Sen. Joe Baldacci sent a letter to the executive director of the Maine Gaming Control Board expressing concern about the delay.
BANGOR, Maine — Two years after in-person sports betting was signed into law in Maine, there is still no sports betting taking place at Maine's two casinos or anywhere else in the state.
The state launched online sports betting in November, but has yet to announce when in-person sports betting will begin.
Sen. Joe Baldacci (D-Bangor) questioned the stall in a letter this week to Maine Gaming Control Board Executive Director Milton Champion, who oversees sports betting in the state.
“It is surprising and unacceptable that not a single retailer has opened for business,” Baldacci said in the letter.
Baldacci said the opening of in-person sports betting is a key economic issue for Bangor's Hollywood Casino because it will bring in more revenue and funding for the city.
“Hollywood Casino employs more than 300 people, pays $2.2 million a year to the city of Bangor to pay the mortgage on the Cross Insurance Center and contributes more than $25 million a year in taxes to the state,” Baldacci said in an interview.
Most states have moved much quicker to legalize and launch in-person sports betting — Massachusetts, for example, took about six months.
“There's no comparison. There's no other place where you see this kind of stagnation,” Baldacci said. “Some people think it might be intentional.”
Baldacci said there are too many regulatory barriers for Maine casinos to begin offering sports betting, so legislative action may be required to make it happen.
“The secretary general has no oversight. There is no oversight, there is no public accountability. That has to change,” Baldacci said. “This has to be an open, accountable, transparent and responsive effort.”
Executives at Hollywood Casino in Bangor said they appreciated Baldacci's efforts.
“We continue to engage in constructive dialogue with all stakeholders to ensure retail sports betting at Hollywood Casino is implemented as quickly and smoothly as possible,” Austin Muchemore, Hollywood Casino's vice president and general manager, said in a statement.
Champion has not responded to Baldacci's letter.
“State leadership needs to respond and address this,” Baldacci said.
The Maine Gaming Control Board did not respond to a request for comment.
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