Legal Online Poker For Maine Residents
When it comes to playing legal poker online in Maine, it is the state with one of the clearest and most succinct set of laws. While they don't offer a lot of offline gambling rooms, if you want to play a friendly round with your friends at home, or even want to play online, Maine is a friendly state.
Is Poker Legal In Maine?
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As outlined in the beginning, Maine has a very succinct set of laws when it comes to gambling. Online poker isn't even mentioned in the Criminal Code, so the federal laws and guidelines apply.
As a side note, you shouldn't be put off by the UIGEA bill – it's a law that doesn't aim at gamblers or poker players, but rather at financial institutions and casino owners. You can play poker 24 hours a day, seven days a week and not be breaking any laws.
Legal Online Poker Sites For Maine Residents
There are many online poker sites out there that accept poker players from Maine – too many too list here. We did a bit of research, played at a few hundred sites, and came with a handful you can't go wrong with.
The online poker rooms at SportsBetting have been wowing users for over a decade as steady payouts and stellar customer service are king at this site. In fact, this online poker room has some of the most flexible deposit options going to lengths to be able to accept MasterCard, Visa and evener American Express. This online poker room hits it home with an ongoing perk of free payouts once per month which has members timing the collections of their winnings perfectly. Each Sunday, SportsBetting hosts a $500 free roll in its “Fabulous Freerolls” promotion where players have a shot at cash without having to buy in. The online poker site also boasts an incredibly charming 27% weekly Rake Back rebate where users get money back off of rakes and tourney fees deposited directly into their accounts. The brilliance and simplicity of SportsBetting allows users a perfectly streamlined poker experience where the stakes can be as high as one wishes. It only takes a few seconds to sign up and download their software so you can be playing for free or real money within minutes.
There are plenty of legal online Poker rooms available but only a few stand out above the rest. One In particular has Maine residents stacking their chips and that is BetOnline.ag. Having been in business for over 10 years and a real Johnny-on-the-spot for customer service and prompt payouts, this legal poker site for Maine residents has some of the best online poker rooms around. Users can play on the site itself or throw the cards around no matter where they are with their impressive mobile interface. This online poker room offers daily free rolls and over $250,000 in guaranteed tournaments along with ongoing incentives such as the 4 of a Kind challenge where members earn an extra $40 just for holding the hand. New members can expect a 200% Sign-Up Bonus when making their first deposit worth up to $1000 just by entering the promo code, ‘POKERNEW’ in an email sent to freeplay@betonline.ag. It is no secret why BetOnline remains a top choice for Maine Residents.
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Bonus: 100% to $1,000 |
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Bovada Poker should be the top pick for any poker player from Maine. The first-time deposit bonus is quite impossible to beat – these guys offer you a 100% match bonus, up to a whopping $1,000. Then, they are one of the few on the market that still accept credit card deposits. And if you don't want to share your financial data, you can always use one of the many e-wallets they accept, as well as bank transfer or Western Union.
The only reference to home poker is in the state's Criminal Code and says that, as long as the host isn't making a profit from the game, playing poker in a privately owned establishment is allowed. In other words, the host shouldn't rake the pot or charge players one-time fees for sitting in. In other words, if you are simply volunteering to host a game at home and inviting your friends over, you won't run into any legal trouble.
Nowadays they offer more than a thousand gaming machines but that's about it – you won't find any poker tables there. However, since the venue is constantly growing, it shouldn't come as a surprise if they will offer something for poker players in the near future.
Is it Legal to Play Land-based Poker in Maine?
Those who live in or visit the Pine Tree State have long since known that there is no gambling of any sort in Maine. All of that has changed in recent years and people are beginning to realize that laws in the region have relaxed. It is indeed still illegal to gamble on games of chance or skill within the State’s borders, however, the laws are only intended to target people or companies which aim to make profit. Following suit with the federal laws placed throughout the country, Maine allows its citizens freedom in hosting home games or placing casual and recreational bets without pursuing any form of investigation, prosecution or enforcement. Since 2010, Maine has begun to open up State sanctioned casinos and residents have been lining up to take advantage of the opportunity to play the classic American favorite game of Poker. Maine residents appear to be receiving more freedom with each passing year as poker takes hold of the imagination and interests of all those within the borders of this great state. Currently, both residents and visitors are enjoying the many perks associated with regulated and legal poker as tourism and state funds increase.
Where To Play Land-Based Poker in Maine
Now that Maine residents have begun to experience the relief of relaxed gambling laws within their state, sanctioned casinos have been opening up to rave reviews and joy from the local populace. Poker players in Maine of course can engage in their favorite games of Hold ’em, Stud or Omaha within the comfort of their own homes or venture out to explore the new options where the stakes might be a lot higher. Indeed the pots are usually sweeter when walking into a large poker room which caters to large groups of people all at once as many Maine residents introduce themselves to the fresh heart-pumping action at such places as the Hollywood Casino Hotel and Raceway. Here, recent expansion has seen the inclusion of poker games on its previously horse racing only betting options. Players can buy into regular no-limit Texas Hold ’em games and take advantage of spur of the moment deals and promotions as the casino continues to surprise the public. A newer addition to the state is the recently licensed Oxford Casino which has undergone an immense expansion and is expected to have the finest poker room available in the State once all renovations are complete. It is an exciting time in the Pine Tree State as all of these poker playing options present themselves to a Maine public which has not had the pleasure of such establishments for a long, long time.
Note: This information should in no way be regarded as legal advice about online poker for USA players. We are simply a group of enthusiasts who have put up this site to debunk some myths about the legality of poker in Maine, and that's about it. The data is as of the beginning of 2012 and we cannot guarantee that the legal system won't change in future. You can safely play poker online these days but, should you need any further information, we would strongly advise you to consult with a lawyer.
