Maine Online Casinos and Gambling Sites
Maine does not have many gambling establishments dotting its sparsely populated territory, but it does cover most bases.
You will find one land-based casino, one racino, several racetracks, and daily fantasy sports here. The Pine Tree State also offers legal retail and online sportsbooks.
Maine online casinos and poker rooms remain unregulated but easily accessible through offshore operators. Therefore, you may wonder about the legalities of online gambling in Maine.
The following page covers everything you should know regarding ME online gaming sites. It also discusses land-based betting opportunities, ranging from charity events to casino games.
Gambling Highlights
The following table provides a snapshot of what forms of gambling are legal in Maine. From online to land-based casinos and other forms of gambling such as state lottery.
Is Gambling Legal?
Yes
Legal Gambling Age
18 – 21
Land-Based Casinos
Yes
Online Casinos
Grey Area
Land-Based Sports Betting
Yes
Online Sportsbooks
Yes
Legal State Lottery
Yes
Charitable Gambling
Yes
Table of Contents
Everything You Need to Start Playing at ME Online Casinos
Is Online Gambling Legal in Maine?
Key Takeaways
- Online sportsbooks are legal in the Pine Tree State.
- Maine has not regulated any other form of online gambling.
- Hundreds of offshore casinos accept Mainers.
- No ME player has ever faced prosecution for playing at online casinos.
Online sports betting is legal in Maine through LD 585, which passed in 2022. This law concedes tribal venues and their partners permission to offer legal betting apps.
The Pine Tree State does not feature other forms of regulated online gambling like casinos or card games sites.
Nevertheless, many offshore casinos and poker rooms accept players from Maine. Will you face any legal troubles for playing online?
The Maine Revised Code broadly defines unlawful gambling in Chapter 39, Sect. 952.4 as risking “something of value upon the outcome of a contest of chance.”
However, state authorities seemingly only care about bets placed at unlawful gaming houses/websites running from within Maine’s borders.
We cannot find one instance of Maine authorities prosecuting anybody for playing any online games. They have not even taken any action against out-of-state sites.
You are safe legally when playing at offshore casinos and poker rooms. No Mainers have experienced any troubles with this matter in 30+ years of the offshore gambling industry.
Best Maine Online Casinos in 2024
You can check out the top Maine online casinos below. We have played at and tested many gaming sites to determine this list. These casinos are located offshore and have licensing in jurisdictions like Panama and Curaçao.
| RANK | CASINO | BONUS | PAYOUT SPEED | LICENSED | TOTAL GAMES | SLOTS | OUR RATING | CLICK TO PLAY |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
DuckyLuck Casino |
BONUS 500% up to $7,500 | PAYOUT SPEED 1-5 Days | LICENSED Yes | TOTAL GAMES 699 | SLOTS 600 | OUR RATING 4 / 5 | Play Now |
| 2 |
Bovada Casino |
BONUS 125% up to $3,750 | PAYOUT SPEED 1-3 Days | LICENSED Yes | TOTAL GAMES 549 | SLOTS 435 | OUR RATING 4 / 5 | Play Now |
| 3 |
SlotsandCasino |
BONUS 500% up to $7,500 | PAYOUT SPEED 1-2 Days | LICENSED Yes | TOTAL GAMES 691 | SLOTS 594 | OUR RATING 3.9 / 5 | Play Now |
| 4 |
BetUS |
BONUS 150% up to $3,000 | PAYOUT SPEED 1-7 days | LICENSED Yes | TOTAL GAMES 491 | SLOTS 367 | OUR RATING 4.5 / 5 | Play Now |
| 5 |
Cafe Casino |
BONUS 350% up to $2,500 | PAYOUT SPEED 1-3 Days | LICENSED Yes | TOTAL GAMES 547 | SLOTS 384 | OUR RATING 3.5 / 5 | Play Now |
*Last Updated: November, 2024
Top ME Online Casinos: Main Features
After conducting our research, we’ve selected the top options for both casino games and sports betting when it comes to choosing the best online casinos for Maine. Explore what sets them apart below.
