Introduction to Maine Slot Machine Casino Gambling in 2020
See the mountains, see the ocean. There are plenty of very 'American' towns. They each have special charm. While doing all that, spend a day, an overnight at most at the Oxford Casino. It's smoke free. There are plenty of slot machines. Remember, if you leave any casino even; you're a.
Maine slot machine casino gambling consists of two pari-mutuel racetracks with slot machines. Bingo is available throughout the state.
A minimum theoretical payout limit exists and return statistics are available by casino.
This post continues my weekly State-By-State Slot Machine Casino Gambling Series, an online resource dedicated to guiding slot machine casino gambler to success. Now in its third year, each weekly post reviews slots gambling in a single U.S. state, territory, or federal district.
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Relevant Legal Statutes on Gambling in Maine*
The minimum legal gambling age in Maine depends upon the gambling activity:
- Land-Based Casinos: 21
- Poker Rooms: 21
- Bingo: 16
- Lottery: 18
- Pari-Mutuel Wagering: 18
In 2003, Maine offered a referendum to its voters to approve slot machines at racetracks. The residents of Bangor approved it, but residents of the city of Scarborough did not. To this day, the racetrack in Scarborough still does not offer slot machines.
In 2010, voters in the town of Oxford approved slot machines for their casino. The next year, the casino in the city of Bangor approved table games.
Maine’s legal rights with regards to tribal gaming are unusual relative to other states. The application of the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act of 1988 does not apply due to the prior Maine Indian Claims Settlement Act of 1980. Therefore, gaming on tribal land in Maine is subject to state law rather than the federal IGRA.
*The purpose of this section is to inform the public of state gambling laws and how the laws might apply to various forms of gaming. It is not legal advice.
Slot Machine Private Ownership in Maine
In Maine, it is legal to own a slot machine privately without regard to its date of manufacturer.
Gaming Control Board in Maine
Maine’s gaming control commission is its Gambling Control Unit.
Casinos in Maine
There are two non-tribal casinos in Maine, both racetracks with slot machines.
The largest casino in Maine is Oxford Casino Hotel with nearly 1,000 gaming machines.
The second-largest casino, and only other casino in Maine, is Hollywood Casino Bangor with 724 gaming machines.
Commercial Casinos in Maine
Maine’s two racetracks with slot machines are:
- Hollywood Casino Bangor located 136 miles northeast of Portland.
- Oxford Casino Hotel located 46 miles north of Portland.
Tribal Casinos in Maine
Maine has four federally-recognized American Indian tribes. State law permits them to offer high-stakes bingo games without restriction on the size of prizes. However, there are no open tribal casinos in Maine.
Other Gambling Establishments
As an alternative to enjoying Maine slot machine casino gambling, consider exploring casino options in a nearby state. Bordering Maine is:
- Northwest: Quebec, a Province of Canada
- East: New Brunswick, a Province of Canada
- South: Atlantic Ocean
- West: New Hampshire Slots
Each of the links above will take you to my blog for that neighboring U.S. state to Maine.
Our Maine Slots Facebook Group
Are you interested in sharing and learning with other slots enthusiasts in Maine? If so, join our new Maine slots community on Facebook. All you’ll need is a Facebook profile to join this closed Facebook Group freely.
There, you’ll be able to privately share your slots experiences as well as chat with players about slots gambling in Maine. Join us!
Payout Returns in Maine
Maine law requires payout returns have a minimum of 89% on all electronic gaming machines. There is no maximum legal limit for payout returns. Unusually, this state law requirement applies to any Class II bingo-style gaming machines offered by Maine’s tribes.
Maine’s Gambling Control Unit offers Casino Revenue Information. These reports are monthly except for the most recent month, which is weekly.
These reports offer player win percentage as Average Pay Back % to Players. For January 2020, the casino-specific monthly player win percentages were:
- Hollywood Casino Bangor: 90.66%
- Oxford Casino Hotel: 91.72%
Summary of Maine Slot Machine Casino Gambling in 2020
Maine slot machine casino gambling consists of two pari-mutuel wagering racetracks with slot machines. A third racetrack only offers pari-mutuel wagering without slots.
The minimum legal limit for payout returns is 89%. Actual return statistics by casino are available by month except for the most recent month, when they are available weekly.
Annual Progress in Maine Slot Machine Casino Gambling
In the last year, there has been little to no change to slot machine gambling in the state of Maine.
Related Articles from Professor Slots
Other State-By-State Articles from Professor Slots
- Previous: Louisiana Slot Machine Casino Gambling
- Next: Maryland Slot Machine Casino Gambling
Have fun, be safe, and make good choices!
By Jon H. Friedl, Jr. Ph.D., President
Jon Friedl, LLC
The state has developed guidelines to allow for the reopening of Maine’s two casinos.
Oxford Casino and Hollywood Casino Bangor have been closed for months due to the coronavirus outbreak.
Sign up for our NewslettersThey remain among the few businesses waiting to fully reopen under the state plan to restart the economy.
Under the new protocols for casinos, they are only allowed to have 200 total guests. The guests must be split into separate areas, with no more than 50 people.
The separate areas will have their own access points and slot machines will be separated by games that have been turned off to allow for social distancing.
State officials said the areas will also be separated by a pipe and draping system, which has been approved by public health officials, the gambling control unit and the fire marshal’s office.
Visitors will also be required to wear face coverings while at the casinos, and 6-foot social distancing will be mandated at slot machines.
Oxford Casino's general manager said Wednesday that they hope to reopen by the end of the week.
'We are very close to a final checklist, so we are going through the process inside right now to execute that checklist for the measures for safety against COVID-19,' general manager Jack Sours said.
The casino will only offer slot machines to begin with.
Sours said upon arrival, guests will have their temperature checked, leave their contact information for contract tracing purposes and be required to wear a mask at all times.
He said food service on the casino floor will be limited.
'Once we get opened and show we can do this in a safe and responsible manner, we hope to be able to lift those restrictions up and bring more people back,' Sours said.
Sours said he expects long lines of people waiting to enter the casino due to the capacity restrictions.
Newest Slot Machines At Oxford Casinos
Sours added that they have brought back 150 of their approximately 500 full-time workers, and they are working to test all of them for COVID-19.
Oxford Town Manager Butch Asselin said the reopening of the casino will be great news for the community.
Asselin said the town receives $35,000 to $39,000 a week in revenue from the casino.
'The town, we projected $2 million, and we are going to come in slightly under at $1.5 million for the fiscal year,' Asselin said about the revenue received from the casino.
The funds provide services to the community, from the fire and rescue department to recreation activities.
Asselin said thanks to a surplus balance the loss won't have much of an impact on the town's budget.
'I anticipate we may, but I think the projections are such that we are either going to break even more or less.' Asselin said.
Hollywood Casino said on its website that it plans to reopen on Friday at noon.
Hollywood Casino said the number of slot machines will be limited and table games will not be open.
Slot machines will be cleaned regularly, and sanitizer stations will be placed throughout the casino.
The casino said restaurant offerings will be limited and its buffet will remain closed. Hollywood Casino will be closed from midnight to 9 a.m. daily for cleaning.
Both casinos said they worked with state officials to develop the guidelines to safely reopen.
READ THE FULL STORY:Maine's casinos hope to reopen by end of week after state develops safety guidelines
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