Maine Legalizes Sports Betting, Hands Mobile Market to Tribes

Maine legalized sports betting on Monday, as Gov. Janet Mills signed a bill that gives the state’s 4 federally recognised tribes exclusivity on the wandering market.

The new natural law also allows Maine’s 2 land-based commercial message casinos, Hollywood Casino inward Bangor and Oxford Casino, to offering in-person wagering on their premises. There are also a limited keep down of in-person licenses for racetracks and off-track betting facilities.

Mobile trading operations are expected to account statement for around 85% of the sports betting market place at one time it launches. Sports betting was portion of a wider legislative bundle intentional to give more crowned head rights to the Penobscot Nation, the Passamaquoddy Tribe, the Houlton Band of Maliseet Indians, and the Mi’kmaq Nation, collectively the Wabanaki confederation.

‘Investment Incentive’

The tribes were recognized past a 1980 put down settlements visor that afforded them a narrower version of sovereign rights enjoyed past many other Native American tribes, including the right on to prepare gaming.

Under the 1980 law, their reservations are currently treated the like municipalities, which agency they are depicted object to province laws.

This jurisprudence provides meaningful economic opportunities for the Wabanaki Nations,” Mills said inward a statement. “It incentivizes investment funds in tribal communities, and it formalizes a collaboration treat on policy that sets the base for a stronger human relationship inwards the future.”

Mills led negotiations with the tribes on the measures covered in the legislation, which includes the removal of certain nation and income taxes, and the right hand for the tribes to regularize their have water.

The Passamaquoddy Tribe, inward particular, has long been frustrated past poor H2O character on its reservation, Indian Country Today reports.

But Mills stopped shortsighted of mount a to a greater extent sweeping legislative packet to full recognise tribal sovereignty. That note languishes inward the legislative body because it lacks the two-thirds bread and butter it would need to override Mills’ hoped-for veto.

Maine Sports Betting Timeline

While the tribes remain focused on the larger sovereignty package, the modest gains achieved Monday were noneffervescent the most substantial inwards the nation inward over 40 years.

“We unfeignedly apprize the right trust dialog and negotiations with the Governor that resulted inwards these bills,” tribal leaders said inwards the articulatio statement. “Neither of those bills correspond sovereignty for all Wabanaki Nations and people in Maine. But from each one does supply important benefits that will strengthen our respective communities.”

There is no more time framing for the set in motion of the market. But LegalSportsReport notes that legislating inward Maine becomes effectual 90 days after the session ends. That could pave the way for the 1st operators to seem inwards later June or ahead of time August, in time for the unexampled NFL season.

Once licensed, the tribes would be release to establish their possess peregrine sportsbook, or to a greater extent likely, partner with an remote operator the like DraftKings or FanDuel.