Maine Sports Betting: Best Legal Sportsbooks

Is sports betting legal in Maine?

Yes. Maine legalised sports betting in May 2022, when Governor Janet Mills signed a bill that gave the state's four Wabanaki Nations exclusive control of online wagering. Mobile betting launched in November 2023. The Gambling Control Unit, part of the Department of Public Safety, regulates the market, and the minimum age is 21.

The law was closely tied to wider efforts to improve the state's relationship with the Wabanaki tribes, and it is why Maine's online market looks so different from most of New England.

Which sportsbooks are available in Maine

Because online licences are reserved for tribal partners, only a small number of mobile sportsbooks operate in Maine, and none of the three we review, BetMGM, bet365 and BetRivers, is licensed there. Mainers who want to use those brands would need to be physically present in a state where they hold a licence.

The law also allows retail sports betting at the state's casinos and off-track betting facilities, though in-person options have been slower to develop than mobile wagering. Online, geolocation confirms you are within Maine on every bet.

Maine rules for college sport

Maine does not allow player prop bets on college athletes. You can still bet on game lines and totals for most college events, which matters for fans of the University of Maine's well-supported hockey programme.

Advertising rules are comparatively strict, limiting marketing that targets people under 21. Winnings are taxable at state and federal level.

Maine's tribal model has been debated since launch. Supporters say it gives the Wabanaki Nations a share of a growing industry that was long out of reach because of the state's unusual legal relationship with the tribes. Critics argue that two online operators leave bettors with limited choice. Lawmakers have also discussed whether online casino gaming should follow the same tribal-exclusive approach. For now, the sports betting structure set in 2022 remains in place, and new national brands cannot enter without changes to the law.

Sports loyalties and help

Most Mainers follow Boston's teams, the Patriots, Red Sox, Celtics and Bruins, while the Portland Sea Dogs and Maine Celtics provide minor-league action closer to home. Bettors in southern Maine who cross into New Hampshire or Massachusetts will find different apps and rules there, since each state licenses its own operators. If you are worried about your gambling, call 1-800-GAMBLER for free, confidential support, and use the self-exclusion and limit tools in your app.