Real Money Online Poker in Maine - legal & trusted sites in 2023

Can I play online poker in Maine? The answer is yes!

Is it legal to play online poker in Maine? The answer to this is also yes!

Maine is a state that might not be the center of attention to most in the United States, but that doesn’t mean that it lacks a population that wants to play poker or gamble on their favorite sports. The state government of Maine has not given its citizens the ability to do this easily.

Offshore sites have come to the rescue though by hosting online poker Maine citizens can access. There are no state laws that prohibit partaking of these games, and federal law doesn't criminalize the act of playing online poker in Maine either.

Below we have compiled a list of the best and most trustworthy Maine online poker sites available. Take a look to find your perfect gambling solution.

Before jumping headfirst into the sites for online poker in Maine, it's important that you do a little bit of homework first. While most of the groups that provide thrilling card game action are completely honest and reliable, there are a few that don't have your best interests at heart.

Fortunately, we've gone through them all to separate the wheat from the chaff. No matter which of the below poker rooms you elect to play at, you'll be treated to smoothly running software, fair dealing and shuffling algorithms, and the faithful payout of your withdrawals. Read on for accurate information on all the legitimate Maine online poker sites.

1

IGNITION

BONUS:

150% up to $1,500

★★★★★

4.5 / 5

BEST ME ONLINE POKER SITE WITH THE MOST TRAFFIC

NETWORK:

PAIWANGLUO

EXTRAS

CASINO

MORE INFO

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You ought to seriously think about playing at Ignition Poker because it's the largest online poker site open to residents of Maine. NL Hold'em, Limit Hold'em, PLO, and PLO/8 are available across a wide range of blind and buy-in levels. Ignition also features fast-fold Zone Poker tables, numerous multi-table tournaments, sit-and-gos, and lotto-style Jackpot SNGs. Recurring tournament series also run with regularity as does the Sunday $150,000 Guaranteed, which is held every week.

Ignition offers a downloadable poker client for Windows and Mac users. Players wishing to use other hardware, like mobile devices, can access the poker room through any modern browser. The first-time poker bonus is equal to 100% of your deposit up to $1,000, and Bitcoin depositors can receive 150% up to $1,500. Similar promotions are available for casino gaming as well.

VISIT IGNITION POKER NOW

2

SB POKER

BONUS:

100% up to $1,000

★★★★★

4.4 / 5

BEST ME ONLINE POKER SITE FOR BAD BEAT JACKPOT

NETWORK:

CHICO

EXTRAS

CASINO, SPORTSBOOK

MORE INFO

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SB Poker hosts a variety of standard cash games, like NL Hold'em, PLO, and PLO/8. Other interesting game types on offer include fast-fold Boost tables, sit-and-gos, multi-table tournaments, and Windfall lotto-style SNGs. SB Poker is also one of the few online operators still offering Bad Beat Jackpots, which sometimes reach heights of $1 million. Keep an eye out for other valuable promotions, like missions and leaderboards, as well!

SB Poker has created poker clients available on almost all devices, including Windows, Mac, Android, and iOS. Also offered is a web-based browser option that is compatible with almost any modern device. New players can receive a deposit bonus of 100% up to $1,000!

VISIT SB POKER NOW

3

BETONLINE

BONUS:

100% up to $1,000

★★★★★

4.3 / 5

BEST ME ONLINE POKER SITE FOR MOBILE USERS

NETWORK:

CHICO

EXTRAS

CASINO, SPORTSBOOK

MORE INFO

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BetOnline is very similar to SB Poker with both sites utilizing the Chico Poker Network for poker operations. Therefore, the poker offerings are largely identical across both websites, and the player pool is shared. BOL boasts an excellent mobile application featuring the full bevy of games available on the desktop client. In addition, you can also bet on numerous sports and play a wide variety of casino games.

BoL offers a downloadable poker client that works on any PC or Mac system. The full-featured mobile poker client is available on Android and iOS devices, so you can enjoy plenty of action on the go. Head over to BetOnline today and you'll get a poker bonus worth 100% of your first deposit up to $1,000. Be sure to check out the attached casino and sportsbook as well to receive further bonuses and promotions.

VISIT BETONLINE NOW

4

BOVADA

BONUS:

100% up to $500

★★★★★

4.2 / 5

BEST ME ONLINE POKER SITE FOR SPORTS & CASINO

NETWORK:

PAIWANGLUO

EXTRAS

CASINO, SPORTSBOOK

MORE INFO

READ REVIEW

Bovada is a partner site of Ignition Poker, so the poker offerings are virtually identical across the two websites. However, Bovada allows you to wager on sports, a benefit that Ignition lacks. At Bovada, you can wager on plenty of major sporting events, like football, basketball, and baseball matches, as well as more obscure events, like political elections and eSports. You can also bet on horse races from over a hundred tracks all over the world.

The Bovada Poker software operates on Mac and Windows devices, and you can utilize a web-based poker interface to play on other hardware, like tablets and smartphones. Head over to Bovada today and you'll get a poker bonus worth 100% of your first deposit up to $500. Visit the attached casino and sportsbook as well to access additional, valuable promotions.

