Maine sports betting: legal sportsbooks & rules for 2026

Is sports betting legal in Maine?

Yes. Maine's modern sports wagering framework came from LD 585, signed by Governor Janet Mills on May 2, 2022 as part of a broader package focused on tribal-state collaboration.

• The law authorized both mobile and facility sports wagering under the Maine Gambling Control Unit, but it deliberately treats those two channels differently.
• Mobile licenses are reserved for Maine's federally recognized Wabanaki Nations, while facility licenses can be available to qualifying casinos, commercial tracks and off-track betting facilities under state law.

The mobile market launched on November 3, 2023. Caesars Sportsbook went live through partnerships with the Penobscot Nation, the Houlton Band of Maliseet Indians and the Mi'kmaq Nation.

• DraftKings launched through its partnership with the Passamaquoddy Tribe.
• That structure means all four Wabanaki Nations participate in Maine's mobile framework even though bettors see only two consumer-facing sportsbook apps.

Maine's rollout was slower than many states that legalized around the same period.

• The Gambling Control Unit spent more than a year finalizing rules before taking the first statewide mobile wagers.
• That slower regulatory build has produced a relatively compact market with fewer app choices, but it also makes the tribal partnership structure central to the economics of the state's sports betting industry rather than a side feature.

The two Maine sportsbook apps

Maine has two statewide mobile sportsbook brands: DraftKings and Caesars Sportsbook. The small number is not an accident.

• Each federally recognized Wabanaki Nation can hold a mobile sports wagering license, but tribes may contract with management-services companies to operate the technology and consumer product.
• Three nations chose Caesars, while the Passamaquoddy Tribe partnered with DraftKings.

The Maine Gambling Control Unit's current sports-wagering page also lists Oxford Casino-Hotel & Sports Book as a current sports wagering operator. That does not create a third statewide mobile app; it reflects the retail side of Maine's framework.

• For bettors choosing between the two mobile books, compare the actual price on the bet you want rather than selecting an app only because of a headline promotion.
• Our line shopping guide explains why even a small difference in odds can matter over time.

Which sports can you bet on in Maine?

Maine sportsbooks offer the major professional leagues and a broad international menu.

• NFL, NBA, MLB, NHL, WNBA, soccer, tennis, golf, MMA, boxing, motorsports and many other approved events can appear in the wagering catalogue.
• Maine has no NFL, NBA, MLB or NHL franchise of its own, so New England teams such as the Patriots, Celtics, Red Sox and Bruins naturally attract significant local interest.

The biggest state-specific rule concerns college sports. Maine law defines a collegiate sports event involving a Maine college team as a prohibited sports event regardless of where that game is played.

• That means you should not expect to wager on University of Maine or another Maine-based college team.
• The statute does preserve an important tournament distinction: a different game in a tournament may be offered when a Maine college team is part of the overall tournament but is not participating in that specific game.

Bet types & live betting in Maine

DraftKings and Caesars offer the familiar sportsbook menu in Maine: moneylines, point spreads, totals, futures, parlays, same-game parlays, team props, eligible player props and live in-play wagering. The exact market catalogue is subject to Maine approval, so a bet available in Massachusetts or New Jersey is not automatically guaranteed to appear in Maine.

New bettors can use our types of sports bets guide, odds and lines guide, and live betting guide to understand how these markets settle before risking money.

Retail sportsbooks in Maine

Maine's retail story has changed quickly. Oddfellahs Sportsbook & Bar in Portland opened in September 2024 and became the state's first in-person sportsbook, powered through Caesars and First Tracks Investments.

• Its licensing status later became the subject of administrative and court proceedings.
• State revenue pages nevertheless continue to publish 2026 wagering data for First Tracks Investments/Oddfellahs, so the dispute should be treated as a live regulatory matter rather than a historical footnote.

Retail access is no longer limited to the Portland venue.

