Il legislatore del Maine rivista il disegno di legge sulle scommesse sportive dopo il veto del governatore
Second Round: The Return of Maine's Sports Betting Bill
Last year, Maine's sports betting bill took a hit due to political maneuvering. Now, it's back on the table, and with a pandemic-stricken economy and the nationwide expansion of legal sports betting, the stakes are higher than ever.
Senator Louis Luchini is once again leading the charge, sponsoring a bill that's strikingly similar to the one that garnered bipartisan support in 2019. The bill aims to create a competitive market for sports betting, welcoming casinos, racetracks, gaming facilities, tribes, and eligible entities to the game.
"Sen. Luchini's bill is a no-brainer, reflecting a free-market approach with a sensible licensing and taxation structure," Steve Silver, Chairman of the Maine Gambling Control Board, shares with Sports Handle. "Mainers are fed up with hearing about state budget woes while their neighbors in New Hampshire are raking in a million bucks a month from sports betting."
But it's not a certain win this time around. In 2020, legislation faced a veto from Governor Janet Mills, partly due to lobbying from casino moguls Penn National Gaming (PNG) and Churchill Downs Inc. Now, with the pandemic throwing a wrench in state budgets across the nation, it's unclear if the same fate awaits the measure.
In 2019, Maine's only two casino operators preferred a casino-controlled market, leaving no room for competition. Luchini's bill, however, invites a multitude of operators, paving the way for a vibrant sports betting landscape. According to the bill, licensed applicants include casinos, racetracks, eligible gaming facilities, federally recognized Indian tribes, and "qualified gaming entities."
The bill's criteria for qualified gaming entities is broad, encompassing any mobile sportsbook legally operating in any U.S. jurisdiction, provided it complies with that location's regulatory structure. The initial license fee sits at $20,000, making it one of the most affordable entry points in the nation.
However, Governor Mills' office has expressed reservations about a new bill, L.D. 554, which advocates for gaming equity and fairness for Native American tribes in Maine. In a letter dated March 17, Mills' deputy legal counsel raised concerns about expanded gaming opportunities and questioned the proposed regulatory structure.
It seems that just like in 2020, the casino lobby is gearing up for another political battle. But with the success of legal sports betting in neighboring states like New Hampshire and the revenue potential it presents during troubled times, perhaps this time around, the sidelines won't be the best place for Maine.
"The only winners from sitting on the sidelines are unregulated offshore sites and back-alley bookies," says Silver. "Maybe seeing the success New Hampshire has had combined with the COVID-19 reality check will lead to a different outcome this time around."
- Senate bill LD 554, led by Senator Louis Luchini, proposes a competitive market for sports betting, including casinos, racetracks, gaming facilities, tribes, and other eligible entities.
- The criteria for qualified gaming entities in the bill are broad and inclusive of any mobile sportsbook operating legally in any U.S. jurisdiction, as long as it complies with that location's regulatory structure.
- Initially, the license fee for sports betting operators in Maine, as proposed in the bill, is $20,000, providing an affordable entry point compared to other states.
- However, Governor Mills' office has raised concerns about the regulatory structure proposed in LD 554, especially in terms of expanded gaming opportunities and casino lobbying, potentially indicating another political battle ahead.
