Maine Online Gambling
Maine allows some forms of online gambling but prohibits others. Online sports betting, daily fantasy sports, and online horse racing wagering are all legal and regulated.
Online casinos and online poker remain illegal. The Gambling Control Unit has explicitly warned consumers that no online casino or poker site is licensed in Maine, and certain sweepstakes-style models are treated as unlawful gambling.
The Maine Lottery sells games at retail and offers a subscription program by rule. In addition, licensed lottery couriers operate in the state, letting adults order official tickets online within Maine.
Legal Maine Gambling Sites
GAMBLING PROBLEM? CALL 1-800-GAMBLER. Persons under 21 years of age may not participate in sports wagering. Physically present in ME. Eligibility restrictions apply.
Maine Online Gambling Overview
| Type of Gambling (minimum age) | Legal Status | Notes |
| Online Casinos (n/a) | Illegal | Prohibited under 17-A M.R.S. §954. |
| Sweepstakes Casinos (18+) | Contested | MGCU has publicly declared sweepstakes casinos to be “illegal interactive gaming”. Operators remain active in Maine. |
| Online Poker (n/a) | Illegal | Classified as illegal gambling under the same statutes as online casinos. |
| Online Sports Betting (21+) | Legal/Regulated | Authorized under 8 M.R.S. Chapter 35; mobile licenses are exclusive to Maine’s tribes. |
| Daily Fantasy Sports (18+) | Legal/Regulated | Authorized under 8 M.R.S. Chapter 33; operators must be licensed by the MGCU. |
| Fantasy Pick’em Contests (18+) | Legal/Regulated | Player vs. house contests prohibited; peer-to-peer variants legal if licensed |
| Online Lottery Sales (18+) | Legal/Unregulated | Maine Lottery does not offer online sales; residents may use the Jackpocket app instead |
| Online Horse Racing (18+) | Legal/Regulated | Authorized under Title 8 §1073 |
Maine Online Casinos
Online casinos are illegal in Maine.
State law broadly prohibits gambling unless specifically authorized, making real-money online casino games unlawful by default.
Maine has taken a firm stance against unregulated online casinos. The law even specifies that it’s not a defense if the gambling activity occurs out of state, meaning Maine residents playing at offshore casinos online are still engaging in illegal gambling under state law.
There are no licensed online casino sites in Maine, and participating in offshore casinos carries legal risk and zero consumer protections.
The Maine Gambling Control Unit has reinforced the state’s prohibition with public warnings about illegal online casinos.
Legalization Outlook
The prospect of legal online casinos in Maine remains distant, despite a significant legislative effort in 2025. Lawmakers introduced LD 1164, a bill that proposed granting Maine’s four federally recognized Wabanaki Nations the exclusive right to operate online casino platforms.
This model mirrored the state’s successful launch of online sports betting, which is also under tribal control. Key provisions of the bill included a 16% tax on revenue and annual license fees of $50,000 per operator.
The bill passed both the House and Senate, indicating strong legislative support for a tribally controlled iGaming market. However, Governor Janet Mills delayed action on the bill, effectively pushing the decision on online casinos to 2026.
Maine Sweepstakes Casinos
Sweepstakes casinos operate in a contested legal environment.
For the uninitiated, sweepstakes gambling sites offer casino-style games but provide numerous methods for players to participate with “no purchase necessary.”
By doing so, they aim to avoid classification as “gambling” and essentially sidestep state laws that prohibit online casinos. However, the Maine Gambling Control Unit (MGCU) considers sweepstakes casinos to be illegal.
In a June 2025 public warning, the MGCU explicitly branded sweepstakes casinos as “illegal interactive gaming”.
The notice stated that “online casino games like slots, blackjack, and roulette for real money remain strictly prohibited” and warned that platforms using “sweepstakes or social casino models that offer real-money payouts” are unlicensed and unregulated.
The MGCU further cautioned that because it does not license any sweepstakes sites, it “cannot provide assistance or intervention” in player disputes.
