Leading sportsbook operators like FanDuel and DraftKings have stayed away from discussions with the state of Maine about setting up shop.
The legislature offered mobile sports betting rights to the Wabanaki tribes but left the in-person betting to casinos and off-track betting parlors. The revenue setup at the moment benefits the tribes. What’s more, it could take another two years before the first bet is even placed, according to the Bangor Daily News.
Still, some members of the industry are following the rulemaking efforts. And smaller companies may make a mark with enough time for changes as the state works on the rules.
Some 12 enterprises have contacted the Maine Gambling Control Unit for information, said Milton Champion, the unit’s executive director. These include Oxford Casino, the NFL, data trackers, and geolocators.
Champion bears responsibility for crafting regulations. But interested parties need to wait until the rules are released and a public comment period has commenced. A framework for initial rules should be released by late fall, after more staff come aboard.
“There’s clearly some interest,” Champion said. “But let’s face it, Maine isn’t a $6 million state. It’s not going to push out big numbers.”
On the revenue side, operators will collect 30 percent to 40 percent of revenue generated from wagers, which is insufficient to attract bigger firms. A limited number of licenses there may also keep companies away, he said.
These elements rank as a compromise between lawmakers and Governor Janet Mills, who did not want a wider sovereignty movement from the Wabanaki tribes and their supporters.
Tribal leaders supported the measure anyway because it could set up a pathway to running a gaming operation in the future.
The compromise did not sit well with casino proponents because it scuttled a previous bill that passed both chambers and allowed casinos to have mobile licenses.
