DraftKings Partners With Passamaquoddy Tribe For Maine Online Sports Betting

DraftKings ended October by announcing a partnership with the Passamaquoddy Tribe to launch online sports betting in Maine.

The gaming operator has gone through the necessary licensing and regulatory checks to ensure a smooth launch, which is scheduled for Nov. 3.

DraftKings becomes the official online sports betting partner of the Tribe

DraftKings, with its headquarters in Boston, has been designated as the official online sports betting provider for the Passamaquoddy Tribe. In Maine, it will stand alongside Caesars Sportsbook as the sole operator.

Long before now, DraftKings also secured exclusive sports betting operator status in New Hampshire.

Under the agreement, sports enthusiasts 21 years and older can access the DraftKings Sportsbook app. Betting options include in-game, pre-match, and also its built-in-house same-game-parlay features.

In a DraftKings press release, Jason Robin, DraftKings’ Chief Executive Officer, said their primary focus with Maine online sports betting is attracting customers.

“Building a relationship with the Passamaquoddy Tribe is a fantastic opportunity for DraftKings, as we look to bring customers in the state of Maine safe and legal sports betting. We look forward to our continued collaboration with the Maine Gambling Control Unit as we become the official mobile sports betting provider of the Passamaquoddy Tribe and launch in our industry-leading 25th state.”

Furthermore, eligible players in Maine can now use the trending betting markets by downloading DraftKings Sportsbook mobile app on any iOS or Android device.

Chief William Nicholas of the Passamaquoddy Tribe said he is excited about the collaboration and is optimistic about the future.

“The Passamaquoddy Tribe is excited to enter into a mobile sports wagering agreement with DraftKings. 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.”

“The Passamaquoddy Tribe at Sipayik is incredibly thrilled to have a mobile sports wagering deal with DraftKings. They are the industry leaders, and we are excited to be a part of bringing a first-class mobile sports wagering experience to Maine.

This is a huge step forward for my community and the state,” Chief Pos Bassett of Pleasant Point Tribal Government added.

Communities in Maine receive donations from DraftKings

DraftKings has donated to the Lewiston-Auburn Area Response Fund in the wake of the tragic incident on Oct. 25, which claimed the lives of at least 18 people in Lewiston, Maine. The company is supporting the fund by contributing $100,000 to assist those impacted by the incident, according to the release.

Every penny DraftKings donated will go to those affected with the help of the Maine Community Foundation (MaineCF).

The post DraftKings Partners With Passamaquoddy Tribe For Maine Online Sports Betting appeared first on Play USA.

Maine Sports Betting Rules Nearly Finalized for November Launch



Article ByDavid Weir

October 4, 2023


Regulators in Maine have passed one of the final steps in getting ready for its legal sports betting market launch between November 5 and 15. The Maine Gambling Control Unit (MGCU) has sent the proposed adopted rules to the Attorney General’s office for final legal checks and eventually approval.

Once approved, the Secretary of State’s office will take approximately three to five business days to post the adopted rules.

The law legalizing Maine online sports betting was signed by Governor Janet Mills in May 2022. It granted potential for mobile betting licenses exclusively to the state’s four federally recognized tribes. There will be 10 licenses for Maine retail sportsbooks issued. That includes two left open for the Maine casino venues Hollywood Casino Hotel Bangor and Oxford Casino & Hotel.

“So, I just grab that same package that everybody’s signed off on, and I just take that over to the Secretary of State’s Office,” said Milt Champion, executive director of the MGCU.

“And once they publish it for adoption, then we’re good to go. And at that point, anybody that’s submitted an application request for a temporary license, which is part of the requirement, then I will start kicking out licenses that day.”

Navigating Through Regulatory and Ethical Waters

Three of the four licensed tribes, the Mi’kmak Nation, the Houlton Band of Maliseet Indians, and the Penobscot Nation, have opted to collaborate with Caesars Sportsbook as their management service provider.

The Passamaquoddy Tribe has yet to choose an online operator partner, but it is unlikely to be also Ceasars. BetMGM has submitted an online operator application, so it is rumored that they will be second legal online sportsbook in Maine.

BetMGM has also applied for on-track-betting licenses at two Maine horse racing tracks, in Waterville and Sanford.

Whatever sportsbook operator does enter the state will have to adhere to the state’s specific rules. Notably, one rule is prohibiting bets on games involving Maine colleges. In 2023, several Massachusetts retail sportsbooks have already been fined for breaking that particular rule.

While wagers on national tournaments like March Madness will be permissible, outcomes for Maine-based schools, such as the University of Maine and Bowdoin College, will be off-limits to bettors. This measure aims to safeguard the integrity of local educational institutions and their sporting events.

New England Sports Betting

The introduction of sports betting is poised to be a substantial revenue generator for Maine, with projections ranging from $3.8 to $6.9 million, according to a 2017 Oxford Economics Analysis commissioned by the American Gaming Association.

Maine joins the ranks of New England states allowing legal sports wagering, alongside Connecticut, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and Rhode Island. Vermont legalized sports betting this year and is expected to launch in 2024.

However, Champion says the MGCU did not pay any extra attention to their neighbors sports betting efforts, but instead looked further afield across the U.S.

“We worked our rules from six to eight other states nationwide, some of which were Colorado, Tennessee, West Virginia, Ohio, Michigan, Montana, Wyoming, and Mississippi,” he said.