Maine allows advance-deposit wagering (ADW) online on horse racing but requires operators to be licensed in the state, which has so far kept the four biggest operators – TwinSpires.com, TVG.com, NYRABets.com, and XpressBet.com – from serving horseplayers in the state. Among the smaller operators who do accept Mainers as customers are Hollywoodraces.com and WatchandWager.com.
The companies offer various signup bonuses and rewards programs to attract new customers, so it pays to shop around for the best deal for your level of play.
In Maine online horse racing betting is available to residents 18 or older.
Maine Horse Race Betting Sites & Offers
| Racebooks | Welcome Offer for Maine | Other Promos |
| WatchandWager.com | Bonus up to $25 | The weekly 3-2-1 Bonus, no maximum payouts on cashback |
| Hollywoodraces.com | $200 Sign Up Bonus | WINsurance Offers: refund up to $20 |
How to claim a horse racing bet promo in Maine?
Horse racing betting features for Maine
- Hollywood Races Maine Features:
- Free Expert Picks
- Loyalty program for top players (earn up to $200 in bonuses each week with the 2 VIP promotions)
- Watch and Wager Maine Features:
- Horse Racing Contests Daily for free
- Refer-a-Friend Bonus
Horse bet types available online
In Maine, you can place different types of horse wagers. The most popular online bets are
- Win (the horse you bet on must come first)
- Place (the horse must finish first or second)
- Show (the horse must come either first, second, or third)
- Win Place (places a win and a place bet in one bet)
- Win Show (places a win and show bet in one bet)
- Win Place Show (aka “across the board”; combines Win, Place and Show into one bet)
- Exacta (you bet on horses to come first and second in that order)
- Quinella (the same as exacta, but horses can finish in any order for you to win the bet)
- Trifecta (three horses should finish first, second and third in that order)
- Superfecta (the same as trifecta but here you bet on four horses)
- Super High 5 (you have to choose the winner of five races in a row)
- Grand Slam (pick a horse to finish in the top three in three straight races, capped by the winner of the fourth race in the sequence)
- Parlays (combine multiple selections on the same ticket, even if the races aren’t in sequential order).
Banking
- Credit and Debit Cards
- ACH Bank Transfer / eCheck
- Wire Transfer
- Green Dot
- PayNearMe
- Check or Money Order
- MoneyGram
- PayPal
- Mail: Hollywood Races
Maine Horse Betting Overview
Maine is generally not known for horse racing, though the state has a long history of harness racing that continues to this day in a diminished form.
The Pine Tree State has conducted organized horse racing of thoroughbreds and standardbreds – primarily the latter – dating back to the early 1800s. At one time late in the century, according to Stephen Thompson, founder of the nonprofit Lost Trotting Parks Heritage Center, at least 110 Maine towns had at least one trotting park and some had more than one.
Those heydays are distant memories now. Following the closure of Scarborough Downs, near Portland, in 2020, the state is down to one major track – Bangor Raceway – and several county fairs meets, all of which host standardbred trotters. A private operator has stepped into the void left by the closure of Scarborough Downs by conducting additional race days at the Cumberland County Fairgrounds in 2021cand has discussed plans to build a new racetrack in southern Maine.
The fair race meetings themselves are somewhat in flux because the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted racing in 2021. At least one fair recently abandoned racing because it could not cover the expenses.
The last thoroughbred races in the state were run in 1972 at Scarborough Downs.
The state also has a network of off-track betting (OTB) facilities in Bangor, Sanford Scarborough, Lewiston, Brunswick, and Waterville.
The state also has two licensed casinos and Bangor Raceway is a racino, meaning it has video slot-like machines in addition to simulcasting and live racing. State laws also allow lottery games and poker.
The Legislature has considered bills to legalize sports betting twice in the past two years and is expected to consider similar legislation again in 2022.
Fun fact about horse racing in Maine
Maine was home to one of the most famous trotters in U.S. history. Nelson 4209, was foaled in 1882 in Waterville and had a spectacular racing career, breaking numerous track records, before becoming a world’s champion trotting stallion in early 1890.
Popular horse racing events to bet on in Maine
- Harness Racing at Bangor Raceway
- The Kentucky Derby
- Belmont Stakes
- Preakness Stakes
- Breeders’ Cup
- Dubai World Cup
- Melbourne Cup
- Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe
- Grand National
Horse Race Tracks in Maine
- Bangor Raceway
- Cumberland County Fair
- Scarborough Downs (closed in 2020)
FAQs
Yes, it is legal to bet on horse racing online and via mobile apps in Maine.
Hollywoodraces.com and WatchandWager.com are available in Maine. TwinSpires, TVG, Xpressbet, and NYRABets don’t operate in the state.
No, the BetMGM Horse Racing App is not allowed in Maine.