• About Us / Contact
  • Responsible Gambling
This site contains commercial content
SportsHandle
  • US Sports Betting
    • Arizona
    • Arkansas
    • Colorado
    • Connecticut
    • Delaware
    • Illinois
    • Indiana
    • Iowa
    • Kansas
    • Kentucky
    • Louisiana
    • Maine
    • Maryland
    • Massachusetts
    • Michigan
    • Mississippi
    • New Jersey
    • New Mexico
    • New York
    • Ohio
    • Oregon
    • Pennsylvania
    • Tennessee
    • Vermont
    • Virginia
    • West Virginia
    • Wyoming
  • Pending States
    • California
    • Florida
    • Georgia
    • Missouri
    • North Carolina
  • Canada
    • Ontario
    • British Columbia
    • Alberta
  • Sportsbook Apps
    • FanDuel
    • BetMGM
    • Caesars
    • PointsBet
    • BetRivers
  • Tools
    • Sportsbook Bonuses Explained
    • Sports Betting Revenue Tracker
    • Sports Betting Podcasts
    • Partnership Tracker
    • Expected Value
    • Sports Scores And Odds Apps
    • Sports Betting Twitter
  • News
No Result
View All Result
SportsHandle
  • US Sports Betting
    • Arizona
    • Arkansas
    • Colorado
    • Connecticut
    • Delaware
    • Illinois
    • Indiana
    • Iowa
    • Kansas
    • Kentucky
    • Louisiana
    • Maine
    • Maryland
    • Massachusetts
    • Michigan
    • Mississippi
    • New Jersey
    • New Mexico
    • New York
    • Ohio
    • Oregon
    • Pennsylvania
    • Tennessee
    • Vermont
    • Virginia
    • West Virginia
    • Wyoming
  • Pending States
    • California
    • Florida
    • Georgia
    • Missouri
    • North Carolina
  • Canada
    • Ontario
    • British Columbia
    • Alberta
  • Sportsbook Apps
    • FanDuel
    • BetMGM
    • Caesars
    • PointsBet
    • BetRivers
  • Tools
    • Sportsbook Bonuses Explained
    • Sports Betting Revenue Tracker
    • Sports Betting Podcasts
    • Partnership Tracker
    • Expected Value
    • Sports Scores And Odds Apps
    • Sports Betting Twitter
  • News
No Result
View All Result
SportsHandle
No Result
View All Result

Maine Senate Overrides Sports Betting Veto, Sets State On Path For Legal Wagering

House must concur to make Maine the third New England state with legal sports betting

Jill R. Dorson by Jill R. Dorson
February 6, 2020
in Regulation
Maine's Capitol Building in Augusta (Shutterstock)

Maine's Capitol Building in Augusta (Shutterstock)

Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

In a state that is about as far East as possible in the U.S., the phrase “Wild, Wild West” came up in Maine Thursday when the Senate overrode Governor Janet Mills’ veto of a bill to legalize sports wagering, 20-10.

The vote was just barely the two-thirds required to override a veto. The Senate will now send the override to the House for concurrence. The bill was one three Mills vetoed on January, and the first to be overridden.

Ever since Mills vetoed the measure on Jan. 10, the override has been on the Senate calendar with no action. On a snowy day that nearly ended up in a cancelled session, Democratic Senator Louis Luchini walked his peers through a well thought-out presentation on why he and the Committee on Veterans and Legal Affairs believe their bill, SB 175, is the best way for Maine to move forward. And then his explanation withstood a barrage of reasons for why Maine should legalize — but in a different way, under different parameters.

At issue among the senators wasn’t whether or not sports betting should be legalized, but how. The current bill would allow for one of the most open, competitive marketplaces in the country — it legalizes state-wide mobile with remote registration, no requirement to tether to mobile sportsbook to a brick-and-mortar- casino, and no limit on the number of potential licensees. Almost any entity meeting regulatory muster could host a physical sportsbook lounge, from commercial casinos to OTBs and horse racetracks to tribal interests. It also reasonable tax rates of 10% on gross gaming revenue from retail sportsbooks and 16% from mobile sportsbooks.

Maine House still must weigh in on sports betting

“The legalization before us is bad for Maine, it is the wild, wild west of sports betting,” argued Senator Republican Senator Scott Cyrway. “For me, it comes down to the impact it will have on our own state, that  is the biggest part of this, is how it weighs on our state. Simply put, where there is a brick and mortar, there is an investment. If you do not live in Maine, you are not going to be as invested as if you do live in the state. Our casinos provide jobs, and a safe place for gaming.”

