Maine’s Online Sports Betting Market Generates $239 Million in First Six Months

The state has granted exclusive rights to its four federally recognized Native American tribes—the Maliseet, Mi’kmaq, Passamaquoddy, and Penobscot—to operate iGaming platforms.

Leading Sportsbook Operators

Within this exclusive framework, two leading sportsbook operators have emerged: DraftKings and Caesars Sportsbook. DraftKings, partnered with the Passamaquoddy Tribe, and Caesars Sportsbook, collaborating with the Maliseet, Mi’kmaq, and Penobscot tribes, have collectively generated over $239 million in gross receipts during the first half-year of operations.

DraftKings has distinguished itself as the top performer, generating more than $197 million in gross receipts from November 2023 through April 2024.

This success has resulted in net receipts of over $23 million for the Passamaquoddy Tribe, with DraftKings also contributing $2.3 million in taxes to the state.

Caesars Sportsbook’s Impact

Caesars Sportsbook has also made a significant contribution, generating $42.8 million in gross revenues during the same period. The Maliseet, Mi’kmaq, and Penobscot tribes, partnered with Caesars, have collectively earned nearly $2.3 million after accounting for $40.5 million in payouts, fees, and federal taxes. The state has received more than $229,600 in revenues from Caesars.

Milt Champion, Executive Director of Maine’s Gambling Control Unit, indicated that the state’s online sports betting industry is poised to surpass initial tax revenue projections.

While earlier estimates ranged from $3.8 million to $6.9 million, the current revenue trajectory suggests that Maine could potentially earn up to $4.8 million in iGaming tax revenue for the year.