided details about the teams that are popular among Maine sports betting fans.
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Maine Black Bears
The Maine Black Bears are the University of Maine's NCAA team. While they compete in several sports, they are perhaps best known for the success of their ice hockey team. The Bears won two national championships in 1993 and 1999, with NHL players Paul Kariya and Jimmy Howard emerging from the Bears' peak era. The team is a source of civic pride for Maine locals in lieu of any major league teams.
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New England Patriots
In the NFL, Maine's residents typically go for their New England neighbors in Boston, the New England Patriots. The Patriots dominated the league for much of the 21st century under coach Bill Belichick and quarterback Tom Brady. With six Super Bowl championships garnered between 2001 and 2018, its legacy is unrivaled. While the team has struggled to regain its former glory without Brady, its fanbase in Maine remains dedicated.
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Boston Red Sox
In baseball, the Boston Red Sox tend to generate plenty of fandom in Maine. The Red Sox have had a steady run after the "Curse of the Bambino" was broken in 2004, having won three more World Series since then. The team's rich history and rivalry with the New York Yankees have made them legends in the New England area.
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Boston Celtics
The Boston Celtics draw a considerable basketball fanbase from Maine. The team has won an impressive 17 NBA championships, dominating the league intermittently between the 1960s and 1980s. Most recently, the team won their first Championship since 2008, making them a team to watch in the coming season. The team also owns the Maine Celtics minor league team, building a pipeline to develop local talent for the league.
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Boston Bruins
As one of the "Original Six" NHL teams, the Boston Bruins are another jewel in the crown of New England's sporting greats. The team has won six Stanley Cups, with Division Championships and Presidents' Trophies earned in 2023. This is among the most popular major league teams in Maine due to the state's love of ice hockey.
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New England Revolution
Interestingly, soccer is one of the most played sports in Maine among high school students. This has helped to grow the popularity of the Revolution, New England's Major League Soccer team. While the team has yet to win an MLS Cup, it has been a finalist five times and won the 2007 U.S. Open Cup.
Problem Gambling Help
Signs of compulsive gambling include spending outside of your means, hiding or lying about gambling, and anxious thoughts when not gambling. If you are starting to recognize compulsive behaviors in yourself or a loved one, there are several free resources available in Maine. These include Gamblers Anonymous and the National Problem Gambling Helpline.
The two Maine sportsbooks will also offer limitation tools such as self-exclusion, deposit limits, and daily timers. We suggest you educate yourself on responsible gambling to find tips on how to enjoy betting more sustainably, whether through budget control or conscious betting.
William Brown is a Content Writer with years of experience covering the US and international gambling industry. His knowledge of global gambling trends and the local market gives him unique insight into the development of the online gambling sphere. He has reviewed and tested all major US online casinos and sportsbooks and is familiar with all states’ gaming laws.