Maine Sports Betting: Mobile Licenses Reserved for Tribes

ch. 35, enacted 2022) makes betting lawful only 'when conducted in accordance with the provisions of this chapter and the rules adopted under this chapter' (§1201), and bars anyone from engaging in licensed activity without the required license. The chapter splits licensing into two tracks. Retail wagering is capped at 10 facility licenses under §1206, issued to a commercial harness track outside Bangor, a casino licensed under §1011, or an off-track betting facility licensed under §275-D, each off-track facility limited to one license, and none transferable.

' A tribe may transfer that license only to a business entity it wholly owns, which is how commercial platforms operate in Maine, as management-services contractors to a tribal licensee rather than as licensees themselves; §1207(3) caps each mobile licensee to one management-services contract. Mobile license fees are $200,000 for licenses issued before September 1, 2024 and $50,000 after, with 4-year and 1-year terms respectively. Every individual actually placing or accepting wagers on a licensee's behalf must separately hold an occupational license under §1210. Bettors must be 21 or older, and §1213 bars wagers by athletes and officials in the event, operator employees and their households, anyone with a financial stake in the outcome, people on the restricted-wagers list, and proxy bets placed on another person's behalf.

Operating sports wagering, retail or mobile, without the license required by §1201 is unlawful. For licensees, the director may impose a written reprimand, probation, license suspension or revocation, and a civil penalty of up to $25,000 per violation of the chapter or its rules (§1205). A non-tribal applicant for a mobile license is simply ineligible under §1207(2): there's no fine to appeal, the application is denied outright for failing the eligibility requirement.