Cyrway was referring to the “untethered” mobile component in the bill, which would allow mobile sports betting operators, like FanDuel or William Hill or the Las Vegas-based Circa Sports (which just found a partner in Colorado) or whomever, enter the market without a physical location.

On the other side was Republican Senator Matthew Pouliot, who said  that one gaming chief said it best when it comes to sports betting, “New Hampshire is open for business.”

Sign Up For The Sports Handle Newsletter!
I also want to receive information and offers about online sportsbooks (eg. odds boost, welcome offers)

He was referring Maine’s neighbor, and lottery executive director Charlie McIntrye, though it appears it was New Hampshire Governor Chris Sununu who tweeted out the phrase on the day of Mills’ veto.

NEW HAMPSHIRE IS OPEN FOR BUSINESS! https://t.co/ap53l7Xh2l

— Chris Sununu (@GovChrisSununu) January 10, 2020

DraftKings launched its mobile sports betting app in late December in the Granite State. Since then, some Maine lawmakers have felt enormous pressure to legalize, as it’s been clear that Mainers are going to New Hampshire to place bets.

“If the Maine House doesn’t approve the veto override, it will be the wild, wild West, because everyone is going to New Hampshire, and the illegal market (in Maine) would continue to thrive,” said consultant Brendan Bussmann of Global Market Advisors after Thursday’s vote. “I think they listened to their constituents, and they see the benefit of having a regulated market, seeing tax revenue flow into the state, and squashing the black market.”

Luchini calls casino lobby ‘overstated’

When Maine lawmakers first approved sports betting, they did so with a 19-15 vote in the Senate and an overwhelming majority in the House, which did not take a roll call-vote. There appears to be some question about procedure this time around, and whether or not the House will take a roll-call vote or a show of hands/verbal vote. But either way, it appears the House must concur before sports betting becomes legal in Maine.

At the outset of Tuesday’s debate, Luchini carefully laid out why his bill would be best for Maine, and called casino lobbying “overstated.” In particular, Luchini explained why the bill does not include a provision to have mobile applications tethered to retail sites.

“Under (tethering) agreements, (operators) pay a market access fee … and the majority of our committee rejected this for three reasons: 1. it’s totally anti-competitive; … 2. This really amounts to a subsidy for casinos … they use tethering as a way to prop up struggling casinos; … and  3. They use apps to drive people into casinos.”

Luchini went on to say that the demographic for sports betting — usually a fairly well-to-do young man — doesn’t often visit casinos and that he and his committee “didn’t think it was wise to try to get people to come in use slot machines,” which he called the “most addictive” kind of gambling. In closing, Luchini said, “This bill offers a safe, regulated system for those that want to bet on sports, and it helps out Maine retailers who want to have sports betting.”

Though opponents argued that mobile operators don’t have a vested interest in the state, it was clear that Luchini never would have called for the vote on Thursday if he didn’t know he had the votes. It looked as if the override would happen earlier this week, but two Senators who were confirmed “yes” votes were absent on Tuesday.

Maine, New Hampshire, and Rhode Island have all legalized sports betting. You’re just letting business go to other states @MassGovernor https://t.co/WGnhbVKY9O

— John Cannavo (@JohnCannavo_) February 6, 2020

Should the House concur, Maine will become the third New England state with legal sports betting, behind Rhode Island, which legalized in 2018, and New Hampshire. Lawmakers in both Connecticut and Massachusetts have been discussing sports betting for the last few years, but neither has taken any real action on it. The Connecticut General Assembly opened on Wednesday, and ahead of that two Senators released a draft of a sports betting bill.

The first opportunity for the House to vote on the override will be Tuesday, when it goes back in session.

Thursday’s session was historic in that it marked the first time that a veto on sports betting legislation was overridden in any chamber since the fall of the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act. Governors in Michigan and Montana have both vetoed sports betting-related or internet gaming legislation. In Michigan, the veto came in late 2018, but sports betting was legalized a year later. In Montana, one of two sports betting bills was vetoed in 2019, and the state’s lottery is in the process of going live with sports betting.

