The Maliseets, Mi’kmaqs, Penobscots tribal nations of Maine have announced that they have agreed a partnership with Caesars Digital that will see the operator offer legal online sports betting in the state.
In Maine’s last legislative session, Bill LD 585 was signed into law providing exclusive rights to the Wabanaki tribes (Maliseets, Mi’kmaqs, Penobscots and Passamaquoddy) to conduct online sports betting in Maine.
The announcement of the deal between the three tribes is the first of its kind since the legislation was passed. The Passamaquoddy have yet to announce any partnerships.
Maine sports betting laws allow for each tribe to partner with one provider. This means that Caesars have now taken three of the possible four skins available in the state.
Speaking of the deal, Penobscots Chief Kirk E. Francis said:
“After nearly a year of work, I am happy to report that Penobscot Nation, along with the Maliseet and Micmac Nations, has entered into a partnership with Caesars to conduct online sports betting. We are now waiting for Maine’s gambling control board to finalize the regulations for online sports betting and determine the date at which we will go live.”
He went on to add:
“Caesars has extensive experience, knowledge and a reputation of excellence in partnering with other tribes across the country. Our agreement with Caesars provides that the Tribes will receive annual mandatory minimum payments once we begin operations. The tribes will receive much more than these minimum payments if the market performs as expected. We will get a better sense of these revenue numbers as the industry develops in Maine.”
There are also two retail sportsbook licenses available in Maine which the state’s two casinos, OTBs, and other racing businesses can apply for.
The Maine Gambling Control Unit (MGCU) is currently in the process of finalizing regulations for the industry, but there is no exact timeline as of yet as to when locals can expect to make wagers online.
In an interview with GamblingIndustryNews.com, Executive Director of Maine Gambling Control Unit (MGCU) Milton Champion said of the potential industry launch:
“Since the Governor signed the bill back in May of 2022, I’ve been saying all along, somewhere between April, 2023 and January, 2024.
Ideally we’d like to have a soft launch at some point during the quieter summer months of June or July so we could make sure that all the systems are up and running smoothly.”
An experienced iGaming commentator and analyst based in New York City - Jenny reports on regulation and gambling industry news and events.