The Maine legislature approved a sports betting bill June 19. LD 553 was unstoppable in both chambers and only a veto by Governor Janet Mills will stop it now.
There was a degree of urgency since Maine’s legislative year ended last week. If the governor signs the bill Maine would join Rhode Island and New Hampshire as New England states offering sports book.
The bill allows retail and online sports betting on 11 locations in the state that include a racetrack, two casinos, four OTBs and four tribal casinos. Moreover, online sports betting is allowed and does not require “tethering” to those 11 properties.
Senator Louis Luchini, the bill’s sponsor told the Portland Press Herald, “We don’t require Amazon to tether to existing grocery stores and we don’t require Airbnb to tether to hotels.”
The wagers will be taxed at 10 percent of retail revenue and 16 percent for online wagers. Licenses will cost $20,000 annually. Luchini projects that the state will collect $1.9 million the first year and that amount will eventually reach $5.6 million.
Bets are not allowed on college athletics. There is no royalty to be paid to any sports leagues.
