For many years, the state allowed only small-scale betting like bingo, charitable raffles, and the lottery. Big commercial casinos were not part of everyday life. That changed in the early 2000s after  casino gambling in a statewide referendum.

In 2004, Maine created the Gambling Control Board and the Gambling Control Unit inside the Department of Public Safety. These two bodies supervise all regulated casino activity. They license operators, monitor games, audit revenue, and make sure rules are followed.

Today, Maine has a clear legal framework for land-based casinos, sports betting, and the state lottery. Everything is subject to state oversight, with strict rules on age limits and consumer protection. You must be 21 or older to gamble in casinos or place sports bets. The lottery allows play from 18, but most other forms require you to be 21.

Land-Based Casinos in Maine

Land-based casinos , but they are central to the local gambling scene. The state has two main commercial casinos. Hollywood Casino Hotel and Raceway sits in Bangor. Oxford Casino operates in Oxford County.

Hollywood Casino started first with slot machines. Table games came later, turning it into a full casino experience. Oxford Casino opened with a full set of services from day one. You can find rows of slot machines, poker rooms, and classic table games like blackjack, roulette, and baccarat. The Gambling Control Unit inspects these games regularly and reviews all financial reports.

Together, the two brick-and-mortar gambling venues have been generating around 165 million per year. Based on yearly revenues, the Gambling Control Board then reports a total in collected funds from slots and table games. That money flows into several public programs. Some goes to education funding. Some supports scholarships. There is also funding set aside for problem gambling treatment and prevention.

One distinctive feature of Maine is that part of Oxford Casino’s slot revenue is shared with the Penobscot and Passamaquoddy tribal governments. This arrangement came from negotiations tied to the state’s gaming laws.

Even with two casinos, Maine still has a limited physical gambling footprint. You will not find dozens of resorts or a strip of casinos like in Nevada. That smaller scale is one reason many Maine residents look beyond local venues when they want more variety. Still, the land-based sector sets the standard for what regulated gambling looks like inside the state.

Sports Betting in Maine

Maine legalized sports betting in May 2022 and gave its federally recognized tribes control over online sports wagering through partnerships with major betting companies. That means mobile apps operate through tribal agreements rather than direct state licenses. For players, the process of betting is still very straightforward. You still download a big brand app, verify your identity, and place bets from your phone.

The size of the market grew quickly after launch. Most betting activity follows national leagues like the NFL, NBA, MLB, and NHL. Since the launch of sports betting, Maine saw about 82 million dollars in total bets placed in the first year. A year later, that number jumped to roughly 524 million dollars, and recently climbed again to around 600 million dollars. That shows strong interest even without major professional sports teams based in the state. College sports also attract steady action, especially during big tournaments.

Maine taxes sports betting revenue, not total bets. The tax rate sits at 10 percent of adjusted gross receipts. The Gambling Control Unit distributes that money across several areas. Some funds cover administration costs. Some support addiction services and responsible gambling programs. A share goes to racing-related activities and agricultural fairs. The rest flows into the state’s General Fund for broader public use.

Lotteries in Maine

The Maine Lottery is the oldest legal gambling product in the state. It began in 1974 and has been part of everyday life for decades. You can buy tickets at grocery stores, gas stations, and convenience shops across the state. On average, the lottery records sales of about 424 million dollars per year. A fifth part of revenue from those sales goes directly to Maine’s General Fund, which supports public services. The lottery also makes targeted contributions. One notable example is over 1.4 million dollars sent to the Maine Outdoor Heritage Fund to support conservation and public access to natural areas.

The lottery shows how long gambling has existed in Maine under state control. It also highlights how gambling revenue is tied to public benefits rather than just private profit.