Maine has just made a big splash in the sports betting landscape. While other states in the New England region — one example is Massachusetts — are struggling with their sports betting legislation, Maine has just achieved something wonderful both for itself as a state and for bettors residing within its boundaries.
The bigger states typically get a lot of attention in the sports betting landscape because they garner greater profits.
However, the smaller states like Maine are states, too. They have to deal with problems and obstacles, too, as they discuss complex problems tied to the legislative possibilities surrounding sports betting. Top sportsbooks would love to operate in Maine, too.
What Happened
It is now official: Maine has just made itself the first state in 2022 to legalize sports betting. It beat plodding Massachusetts in the same New England region as well as other states to the punch. Governor Janet Mills signed the necessary bill into law on Monday, May 2.
Frustration
It would be terribly uninformed, though, to praise Mills for legalizing sports betting in the state. The reality is that she could and should have done this literally years ago.
Instead, she vetoed bills that would have legalized sports betting in the state. She could have helped create an open, competitive market in Maine.
Instead, she is using sports betting as a political tool to cater to the state’s tribes who hardly have experience in sports betting.
Hopefully, these tribes team up with top sportsbooks who, obviously, do have experience in sports betting. Mills’ delayed decision, motivated by nauseating political strategy, must dampen the excitement.
But it’s also simply great that another state has legalized sports betting. Hopefully, this new piece of progress will motivate other states like neighboring Massachusetts to likewise do the right thing.