Top Online Casino for Slots & Other Games
Among offshore casinos, DuckyLuck stands out with its exceptional game selection. With over 600 online games, it offers quite an interesting selection to choose from.
Notably, its slots section offers over 500 titles from various software providers, such as Rival Gaming, Betsoft, and Qora games, ensuring a diverse gaming experience.
This Maine online casino effectively categorizes its table games, video poker, live dealer tables, and specialty games for easy access.
Additionally, players can enjoy the DuckyBucks Rewards program, which consistently provides cashback, free spins, and deposit bonuses as enticing perks.
Top Features
- 600+ games—including over 500 online slots
- User-friendly lobby with several game types
- DuckyBucks Rewards offers many perks
Top Gambling Site for Sports Betting
Bovada has multiple attributes as an online casino, including 500 games, a progressive jackpot network, and VIP rewards.
It is even more impressive as an online sportsbook, offering over 25 markets and all common bet types. The number of markets is especially notable because most betting sites offer 15-20 sports.
Furthermore, Bovada’s live betting section provides extensive coverage of various games, with select contests offering dozens of wagering opportunities.
Top Features
- 25+ sports markets and plenty of bet types
- Live betting section with dozens of betting opportunities for certain games
- Solid online casino with 500 games and progressive jackpots
How We Choose the Best Online Casinos
You can see the key points behind our review process below. We only recommend Maine online casinos that score high in the following categories.
Reputation
A trustworthy online casino treats players fairly, offers straightforward bonus terms, and provides good customer support.Fast & Reliable Payments
We seek gaming sites that pay out within a reasonable time frame, such as 24-48 hours.Site Security & Safety
Secure online casinos protect your personal details and banking info through high-level website encryption.Game Variety & Quality
Game selections with at least 200-300 titles provide more options and entertainment.Quality Bonuses
The best Maine online casino bonuses have large max amounts, low rollover, and few restricted games.
Top Online Casino Games for Real Money
Plenty of great online casino games are available to Mainers, but some stand out more than others. You can see the most popular games available.
Online Slots
Online slots offer a diverse range of themes, bets, and jackpots, making up most games on ME gaming sites. You can find various formats, including ways, paylines, scatter payouts, cluster pays, and progressive jackpots reaching six or seven figures.
While Oxford Casino and Hollywood Bangor have around 2,000 land-based slot machines, online slots are convenient for those seeking gaming alternatives closer to home.
Online Poker
Online poker is the only option for playing Texas Hold’em and Omaha in this state since poker rooms at both The Hollywood and Oxford casinos have closed.
Most online poker sites offer cash games with stakes beginning at $0.02/$0.05.
You can also find many weekly tournaments at offshore rooms, with some prize pools worth $100k or more.
Online Blackjack
Maine’s online casinos offer a variety of online blackjack variations, including classic, single deck, Perfect Pairs, and Switch, all accessible from anywhere in the state, with bets starting at just $2 per hand.
Although land-based casinos in ME also offer blackjack; their options are more limited, and the minimum bets are higher, typically ranging from $10 to $15 per hand. While playing online, minimum bets start at $1.
Live Dealer Games
The Pine Tree State offers plenty of table games for having just two casinos. However, one notable problem is that you might not be within reasonable traveling distance of the available casinos.
Live dealer games make a perfect substitute in this case. They offer many land-based casino elements, including real dealers, cards, roulette wheels, and other players. You do not need to travel anywhere and can play through your smartphone or tablet.
Other Online Casino Games
The selection of Maine online casino games extends far beyond what is covered above. Here are other options that you will find at ME gaming sites.
Top MN Casino Bonuses Online
You might have difficulty separating the best Maine casino bonuses because plenty of great offers exist. However, we find the following welcome promos especially worthwhile.
Welcome Bonuses
Large introductory offers that nearly every online gambling site provides to new players.
Free Spin Offers
Promotional deals that give you a set number of free rounds on specific games.
Reload Deals
Get additional bonus cash when you deposit additional funds or top off your account.
Our Favorite Casino Bonuses
We have selected the best online casino welcome bonuses for Maine players. Read on to pick the one that better suits you.