However, state law does not explicitly outlaw sweepstakes casinos, so the MGCU has not initiated enforcement action against operators. Currently, all major sweepstakes casinos continue to accept customers from Maine.
Some of the most established sweepstakes casinos in Maine include:
Maine Online Poker
Online poker is illegal in Maine.
There is no law authorizing real-money internet poker, and peer-to-peer poker games fall under the same general gambling ban that covers online casinos.
Maine’s statutes make it unlawful to “knowingly advance or profit from unlawful gambling activity”, which encompasses operating or playing on unlicensed online poker sites. As a result, well-known poker platforms do not serve Maine.
It is unlikely that Maine will legalize online poker over the short term, except as a part of a larger online gambling effort. Maine has seen little legislative push specifically for poker.
The 2025 bill that sought to authorize online gambling included online poker as one of the games Wabanaki tribes could offer exclusively, but lawmakers have shown little appetite for legalization otherwise. It’s also worth noting that no standalone online poker bills have advanced in Maine’s legislature in recent years.
For players, the closest alternative is sweepstakes poker. Sites like Global Poker use the sweepstakes model to offer poker games where players can redeem their winnings for cash prizes.
Maine Online Sports Betting
Online sports betting is legal and regulated in Maine.
Maine legalized online sports betting in May 2022 via LD 585, clearing the way for the state’s first online sportsbooks to launch in late 2023.
The bill granted Maine’s four federally recognized Native American tribes exclusive control over online sports betting licenses, leaving residents with fewer options than in other states.
The tribes have partnered with two of the nation’s largest brands, creating a duopoly consisting of:
- Caesars Sportsbook: Partnered with the Maliseet, Mi’kmaq, and Penobscot tribes.
- DraftKings: Partnered with the Passamaquoddy Tribe.
Key Regulations
The Maine Gambling Control Unit (MGCU), a division of the Department of Public Safety, is the state’s primary regulator for sports wagering. Some of the most important regulations that impact bettors include:
- Minimum Age: You must be 21 years or older to place a sports wager in Maine.
- Geolocation: Bettors must be physically located within the state of Maine to place a wager.
- College Sports: Wagering on games involving Maine-based college teams (e.g., the University of Maine Black Bears) is prohibited.
Maine Daily Fantasy Sports
Daily fantasy sports apps are legal and regulated in Maine.
The Maine legislature legalized daily fantasy sports in 2017 with the passage of LD 1320. The law’s enactment made Maine one of the early states to formally legalize paid fantasy sports, after years in which the contests operated nationwide without state oversight.
Under 8 M.R.S. Chapter 33, daily fantasy sports sites must register with the Maine Gambling Control Unit and comply with consumer protection standards.
All major DFS platforms now legally serve Maine customers age 18 and older. DraftKings and FanDuel, the two largest providers, are licensed by the MGCU and offer their full range of daily fantasy contests to Maine residents.
State rules require DFS companies to implement safeguards such as segregating player funds, ensuring fair contest outcomes, and promoting responsible play. For example, licensed fantasy sports sites in Maine must:
- Label highly experienced players
- Offer beginner-only contests
- Prevent employees/insiders from participating in paid contests
Maine also imposes a 10% tax on large DFS operators’ in-state revenues and charges annual fees for licensure
Fantasy Pick’em Contests in Maine
Fantasy pick’em contests are legal and regulated in Maine.
Maine’s daily fantasy sports laws do not directly address the legality of DFS contests in which users select two or more athletes and predict “more” or “less” on projected stat totals like rushing yards, free throws made, and RBIs.
However, the MGCU provided clarity in 2023 when it initiated an investigation into DFS operators offering fantasy pick’em games to residents.
The MGCU concluded that operators offering fantasy pick’em contests played against the house constitute unauthorized online sports wagering and issued a fine of nearly $400,000 to Underdog Fantasy for offering such games.