Share1TweetShare
Jill R. Dorson

Jill R. Dorson

Jill has covered everything from steeplechase to the NFL and then some during a more than 30-year career in sports journalism. The highlight of her career was covering Oakland Raiders during the Charles Woodson/Jon Gruden era, including the infamous “Snow Bowl” and the Raiders’ 2003 trip to Super Bowl XXXVII. Her specialty these days is covering sports betting legislation across the country. You can reach Jill at [email protected]

Related Posts

maine-state-flag-image
Industry

Maine Betting Regulator Placed On Leave Following Controversial Tweets

May 23, 2023
university-vermont-hockey-goalie
Legislation

Vermont House Sends Legal Sports Betting Bill To Governor

May 9, 2023
Load More

Top Stories

colts logo

Source: ‘Pervasive’ Wagering From Colts Player Includes Bets On His Own Team

June 5, 2023
paspa ruling

From PASPA To Present: An Oral History Of The U.S. Sports Betting Gold Rush

May 11, 2023
inside-fanatics-sportsbook-fedex-field

Sources: Fanatics Enters Advanced Talks With PointsBet On Transformative U.S. Deal

May 12, 2023
new york times headquarters

The ‘Risky Wager’ Series From New York Times Was No Hit Piece — It’s Reality

May 31, 2023

State Sports Betting Guides

Ohio (U.S. state) flag waving against clear blue sky, close up, isolated with clipping path mask alpha channel transparency, perfect for film, news, composition

Ohio Sports Betting – All Online Sportsbooks, Bonus Offers, and News 2023

by Brian Pempus
May 16, 2023

Downtown Detroit at twilight (Shutterstock)

Michigan Sports Betting – Where To Play, Online Sportsbooks, And FAQ

by Brett Smiley
May 2, 2023

VA captial

Virginia Sports Betting – Where To Play, Online Sportsbooks And Bonus Offers

by Brett Smiley
April 24, 2023

nj flag

New Jersey Sports Betting — Where To Play, Online Sportsbooks, And FAQ

by Brett Smiley
March 22, 2023

pa online sportsbooks

Pennsylvania Sports Betting – Where To Play, Online Sportsbooks And Bonuses

by Brett Smiley
May 3, 2023

Canada Sports Betting Guides

Canada Sports Betting – Best Sportsbook Apps & Bonus Offers

British Columbia Sports Betting – Legal Update, Available Sportsbooks, and FAQ

Ontario Sports Betting – Legal Status And Where To Play

SportsHandle

  • Analysis
  • Casino
  • Features
  • Horse Racing
  • Industry
  • Legal
  • Legislation
  • Lottery
  • Opinion
  • Podcasts
  • Poker
  • Politics
  • Promotions
  • Regulation
  • Sports
  • Uncategorized

Better Collective

This website is owned and operated by Better Collective USA. Trademarks and copyrights referenced on this website are and shall remain the exclusive property of their respective owners and/or licensors. Please be sure to visit the operator’s website(s) to review their terms & conditions. We advise you to read these carefully as they contain important information. Copyright © 2023 USBets.com | Better Collective USA
21 Play Responsibly
Gamble Aware West Virginia
Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-Gambler.
GameSense

Search Sports Handle

No Result
View All Result
  • About Us / Contact
  • Responsible Gambling

No Result
View All Result
  • US Sports Betting
    • Arizona
    • Arkansas
    • Colorado
    • Connecticut
    • Delaware
    • Illinois
    • Indiana
    • Iowa
    • Kansas
    • Kentucky
    • Louisiana
    • Maine
    • Maryland
    • Massachusetts
    • Michigan
    • Mississippi
    • New Jersey
    • New Mexico
    • New York
    • Ohio
    • Oregon
    • Pennsylvania
    • Tennessee
    • Vermont
    • Virginia
    • West Virginia
    • Wyoming
  • Pending States
    • California
    • Florida
    • Georgia
    • Missouri
    • North Carolina
  • Canada
    • Ontario
    • British Columbia
    • Alberta
  • Sportsbook Apps
    • FanDuel
    • BetMGM
    • Caesars
    • PointsBet
    • BetRivers
  • Tools
    • Sportsbook Bonuses Explained
    • Sports Betting Revenue Tracker
    • Sports Betting Podcasts
    • Partnership Tracker
    • Expected Value
    • Sports Scores And Odds Apps
    • Sports Betting Twitter
  • News