500% up to $7,500 + 150 free spins Welcome Bonus
The DuckyLuck Casino bonus provides up to $7,500, and it breaks down as follows:
- 1st deposit – 500% match up to $2,500 + 150 free spins
- 2nd deposit – 500% match up to $2,500
- 3rd deposit – 500% match up to $2,500
You must deposit $20 or more to qualify for this offer.
The 150 free spins come in batches of 50 for three consecutive days after your first deposit.
You can withdraw winnings after meeting 30x rollover (bonus + deposit).
All games except for craps, progressives, and live dealer gaming contribute to rollover.
125% up to $3,750 Crypto Welcome Bonus
This gambling site features the following crypto welcome promos for its casino and sportsbook:
- Bovada Sportsbook bonus – 75% match up to $750 (5x sports/5x horse/30x rollover); code BTCSWB750.
- Bovada Casino bonus – 3x 125% match up to $1,250 (25x rollover on first deposit; 50x rollover on second & third deposits);
Use code BTCCWB1250 on the first deposit and BTC2NDCWB for the second & third deposits.
You qualify for either offer by depositing $20 worth of an accepted cryptocurrency (BTC, BCH, BSV, ETH, LTC, USDT).
Live dealer games do not contribute towards wagering requirements.
Maine Casino Apps
You will not find casino apps available in Maine because this is an unregulated online gaming market. The App Store and Google Play do not host offshore gambling apps.
Nevertheless, you can still play mobile games in the Pine Tree State. Offshore casinos provide in-browser play for Android and iOS users.
You begin by visiting an online casino through your smartphone or tablet. Next, you sign up and deposit (optional) to start playing games through an iPhone, iPad, or Android device.
Facts About Online Casinos for MN Players
This state features a mixture of legal and unregulated online gambling, which you can learn more about through the following facts.
- Maine online sports betting is legal via LD 585.
- You must be within state lines to use regulated ME betting sites.
- Online casinos and poker rooms are unregulated in this state.
- You can access many offshore casinos and poker sites in Maine as you want.
- State authorities have never prosecuted anybody for gambling online.
- Legal Maine online sportsbooks can accept bank transfers and e-wallets (e.g., PayPal).
- Offshore casinos and poker sites take deposits through crypto and credit cards.
Maine Gambling Laws Summary
The Pine Tree State has legalized most forms of gaming, including casinos, lottery games, poker, and pari-mutuel wagering. However, you may want to learn more about the legalities of Maine gambling because some bets remain unregulated.
The following table explains more about legal wagers and relevant legislation in Maine.
| Maine Gambling | What You Need to Know |
|---|---|
| Land-based casinos in Maine | ME voters approved slot machines at racetracks in 2003. This law enabled the Bangor track (a.k.a. Hollywood Casino) to become a racino. Land-based gaming became legal through a narrow vote in 2010, paving the way for Oxford Casino. |
| Online Gambling | This state has not regulated online gambling sites. Nevertheless, offshore casinos and poker rooms have accepted Mainers for over 30 years. |
| Online Sports Betting and Land-Based | Sports gambling legislation passed both houses and received Gov. Janet Mills’ signature in 2022. It permits the state’s four federally recognized tribes and their partners to offer online sports betting. LD 585 tribal-state collaboration allows ME casinos, racetracks, and off-track wagering locations to run retail sportsbooks. |
| State Lottery | Maine voters approved a lottery by a 63-37% margin in 1973. The Maine Lottery launched the following year and now features several games like Powerball and Tri-State Megabucks. |
| Charitable Gambling | Qualified charities can offer bingo, poker, and raffles under certain conditions. For example, charities must cap the biggest bingo prizes at $400. |
| Poker | Poker is legal at commercial casinos and racinos. However, Hollywood Bangor and Oxford Casino closed their poker rooms with no plans to reopen them. Charities can run tournaments under certain parameters. |
| Horse & Dog Racing | Maine legalized pari-mutuel wagering in 1935, with races commencing the same year. It features the Bangor Raceway, Scarborough Downs, and several fairground tracks. |
| Fantasy Sports | The Pine Tree State legalized daily fantasy sports (DFS) through LD 1320 in 2017. Several licensed DFS sites serve Maine players. |
| Social Gambling | Title 17, Chapter 62.16 of the Maine Revised Code states that social gambling is legal. However, no participants can profit by banking the action or profiting in other ways (e.g., selling food or providing entertainment). |
| Taxes on Gambling Winnings | ME gambling establishments withhold 7.15% in state taxes on wins worth over $5,000. The Maine Lottery notes that the final tax percentage will “depend on your personal tax situation.” |
Disclaimer: The information on this page does not, nor does it intend to, constitute legal advice. This page is for learning purposes and may not have the most up-to-date information year-round. Readers should contact their attorney and/or accountant for advice concerning any particular legal matter. Do not take any action without first contacting a lawyer in your state.