However, the MGCU has since approved peer-to-peer variants. For instance, PrizePicks, which offers fantasy pick’em contests in which users compete against one another for prizes, secured a Maine DFS license in mid-2025.
Maine Online Lottery Sales
The Maine Lottery does not offer online ticket sales, but some third-party courier apps are available to residents.
The Maine State Lottery does not sell tickets directly over the internet; there is no official iLottery platform for buying instant games or draw entries online.
However, two reputable lottery courier apps are active in Maine:
- Jackpocket
- Lotto.com
Lottery courier apps function as a workaround by purchasing physical tickets on behalf of customers. The Maine Lottery does not officially endorse third-party couriers, but it has not targeted them for enforcement action.
Officials likely tolerate couriers because they purchase official tickets, and all revenue flows through the Maine State Lottery as if customers had purchased the tickets themselves.
Courier apps effectively bridge the gap to let people play Maine Lottery games remotely while still generating sales through existing lottery retailers.
Online Horse Racing Betting in Maine
Online horse racing betting is legal and regulated in Maine.
The Maine Gambling Control Unit (MGCU) is responsible for licensing and overseeing all online horse racing wagering platforms in Maine.
Under state law, operators must obtain licenses from the MGCU and adhere to specific regulations. Additionally, state law limits accounts to customers who are:
- 18 or older
- Residents of Maine
Three horse racing betting sites are licensed in Maine:
- TwinSpires
- Xpressbet
- Hollywood Races
Read more about online horse racing betting in Maine:
Maine Gambling Regulators
Maine has several agencies and authorities responsible for regulating legal gambling and protecting consumers:
- Maine Gambling Control Unit (MGCU): Regulates commercial casinos, sports betting, fantasy contests, advance-deposit horse wagering, and charitable gaming. The MGCU issues licenses, enforces gambling laws, and ensures compliance with rules. It operates under the oversight of the state’s Gambling Control Board.
- Maine Gambling Control Board: Works with the MGCU to supervise casino and gambling operations. The board approves licenses, adopts regulations, and hears disciplinary cases to maintain integrity in Maine’s gambling industry.
- Bureau of Alcoholic Beverages and Lottery Operations (BABLO): Manages lottery game offerings, ticket sales, prize redemptions, and oversees the lottery’s retail agent network. It also implements responsible gambling programs for the lottery (such as messaging on tickets and self-assessment tools on the lottery website).
- Maine State Harness Racing Commission: Licenses racetracks and off-track betting parlors, enforces racing rules, and works to ensure fairness and integrity in the sport. It also allocates racing revenues (purse money, breeders’ funds, etc.) according to state law.
Responsible Gambling Resources in Maine
Maine provides several resources for individuals who may be struggling with problem gambling. These services offer confidential support, treatment referrals, and educational materials to help promote safer gambling habits.
Self-Exclusion & Player Protection Tools
- MGCU Self-Exclusion: Maine’s Gambling Control Unit administers a voluntary self-exclusion program that covers casinos and sports betting apps. Individuals can place themselves on the exclusion list for 1, 3, 5 years, or life, during which they are prohibited from entering gaming areas or placing online bets.
- Fantasy Sports Self-Exclusion: All licensed daily fantasy sports operators in Maine provide self-exclusion and player limitation tools as mandated by law. Players can self-impose deposit limits, contest entry limits, or request temporary or permanent account closures through each DFS site’s responsible gaming menu.
Responsible Gambling Organizations
- Maine Council on Problem Gambling (MCPG): A non-profit organization that provides information and resources to help Mainers affected by problem gambling. They offer a helpline and advocate for prevention and treatment.
- 211 Maine: A confidential resource that can connect individuals with gambling addiction services, including counseling and support groups. You can access this service by dialing 211 or visiting their website.
- Gamblers Anonymous Maine: A fellowship of individuals who share their experience, strength, and hope to solve their common problem and help others recover from a gambling problem. Meetings are available in various locations throughout Maine.