Caesars Sportsbook has become the first national operator to secure digital access to Maine sports betting via an agreement with three of the state’s four tribes.
Maine legalized retail and digital sports betting last year and gave the state’s four tribes exclusive rights to operate. As part of the deal, Caesars will have access to three of the four digital skins allowed in the state.
Each tribe is entitled to one platform. So, Caesars could potentially have up to three separate platforms with different branding, or it could have a single platform under the Caesars name. This would mean that Maine residents would have up to two online sportsbooks to choose from, instead of four.
Caesars has not yet announced how it plans to use the platforms. There are also licenses available for brick-and-mortar sportsbooks in Maine. The state’s two casinos, off-track betting facilities, or other racing entities can apply for those licenses.
Maine’s Four Tribes Own Exclusive Rights
Maine’s tribes were granted some sovereign rights under a 1980 land settlements bill, but these rights are narrower than those enjoyed by many other Native American tribes. One of these rights includes the ability to organize gaming on their reservations, which are treated like municipalities and must follow state laws.
The sports betting bill (that was passed into law) was included in a larger package that aimed to address this imbalance to some extent. However, the state’s new agreement with the tribes has made it difficult for operators to enter the market since they can only keep 40% of the sports betting revenue, while 50% goes to the tribes and the remaining 10% to the state.
In short, the bill granted the tribes – the Penobscot Nation, the Passamaquoddy Tribe, the Houlton Band of Maliseet Indians, and the Mi’kmaq Nation, who are collectively called the Wabanaki Confederation – exclusive rights to the mobile sports betting market.
Maine Remains a Tough Sports Betting Market
The 40-50-10 split isn’t the only thing keeping operators away from the Maine market. Size also matters.
Because Maine has a small population of just under 1.4 million, big companies like DraftKings and FanDuel have decided not to participate. It’s a tough market all around.
Nevertheless, Caesars Sportsbook is willing to take a risk in Maine, stating in a recent announcement that they have a “longtime commitment to supporting Indian gaming” and are proud to be the only mobile sports betting provider for three of the state’s tribes from the Wabanaki Nations.
When Will Sports Betting Launch in Maine?
Maine’s gaming regulators are taking their time with the launch of the sports betting market. They are currently working on creating the rules for the market, which will then be reviewed multiple times and made available for public hearings. According to Milton Champion, the CEO of the Maine Gambling Control Unit, the market is not expected to launch until January 2024 at the earliest.
Champion hoped to have sports betting launched by summer so visitors to the state could keep betting. Maine is a popular summer destination for New Englanders who are accustomed to using online sportsbooks.
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