Gambling Laws: A Deep Dive
Maine has plenty of gaming opportunities relative to its small population (less than 1.4m). We will go in-depth on each legal form of ME gambling below.
Land-Based Casinos
The Pine State offers one land-based casino (Oxford) and one racino (Hollywood).
Oxford Casino is the largest of the two venues, featuring 1,000 slot machines and 30 tables across a 27,200-square-foot floor. Hollywood Casino Hotel & Raceway Bangor is close behind with 930 slots and 16 tables on a 30,000-square-foot floor.
ME tribes cannot open casinos under the Maine Indian Claims Settlement Act. Otherwise, they could negotiate casino rights with Maine through the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act (IGRA).
They did at least gain the ability to offer online sports betting in 2022.
Horse & Dog Tracks
Maine has two tracks with extended racing schedules, including Bangor and Scarborough Downs.
Bangor is a racino, while Scarborough offers just racing because local residents voted against adding slot machines. This state also has several tracks that run races during weeklong county fairs.
No dog tracks have ever operated in Maine. They will likely never open here, given that dog racing is illegal in almost every state.
Bingo, Lottery, and Charitable Gambling
Bingo has been available in the Pine Tree State since 1973 when the Penobscot Nation opened a bingo hall on their reservation. The Penobscot Bingo Hall closed in 2015, but many charities still offer the game today.
Qualified charitable organizations can also use raffles and poker tournaments as fundraisers.
The Maine Lottery has been selling tickets since 1974. It features a mixture of in-state and multi-jurisdictional games, with the latter including Mega Millions, Powerball, Lotto America, and Lucky for Life. The in-state lotteries are Tri-State Megabucks, Gimme 5, Pick 4, Pick 3, and WPT All In.
Social Gaming at Home
Social gambling is legal in this state under specific conditions. No participant can profit directly from games except as a successful player. Therefore, they cannot bank the action, sell food and drinks, or provide entertainment for profit.
Poker Rooms and Clubs
No poker rooms or clubs currently operate in Maine. Hollywood Casino Bangor offered live poker until the pandemic in 2020. It notes that its room is “temporarily closed,” although it has not returned.
Charity tournaments remain the only option for currently playing this game live.
Sports Betting
Retail and online sports betting has been legal in Maine since 2002. Local tribes can partner with experienced operators (e.g., Caesars) and offer online wagering.
Casinos, off-track betting (OTB) facilities, and racetracks can accept sports wagers. Hollywood Bangor, Oxford Casino, and several OTB locations currently provide land-based betting.
Casinos in Maine
You will not have much trouble locating Maine casinos because there are only two. Nevertheless, you might find the following map helpful.
