Football Season Provides Massive Boost
Maine’s historic numbers result from the NFL and college football seasons, which have kicked off. Those two leagues dominate the sports betting market across the US, and Maine is no exception. The state launched sports betting after the season was almost over, making this the first time it was live for the opening month.
While Maine does not have an NFL team, the New England Patriots have a massive fanbase in the market.
DraftKings Dominates Maine Market
Unsurprisingly, DraftKings dominated once again in September. The operator had a handle of $46 million, which is a record high for the operator in Maine. The state had not seen over $39 million in wagers since launch.
Caesars, the state's only other sports betting operator, had a handle of just $5.1 million. While that number is underwhelming, it did see customers lose far more bets, leading to more revenue.
Stunningly, Caesars saw its handle drop compared to August. The summer months are the slowest time for sports betting, but September represents one of the biggest. With the MLB season winding down and the NFL kicking off, a drop in handle should be near impossible.
Caesars Launches Main’s First Retail Sportsbook
While Caesars had a surprisingly poor handle for September, the news wasn’t all bad.
Caesars launched the state’s first retail sportsbook in Portland in mid-September. The operator has partnered with First Tracks Investment to launch Oddfellahs Sportsbook. The sportsbook managed $158,000 in wagers in a shortened month.
Caesars has been unable to compete with DraftKings and FanDuel in the online market, but the Las Vegas-based operator is doing well in retail. Its launch in Maine comes soon after it was awarded sole control of betting kiosks in Washington, D.C.