No Sports Betting For Maine Until The Year Of 2020

Hopes for launching sports betting in Maine are sinking away since the state’s Governor, Janet Mills, failed to sign the legislation into law before the July 2nd deadline.

Legislative Document 553 was one of 39 that are set for the Governor’s further review. Meaning the bills can’t either be signed, vetoed nor allowed to into law without Mills signature.

According to the state’s constitution, if the Governor doesn’t act on legislation within ten days, it es into law…

… unless the legislature has been adjourned.

Since the legislature was adjourned on June 20, all those bills are effectively put on hold until the legislature returns in January 2020.

The Review of the Bill is Necessary According to Governor

At this point, the Governor of Maine has three days to act, or the bill es into law. Before making a final decision, Mills plans to review the unsigned bills over the coming months.

“The Legislature has ed a significant number of bills this session, and I take seriously my constitutional obligation to thoroughly review all of them, evaluate their implications, and decide whether they are in the best interest of Maine people.

“In order to meet that responsibility, I will continue to review these bills and gather more information, and I look forward to acting on them at the beginning of the next legislative session”, she explained.

Over the past legislative session, she signed 606 bills into law, vetoed eight, and allowed 45 to become law without her signature.

Maine Sports Betting Legislation Features

Maine House and Senate have ed LD553 bill regarding legalizing the sports betting in The Pine Tree State, following a last-minute push by lawmakers.

It gains final approval on June 20…

… the final day of the state’s legislative session.

The legislation allows:

• Racetracks
• Off-track betting facilities
• Commercial and tribal casinos to launch sports betting
• Enabling mobile operators to apply for the licenses by without a bricks-and-mortar partner

By the bill, licensees will pay a $20,000 fee, then a 10% tax on land-based wagering revenue…

… which rises to 16% online.

Estimates on how much sports betting would be worth in Maine do vary widely, but a fiscal note within the bill suggests that once it is fully operating, the state can collect…

… as much as $5 million a year in fees and taxes.

Sen. Louis Luchini, the bill’s primary sponsor, was not surprised the measure was held. He said that indents to continue to work on it in 2020.

Sports fans who were hoping to legally bet on the outcome of the World Series this fall or the Super Bowl next winter won’t be able to do that due to delay, at least not in Maine.

A bill to legalize sports betting and divide the profits among the state’s casinos, online gambling operators and others will hopefully the Governor’s review and be implemented by at least middle of 2020.