Casinos
- Oxford Casino
- Hollywood Casino Hotel & Raceway Bangor
Gambling Summary
- Total Casinos: 2
- Total Race Tracks: 2
Maine Gambling Vs. Neighboring States
Maine only borders New Hampshire but is also close to Massachusetts and Vermont. Therefore, we will consider Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and Vermont as neighbors for gambling market comparisons.
| State | Is Gambling Legal? | Legal Gambling Age | Legal Land-Based Casinos | Playing at Online Casinos | Legal Sports Betting | Legal State Lottery | Charitable Gaming |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Maine | Yes | 18 – 21 | Legal | Grey Area | Legal | Legal | Legal |
| Massachusetts | Yes | 18 – 21 | Legal | Grey Area | Legal | Legal | Legal |
| New Hampshire | Yes | 18 – 21 | Legal | Grey Area | Legal | Legal | Legal |
| Vermont | Yes | 18 – 21 | Not Legal | Grey Area | Legal | Legal | Legal |
The Pine Tree State is similar to its closest neighbor, New Hampshire, regarding legal forms of gaming. They are the same in most categories, except that the Granite State does not offer sports betting.
Maine is like Massachusetts in most gambling categories, but it differs from Vermont in a few ways. The latter only has charity casinos.
None of the states above have regulated online casinos, but they also take a hands-off approach to online gaming.
A Brief History of MN Gambling
Maine gained statehood in 1820 and quickly banned gambling afterward. As shown below, it did not lift this ban for over a century. Here is a look at gaming milestones that have occurred since the ban lifting.
- 1820 – Maine bans gambling after becoming a state.
- 1935 – Voters lifted the ME constitutional ban on gambling and approved pari-mutuel wagering.
- 1950 – Scarborough Downs opens and quickly becomes the state’s most popular track.
- 1973 – Voters approve lottery games; the Maine Lottery launches the following year.
- 1973 – Penobscot Bingo Hall opens well ahead of the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act of 1988.
- 1975 – A vote passes to allow charity gambling.
- 1980 – ME tribes agree to the Maine Indian Claims Settlement Act, which eventually prevents tribes from participating in the IGRA.
- 2003 – Voters approve slot machines at racetracks; Hollywood Casino Hotel & Raceway is the only track that gets slots.
- 2010 – A vote passes to allow a brick-and-mortar casino in Oxford.
- 2015 – The Penobscot Bingo Hall closes.
- 2022 – Maine passes LD 585, which legalizes online betting (tribes) and retail sportsbooks (casinos, OTB facilities & tracks).
State Responsible Gambling Initiatives
The state government offers a self-exclusion program through the Division of Disease Prevention. This program lets players self-exclude themselves from casinos and sportsbooks for 1-5 years or a lifetime.
The Maine Council on Problem Gambling is a helpful resource for those seeking help with gaming addiction.
Summary: Maine’s Gambling Journey
Most types of gambling are legal in this state, including lottery tickets, charity gaming, casinos, poker, and sports betting. The latter includes online sports betting, which became legal in 2022.
Sports betting was the state’s main focus regarding online gambling. Now that it is legal, lawmakers have already begun exploring online casinos and poker. Proposed in 2023, LD 1777 would let tribes run poker and casino. It did not receive enough attention in 2023 but is still on the table for the future.
We are unsure if LD 1777 has a realistic chance of passing soon. However, Maine is among the minority of states that are at least discussing online gaming. It could potentially legalize mobile games and poker within 2-3 years.
Until then, offshore sites are the only options for online casino games. They will remain viable until lawmakers choose to regulate mobile gaming and poker.
Maine Gambling FAQ
Some questions come up frequently regarding the ME gambling market. Common FAQs on Maine casinos, no-deposit bonuses, and gaming regulations are below.
How do tribal casinos differ from commercial casinos in Maine?
Tribal casinos are not legal in the Pine Tree State due to the 1980 Maine Indian Claims Settlement. Provided they were legal, though, these casinos would have to be on tribal lands. Meanwhile, commercial casinos like Oxford and Hollywood Bangor are on public lands.
Are there real money online casinos in Maine with no-deposit bonuses?
Certain online casinos offer no-deposit bonuses to Mainers. These promos usually provide a small free chip (e.g., $20) or free spins. You can turn Maine no-deposit bonuses into cashable winnings by meeting terms and conditions.
Is there any risk of playing at online casinos regulated outside of Maine?
The Maine Gambling Control Unit regulates gaming within the state and can investigate player complaints. However, it does not regulate offshore casinos that accept ME players. Therefore, you want to choose reputable and highly regarded online casinos in Maine to avoid potential problems.
