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Maine is still on track to launch sports betting in November

Milton Champion, head of Maine's Gambling Control Unit, speaks to reporters about proposed rules for sports betting in the state, Wednesday, Jan. 11, 2023, in Augusta, Maine.
Robert F. Bukaty
/
AP
Milton Champion, head of Maine's Gambling Control Unit, speaks to reporters about proposed rules for sports betting in the state, Wednesday, Jan. 11, 2023, in Augusta, Maine.

Legal sports betting in Maine is on track to launch anytime between Nov. 5 and Nov. 15. The state attorney general's office is currently going through the proposed adopted rules for final legal review.

"Once they've approved it, then I will forward it to the Secretary of State's office," said Milt Champion, executive director of the Maine Gambling Control Unit. "They typically take three to five business days and then once [the Secretary of State's office] posts the adopted rules on their website, then then we go live."

Gov. Janet Mills signed the law legalizing sports betting in Maine last May. Only the state's four federally recognized tribes will be granted gaming licenses to run mobile applications for sports betting. Residents will not be allowed to bet on games involving Maine colleges. It will be possible to place wagers on national tournaments like March Madness, just not on the outcomes for Maine-based schools like the University of Maine and Bowdoin College. Three of the tribes have agreements to use Caesars Sportsbook as their management service provider.

"The three tribes [the Mi'kmak Nation, the Houlton Band of Maliseet Indians, and the Penobscot Nation] don't actually [run] the app," Champion said. "Caesars will use their app to offer wagers on behalf of the tribes."

The Passamaquoddy Tribe have yet to announce a partnership with an online betting provider.

Nick Song is Maine Public's inaugural Emerging Voices Fellowship Reporter.


Originally from Southern California, Nick got his start in radio when he served as the programming director for his high school's radio station. He graduated with a degree in Journalism and History from the Medill School of Journalism at Northwestern University -- where he was Co-News Director for WNUR 89.3 FM, the campus station.