• Maine's Gambling Control Unit now lists Oxford Casino-Hotel & Sports Book among current sports wagering operators, and its official revenue reports show sportsbook activity during 2026.
• For a state that originally launched as an almost entirely mobile market, that gives bettors a more conventional casino-based retail option as well.

You do not need to visit a retail sportsbook before opening a mobile account. Registration for DraftKings and Caesars can be completed remotely, but the sportsbook uses geolocation to verify that you are physically inside Maine before it accepts an online wager.

Where Maine's internet-gaming law stands

Maine legalized internet casino gaming in January 2026 when LD 1164 became law without the governor's signature.

• Public Law 2025, chapter 538 authorizes each federally recognized Indian nation, tribe or band in Maine to operate internet gaming under a Gambling Control Unit license.
• The framework follows Maine's tribal-centered mobile sports wagering model and directs 18% of adjusted gross internet gaming receipts to state-designated funds.

Legalized does not mean live. As of September 2026, Maine's Gambling Control Unit is still building the internet-gaming regulatory framework.

• The agency published proposed internet-gaming rules covering licensing, accounts, geolocation, cybersecurity, responsible gaming, advertising and related controls.
• Its applications page says forms are available to prepare but are not yet being accepted, and no official launch date has been posted.

How Maine compares to other states

Maine's 10% sports wagering rate is low compared with many large markets, but operator count matters just as much as tax rate.

• West Virginia also taxes sports wagering at 10% and supports a much broader set of mobile operators, while Maine's tribal-exclusive mobile structure has produced only two consumer apps.
• That makes Maine a useful example of why licensing design can matter as much as the headline tax number.

The closest structural comparison is Connecticut, where the market is also shaped by tribal gaming relationships and has only three sportsbook brands.

• Maine goes further by reserving mobile sports betting licenses for its Wabanaki Nations.
• Its internet-gaming law follows the same core principle, while states such as New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Michigan allow a larger number of commercial brands into their online casino markets.

Use the America's Bookies state directory to compare Maine with every published market and to check which states have mobile betting, retail wagering and regulated online casino gaming.

How to sign up

Opening a Maine mobile sportsbook account is straightforward.

• Choose DraftKings or Caesars, create an account, complete age and identity verification, enable location services, add funds using an available banking method, and then review the bet slip carefully before confirming a wager.
• Maine residency is not required, but you must be physically inside the state when the sportsbook accepts the wager.

1. 1
   Choose a licensed Maine app

   Use DraftKings or Caesars Sportsbook and confirm the operator remains listed by the Maine Gambling Control Unit.

2. 2
   Verify your identity

   Provide accurate personal information so the sportsbook can satisfy age and identity rules.

3. 3
   Allow geolocation

   The app must confirm that the device is physically inside Maine before accepting the wager.

4. 4
   Fund the account

   Available methods vary by operator. Check deposit and withdrawal rules before sending money.

5. 5
   Review the betting slip

   Confirm the market, odds, stake and potential return before tapping the final wager button.

Before depositing, read our bankroll management guide, betting slip guide, and sportsbook bonus guide.

Taxes on winnings

Sports betting winnings can be taxable income at the federal level and may also create Maine state tax obligations. Reporting rules depend on the type and size of a win, and receiving no tax form does not automatically make gambling income non-taxable. Keep records of wins and losses and consult a qualified tax professional for advice specific to your return.

Maine distributes the sports wagering share across several state purposes.

• The statutory allocation includes support for Gambling Control Unit administration, the Gambling Addiction Prevention and Treatment Fund, harness racing, sire stakes, agricultural fairs and the General Fund.
• That allocation is one reason the tax number should be understood as a state revenue mechanism rather than a direct bettor charge.

Responsible gambling resources

The Maine Gambling Control Unit requires responsible wagering controls and provides information on self-exclusion. Maine's public-health guidance also directs people who are concerned about gambling to 211 Maine, which can connect callers to confidential local services. The National Problem Gambling Helpline at 1-800-GAMBLER is another 24/7 option.

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