Maine – Online Casinos & Gambling Regulations

Find the Best American Casino Online

While there is no law that outright criminalizes people accessing online casino sites from Maine, a site is unable to claim legitimate operation within the state. There is currently nobody that is authorized to distribute licenses for internet-based games of chance, so any site you come across is operating from an outside jurisdiction. While it is very much possible to therefore come across untrustworthy sites, most online casinos are actually fully licensed by an authority based in overseas territories. Becoming familiar with legitimate sites and what they are able to offer is important for anybody looking to play from an unregulated territory.

• Is the casino fully licensed?
• Is the licensing body well regarded?
• Can players from Maine register?
• Are your preferred payment methods accepted?
• Will you be eligible for any promotions or loyalty programs?

Creating your own checklist of questions is a great way to create tangible standards for yourself, which can be used to ensuring you get the best value with minimal risk. At GoodLuckMate we provide concise articles and reviews that you can use to help make the whole process that much simpler.

Gambling Regulation

While there are several forms of land-based gambling activities available for Maine residents, moving the activity to the web changes things a lot. Fantasy Sports is the primary activity that is legal, however, there have been recent advances to allow for all types of sports betting. A bill almost passed the state legislature, however, this was eventually vetoed by Governor Janet Mills. While there were attempts made to nullify the veto, it was eventually legitimized putting a halt to any progress. Further attempts are now being made to pass a similar bill in 2021, although it remains to be seen if this will be actually going through successfully. If it should pass, it is then hoped that this will add serious pressure to legalize all forms of online gambling. As there is currently not much evidence that the state’s lawmakers have taken much interest in online casinos, the success of a sports betting bill is the only area where there is a potential for progress.

Localized Online Casinos

Despite the lack of legalities for casinos to operate in Maine, it is still very much possible for residents to access various overseas sites. Many of these sites were already built up with capabilities that lend themself well to US localization. US dollars and common payment options are already a standard at the majority of sites and English language options, US sporting events and other cultural influences are already defaults in the industry. This was only expanded upon when states like New Jersey recently created a regulated market. It will be unlikely to find any sites or features that are specifically catered for the people of Maine, but there will be countless establishments that are set up in a very US-friendly manner.

Gambling with US Dollars

As mentioned with regards to localization, US dollars are incredibly common at online casinos regardless of where they are set up. The currency provides a good default option to offer players whose currency can not be supported, which is why sites have already had the currency built into their platforms way before some of the US states began opening up the market. This means that there are also several payment methods available that accept dollars, like payment cards and e-wallets. Cryptocurrencies have also become very popular with players over the past couple of year, as it provides a good alternative to making payments online without having to involve your bank. E-wallets also facilitate this and give you a separate wallet that you can use to differentiate your playable funds from your non-playable funds.

Casinos in Maine

There are two land-based casinos in the state of Maine, those being the Oxford Casino and the Hollywood Casino Bangor. There are also other various gambling venues that offer social casino activities where players can play casino games without risking real money funds. State-run lotteries have also been around since the 1970s, which is sort of where a lot of the gambling legislation has found itself in. Without any of the progress seen at other states who have regulated their online markets, Maine players will be left at a disadvantage and disservice, especially as online casinos are still very much accessible. There is a lot resting on the sports betting legislation being updated in 2021, but it will still be a long process regardless of the outcome for all forms of gambling. This will allow the state to create and fund various social support programs, as well as take advantage of other tax benefits.