DraftKings readies for Maine sports betting launch

As Maine has confirmed that it will proceed with the rollout of its sports betting industry this Friday, November 3, companies have pounced at the opportunity to launch their own offers.

Amongst them is DraftKings, which has confirmed that it has negotiated a partnership with the Passamaquoddy Tribe and will await further licensing and regulatory approvals to introduce online sports betting under its banner in the Pine Tree State and make Maine the 25th state in whichDraftKingsoperatesits sportsbook.

The opportunity was naturally welcomed by DraftKings Co-founder and CEO Jason Robins who said that the tie-up with the Passamaquoddy Tribe was indeed a great opportunity for the partners to explore and benefit from as Maine enters an important stage.

"We look forward to our continued collaboration with the Maine Gambling Control Unit as we become the official mobile sports betting provider of the Passamaquoddy Tribe and launch in our industry-leading 25th state," Robins added.

Passamaquoddy Tribe Chief Wiliam Nicholas was equally pleased with the chance to see the two companies work together and bring mobile sports wagering to the state. Chief Pos Basset chimed in and added that a first-class mobile sports wagering experience in Maine was precisely what the tribe and the Pleasant Point Tribal Government expected to see in the state in light of the regulatory changes enacted recently.

Sports betting will launch officially in the state this Friday, and it will allow anyone of the legal gambling age, which has been set for 21, to participate in in-person and interactive sports wagering. Pre-advertising is already allowed in the state as of Wednesday, and operators can also accept registrations and account deposits as they prepare for the rollout of their products on Friday.

The activity will kick off at 9 am on Friday, the Department of Public Safety confirmed earlier this week. Maine fought long and hard to introduce legalized sports wagering, with Gov. Janet Mills signing the bill that made this happen back in May 2022. It took another 15 months to see the industry roll out, and the wait has been well worth it.

In the meantime, it will be a while longer before we know the full names of all licensee applicants. Caesars Sportsbook has also submitted a license. There can be ten retail sports betting states in Maine under current legislation. DraftKings was recently reported as the largest sports betting operator in the United States, edging out competitor FanDuel by a small margin.

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