MAINE, Maine — Sports fans around Maine have been waiting to legally cast wagers in the state since the spring of 2022, when the betting bill was signed into law.
But that wait has come to an end, as the Maine Department of Public Safety announced this week that betting would go live at 9 a.m. Friday.
The Wabanaki Tribes were granted full access to mobile gaming rights, which makes up the majority of the sports betting market. Three of the tribes partnered with Caesars Sportsbook.
Just a few hours after this week's "go-live" announcement, DraftKings announced it had entered an agreement with the Passamaquoddy Tribe.
“We couldn’t have landed a better organization in the mobile sports wagering arena, and we look forward to continued progress and investment for future growth in the state of Maine," Passamaquoddy Chief William Nicholas said in a release.
Mainers can download the apps, register accounts, and make deposits.
The state's Gambling Control Unit went through a lengthy review of its proposed rules during a public comment process earlier this year. After a second round of input, the rules were then sent to the Office of the Attorney General for legal review and have since been approved.
Milton Champion, the executive director of the Gambling Control Unit, told NEWS CENTER Maine that the state was in no real rush to launch betting as he said he wanted to do it correctly.
Champion also doesn't expect Maine to bring in millions of dollars of revenue every month from betting, like some other states. The review process took months longer than some Mainers would have liked, but betting will go live halfway through the NFL season, just as the NBA and NHL seasons pick up.
The Super Bowl, which is played in February, and the Men's March Madness college basketball tournament are the two big betting events of the year.
Mainers will also be able to place in-person wagers at the state's two casinos and a number of off-track betting facilities. The Cumberland Fairgrounds also secured a gaming license, according to Champion. However, many of those "retail" locations will not be ready to take bets by Friday.
Before betting launches, there are some things you need to know.
First, you must be at least 21 years old to bet in Maine, and you must be physically in the state to use your mobile account.
Champion said betting companies use advanced technology and are able to precisely track bettor's locations. He also said you will be caught if you try to bet for someone underage.
There will also be no betting on any games featuring a Maine college.
Champion spent time this month meeting with Maine collegiate athletic directors to answer any questions they have.
Collegiate and professional athletes, coaches, and officials also are barred from betting on certain games, and those restrictions are also strictly enforced.
Once you make your account on DraftKings or Caesars, you'll find there are a number of betting options you can make.
A "straight" bet is the most common. That's when you bet on a team's point spread or bet on how many points a team needs to win or lose by.
You can also bet on the "moneyline," which is a betting on a team to win by any amount.
For example, if the Patriots are -3 for a game, they need to win that game by more than three points for your bet to win. If the Patriots are +7 in a game, they can still lose by up to six points for your wager to cash.
You can also bet on specific player statistics, known as player props, and game props.
There are also features such as parlays that you can use to maximize your winnings. A parlay is when you bet on multiple games, or player bets. All your bets in a parlay need to win for you to "hit" a parlay.
Caesars and DraftKings will also offer promotional deals to get Mainers interested in betting.
And while it can be a fun way to enjoy a sports game, betting still has risks.
You must enter a credit or debit card, or another method of payment to register a betting account. So, if you lose your bets, you must pay.
If you or someone you know is experiencing a problem with betting, there are a number of resources to help. First, you can restrict the amount of money you can bet per game or per day on the apps.
You can also call 2-1-1 to speak with someone about your gambling problems.