Decrease in gaming income at Maine casinos by 2.8% compared to the same period last year, observed in June.
Maine's gambling industry is experiencing a shift, with the prospect of online gaming (igaming) on the horizon. However, the implementation of igaming has been delayed until at least January 2025, leaving the current revenue figures without the potential income from this new sector.
In June 2025, Maine's two commercial casinos, Hollywood Casino in Bangor and Oxford Casino, reported net revenues of $13.7 million. This figure, released by the Maine Gambling Unit, does not include any potential adjustments for inflation or other economic factors related to igaming.
The revenue breakdown for June 2025 shows slot machines as the dominant source of income, with table games contributing less. Slot machines generated a combined $11.7 million across both casinos, while table games contributed nearly $2 million.
Hollywood Casino in Bangor saw a 9% increase in revenue, generating $5.7 million in June 2025 compared to $5.2 million in June 2024. Unfortunately, this growth was overshadowed by a nearly 10% decrease at Oxford Casino, where revenue fell from $8.9 million in June 2024 to $8 million in June 2025. As a result, Oxford Casino accounted for 58.5% of the total revenue, which wiped out any gains from Hollywood Casino in Bangor.
The delay in the implementation of igaming is due to a combination of factors, including regulatory and legislative timelines, the complexity of agreements involving tribal gaming control, and the pace of state gambling commission approvals. The state's legislative efforts have faced challenges in aligning state and tribal interests and regulatory provisions.
Despite the delay, Maine's online sports betting legal framework was established with tribal tribes in control. However, initial legislation left some timelines undefined and required further regulatory development and rollout phases before full availability. As of August 2025 information, Maine sports betting apps launched in November 2023, but the full or expanded online gaming products, including broader online casino games, may face ongoing regulatory scheduling and delays.
Governor Janet Mills did not sign a bill allowing tribal gaming operators to launch igaming in Maine. The exact timeline for the rollout of igaming remains uncertain, but it is expected to take place at least by January 2025. It is worth noting that the revenue figures for June 2025 do not include any potential income from igaming.
In conclusion, the revenue figures for June 2025 provide a snapshot of Maine's current gambling industry, but they do not reflect the potential impact of igaming. The delay in the implementation of igaming is due to a complex interplay of regulatory, legislative, and tribal factors. As the rollout of igaming approaches, it will be interesting to see how it affects the revenue figures and the overall landscape of Maine's gambling industry.
[1] Maine Gambling Control Board. (n.d.). Online Sports Betting. Retrieved from https://www.maine.gov/sos/mga/osb/ [2] Maine Gambling Control Board. (n.d.). Online Gaming. Retrieved from https://www.maine.gov/sos/mga/og/
- The shift towards online gambling in Maine is eagerly anticipated, with the possibility of online gaming contributing significantly to the industry's revenue, as yet unrealized due to scheduled implementation in 2025.
- In the meantime, Maine's two commercial casinos, Hollywood Casino in Bangor and Oxford Casino, continue to operate with slot machines as their primary source of income, with table games following close behind.
- With casino-culture evolving globally, the gambling trends in Maine show a steady growth in revenue due to slot machines, yet face a potential challenge with the upcoming entry of online casino-games and sports-betting.
- Amidst this excitement, the state's online sports betting legal framework has been established, with tribal tribes holding control over these activities, although full availability has been phased rollout over time.
- It is crucial to emphasize responsible-gambling measures in the context of igaming, as its launch will undoubtedly impact the gambling landscape within Maine and nationwide, given the Las Vegas-style trends.
- Weather forecasting plays an indirect role in this context, as extreme weather conditions could potentially affect the revenue figures and revenue trends for both brick-and-mortar casinos and future online gaming operations.
