Maine one step closer to getting its first in-person sports betting bar as Portland applicant gets liquor license

Maine could see its first in-person sports betting bar open sooner than later, as the owners of a Portland bar cleared their first obstacle on Monday when the city council approved the establishment's liquor license.

According to Portland Food Map, the new sports bar will be called Oddfellahs, and construction is currently underway at 55 Market Street. The applicant, First Track Investments LLC, also operates the Portland Regency Hotel.

However, the proposal for the in-person sportsbook did face some opposition.

“I'm not opposed to sports betting, I just think we need to be thoughtful and deliberate about how we introduce that to Portland,” said Portland City Councilor Kate Sykes. Sykes was the only councilor to vote against the liquor license for the bar, hoping to slow down its opening. “How would that impact local business? How will that impact the financial well-being of people in the city?” added Sykes. 

Sports betting was legalized in Maine in 2022, and it is up to the state, not the city, to approve licenses for in-person sports betting. “Here we go again delving into state matters,” said Mayor Mark Dion during Monday night’s city council meeting. “Licensing for gambling is between the state and the applicant.”

However, according to FOX23 Maine, the city can create ordinances about where betting locations could be allowed. Sykes wants to see if the city can profit from the venture. “If the state is looking at this as a revenue-generating source, how does Portland benefit from that, how can we use that?” she said.

The bar owner noted that state approval for the gambling license is still needed. It is not clear when the bar might open its doors, but Councilor Sykes says she is planning to get to work on zoning and regulation rules.

Maine first launched legal sports betting on November 3, 2023, when residents began placing bets via two mobile platforms contracted by state tribes. DraftKings, headquartered in Boston, operates for the Passamaquoddy Tribe. Nevada-based Caesars Entertainment is partnered with three Wabanaki Nations: the Houlton Band of Maliseet Indians, the Mi’kmaq Nation, and the Penobscot Nation.