Sports Betting in Maine: New England State Joins In
Many want to know how to be a bookie the fast and easy way. It is, after all, a very profitable industry. Over the past couple of years, states across the US have started to legalize sports betting. And in New England, another state wants to join. Senate Bill 1352 aims to legalize sports betting in Maine. There are even a couple other sports betting bills aside from SB1352.
In the New England region, both Rhode Island and New Hampshire have legalized sports betting. Connecticut is also closer to having sports betting, while Massachusetts has pending bills. Vermont has no bills as of yet, although there is interest in sports betting.
Sports Betting in Maine
The sports betting bill calls for sports betting licenses to be under the purview of the Department of Public Safety Gambling Control Unit of the state. Each operator can get 1 license for $20,000. This only covers off-track betting, commercial racetracks, as well as federally-recognized tribes and casino operators (4). Of course, as seen in most bookie software, having online betting will be an advantage.
However, online sportsbooks will have a higher tax rate of 16%, while retail sportsbooks will get 10%. The bill also prohibits betting on in-state colleges. The biggest hurdle the bill has is in getting the approval of Governor Mills, who has recently vetoed a previous sports betting bill. She believes that Maine does not want to expand current gambling measures and wants more protection for bettors. But if you look at the top sportsbook pay per head and the large number of sportsbooks under them, you will see that there is clamor for sports betting everywhere, Maine included.
