DraftKings takes $3.4 million in wagers in first weekend of legal Maine sports betting

US sports betting giant DraftKings took in $3.4 million in bets in the first weekend of legal mobile sports wagering in Maine. Sports betting kickstarted in the state early Friday, and the report covers total wagering receipts from that day until Sunday. 

Out of the $3.4 million in bets, over $2.57 million were paid out in winnings. The tax collected from the first weekend of sports betting with DraftKings came out to nearly $82,000. The system is being run by the Department of Public Safety and the Gambling Control Unit, which began at 9:00 AM on Friday. 

Apart from DraftKings, Caesars Entertainment's flagship sports wagering platform, Caesars Sportsbook, is also accepting sports wagers on mobile and desktop in Maine. The product was launched through Caesars’ partnership with three of the Wabanaki Nations including the Houlton Band of Maliseet Indians, the Mi’kmaq Nation, and the Penobscot Nation. As of now, the Gambling Control Unit has not shared the sports wagering data from Caesars.

Maine, the wait is over!

We're LIVE: https://t.co/9ymC6LavRn pic.twitter.com/Gh3vgLQrak

— DraftKings Sportsbook (@DKSportsbook) November 3, 2023

“Maine sports fans deserve an elevated sports wagering experience that matches the pedigree of sports fandom in New England,” Caesars Digital president Eric Hession said at the time of launch. “The launch of Caesars Sportsbook delivers on that pedigree."

For its part, DraftKings has partnered with the Passamaquoddy tribe to introduce its online platform in the state. “We couldn’t have landed a better organization in the mobile sports wagering arena, and we look forward to continued progress and investment for future growth in the state of Maine," Passamaquoddy Chief William Nicholas said in a release.

Sports betting in Maine was launched 18 months after the state legalized sports wagering. Last spring, Governor Janet Mills signed a bill allowing both retail and online sports betting, with the specific condition that internet sports betting would be solely operated by approved tribes within the state.

Tribes in Maine have the opportunity to apply for licenses to operate online betting platforms and form partnerships with one online operator each. Simultaneously, combined racetracks and off-track betting facilities can seek land-based licenses to offer retail wagering.