Maine Sportsbook Proposal Heads for Debate in Legislature

Governor Janet Mills’ Maine sportsbook proposal will allow sports betting in the state. However, most of the revenue will go to the Native American tribes in the state. The proposal passed a committee vote and will now head for debate in the full Legislature.

The Judiciary Committee passed the corrected bill Wednesday on a divided vote, with a few individuals demonstrating they could uphold it with several changes.

That activity has confounded the continuous endeavors of individuals from Maine’s gaming industry to pass a prior sports betting bill presented in 2021, which requires one last vote for approval and sent to the governor’s office.

Maine Sportsbook Proposal

The new proposal from Mills is a response to the tribal sovereignty bill. According to a political forum, the four tribes support the bill that gives them more command over what occurs on tribal land. Also, it includes taxes and law enforcement issues.

Governor Mills would veto the sovereignty bill. However, she included several tribal sales and income tax changes in the sports betting proposal.

Senator Bill Diamond supported the previous sports betting bill. However, he said that the new proposal would get more legislative support.

According to sportsbook reviews, the lead representative’s proposition would give the clans selective licenses for mobile or online games betting and have the state’s casino, five OTBs, and two race tracks share retail sports betting.

That thought has vexed Jim Day, proprietor of Winners’ Circle OYB in Lewiston and a long-term advocate of sports betting.

He said the business’ favored bill, which went through the state House and Senate in 2021, gives the clans 40% of the portable business, among different offices.

According to sportsbook pay per head solution experts, Day showed he and others in the OTB business plan to campaign the Legislature to change the lead representative’s proposition before a total vote.

Jewel said it appears Mills should lead a trade-off work to get anything passed.