States in the US are very focused on sports betting as of late, with several states having either passed legislation or considering it. Maine is the latest state in New England to see sports betting legislation move forward. The state has a bill that will legalize the industry if Governor Janet Mills provides her signature.
Mills have yet to announce an official stance regarding sports betting, so it is unclear as to if she will actually sign the bill or not. Media outlets are reporting that she has already vetoed several bills as of late. However, none of those were the sports betting measure.
LD 553 was one of several bills introduced in the state that focused on sports betting. Senator Louis Luchini and Representative Scott Strom are the sponsors behind the measure, hoping to see the bill come to pass.
As the legislative sessions starts to wind down in Maine, the bill was able to pass through a committee and then the full House. It barely passed within the state Senate after a vote of 19 to 15.
If approved, sports betting would be legalized in Maine, in land-based and online formats. Individuals in the state will be able to place wagers at two commercial casinos, tribal gaming venues, off-track betting facilities and horse tracks. Online sites will also be set up for betting.
For sports betting in the state, lawmakers settled on a tiered tax system. A tax rate of 10% will be set for retail operators while those who offer online services will have to pay 16%. To obtain a gaming license, operators have to be approved and pay a fee of $2,000. This is a super low rate when compared to other states.
The governor currently has just a few business days to sign the bill into law. By July 3rd or before, we should see if the state will be the next to legalize sports betting in the US.
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