Maine lawmakers passed LD 2217, a sports betting bill whose key provision reduces the term of a license from four years to one. The law reduces the license fee to coincide with the term shortening.
The purpose is to lessen the workload on the Maine Gaming Control Unit (MGCU), the regulatory body.
“Tracking this information over four years is much harder to accomplish rather than on a regular basis,” MGCU Executive Director Milton Champion said during a hearing earlier this year, according to LSR. “Turning it over every year versus holding onto it for four years of information before renewing will help.”
As there hasn’t been a single permanent license issued, it has yet to impact the sports betting apparatus.
In addition to the term reduction, the provision gives Champion the option to issue multiple temporary licenses as a prelude for a permanent version. The temporary license will let sports betting continue if the regulators have yet to approve a permanent one.
There are just two sportsbooks live in Maine: Caesars and DraftKings. But they only operate on temporary licenses. Champion approved two temporary operator licenses in November 2023 to get the market open.
Under the new law, Champion can continue with this option until his background checks are completed for the permanent licenses.
Governor Janet Mills has 10 days to sign off or veto the law.
The Maine Legislature also discussed legalizing online casinos this session. The Wabanaki tribal nations would control online gambling, along with online sports betting exclusivity, according to LSR.
While the legislature could pass the online casino bill, sources suggest it is unlikely Mills would support the gambling expansion, particularly if the state’s commercial casinos are excluded.
