A bill that would legalize and regulate sportsbetting within the state of Maine advanced through the state's Senate and will now head to the desk of Governor Janet Mills, who will sign it into law or veto it and send it back to the Legislature.
The bill is formally known as LD 585 and would authorize wagers to be placed on sporting events throughout the world. Tribal casinos could apply for mobile sportsbetting licenses and would pay a 10% tax rate to the state. Maine's four commercial casinos would be permitted to operate retail sportsbooks, with no mobile option.
Licenses would run $4,000 for retail books and $200,000 for online books and would each run for four years.
Those participating in the activity would have to be 21 or older and physically located in Maine at the time of their wager. Eligible events would include professional and amateur sports, but Maine college events would be excluded.
This is the first bill to pass through the Legislature, as attempts in 2019, 2020, and 2021 all failed to advance.
We'll update this story with relevant details as they emerge.