VISIT BOVADA NOW

5

ACR POKER

BONUS:

100% up to $2,000

★★★★★

4.1 / 5

BEST ME ONLINE POKER SITE WITH FREE BANKROLL OFFER

NETWORK:

WINNING

FREE

$10

MORE INFO

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ACR Poker has grown to become the #2 spot for internet poker accessible from Maine. ACR boasts the largest selection of multi-table tournaments available to Americans as well as sit-and-gos, micro-stakes through high-stakes cash games, and recurring tournament series, like the VENOM and the Online Super Series. Weekly leaderboards for sit-and-gos and cash games can also help to boost your bankroll.

The ACR poker client supports Windows and Mac devices, but mobile compatibility is restricted to only a few game types. Use our exclusive ACR bonus code PRB10FREE to get a $10 no deposit bonus and a 100% up to $2,000 bonus on your first deposit.

VISIT ACR POKER NOW

6

COIN POKER

BONUS:

100% up to $700

★★★★★

4.0 / 5

BEST ME ONLINE POKER SITE FOR CRYPTO GAMING

NETWORK:

STANDALONE

EXTRAS

33% RAKEBACK

MORE INFO

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CoinPoker is the largest online crypto-only poker site available, and it is growing very quickly. Poker play here is denominated using Tether (USDT), but there are a few additional cryptocurrencies available to deposit and withdraw your funds, like Ethereum and Bitcoin. The poker formats on offer here include NL Hold'em, PLO, and 5 Card Omaha. Leaderboards for cash game and SNG players serve to reward dedicated grinders.

The CoinPoker client is compatible with a wide variety of devices and operating systems, so you can play from any Mac, Windows, Android, or iOS machine. You can also benefit from three deposit bonuses, including a 100% bonus of up to $700, a 100% bonus worth up to $300, and a 100% bonus of up to $100. You can also receive 33% ongoing rakeback if you hold a balance of the unique CHP crypto token.

VISIT COIN POKER NOW

7

EVERYGAME

BONUS:

200% up to $1,000

★★★★★

3.9 / 5

BEST ME ONLINE POKER SITE FOR RAKEBACK

NETWORK:

HORIZON

EXTRAS

CASINOS, SPORTSBOOK

MORE INFO

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Everygame is not as large as the other rooms discussed in this article, but the value in playing here lies in the excellent promotional offers available to players. They can receive 36% rakeback and can take advantage of numerous other extras, including rake races, frequent reload bonuses, and overlay tournaments. Everygame also offers an excellent VIP program for high-volume grinders.

Everygame Poker can be downloaded and enjoyed on any Windows PC. Everygame also offers browser-based software that allows users to play on virtually any modern tablet, mobile device, Mac, or PC. New players can take advantage of a welcome bonus equal to 200% of the first deposit up to $1,000.

VISIT EVERYGAME NOW

8

SWCPOKER

BONUS:

NONE

★★★★★

3.6 / 5

BEST ME ONLINE SITE FOR # OF POKER VARIANTS

NETWORK:

STANDALONE

EXTRAS

FREEROLLS

MORE INFO

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SwCPoker operates its poker room utilizing Bitcoin, and it is in fact an offshoot of the first-ever BTC poker room, SealsWithClubs. The poker on offer here is impressively varied. Of course, all of the standard games, like NLH and PLO are available, as well as somewhat obscure variants, like HORSE, Open Face Chinese, and Razz. Micro-stakes games up to $0.10/$0.20 in blinds aren't subjected to any rake, and frequent freerolls can assist you in boosting your bankroll.

SwCPoker offers browser-based poker software that is compatible with almost any computing device. Downloadable software is also available for Mac, PC, and Android users. Although SwCPoker doesn't offer a first deposit bonus, you can earn up to 50% ongoing rakeback through the Krill rewards program.

VISIT SWCPOKER

9

NITROBETTING

BONUS:

100% up to 25 mBTC

★★★★★

3.3 / 5

BEST ME ONLINE POKER SITE FOR BITCOINERS

NETWORK:

STANDALONE

EXTRAS

CASINO, SPORTSBOOK

MORE INFO

READ REVIEW

Nitrobetting is a Bitcoin-only poker room that offers plenty of poker variants in addition to a casino and sportsbook. No “altcoins” are in play here, creating a streamlined and straightforward experience. NL Hold'em, PL Omaha, Crazy Hold'em, and 6+ Hold'em are all available across multiple stakes and buy-in levels. Frequent freerolls provide players with a chance to win without losing any of their own funds.

The Nitrobetting software runs in any web browser, so you can jump into the action from almost any modern device. You'll get a poker bonus worth 100% of your initial deposit up to a maximum of 25mBTC. You'll also earn benefits via the Nitro rewards program based on your play.

VISIT NITROBETTING NOW

How to Choose the Best Maine Poker Site For Your Style of Play

Every site for online poker in the Maine market has its own strengths and drawbacks. This being the case, we can't really promote any one of them as the unquestioned best. You'll have to ponder your own playing habits and preferences as you identify the room that will likely leave you the happiest. While we can't make the final decision for you, we can point out a few things that you would be wise to consider as you contemplate your options.

How Do I Receive Withdrawals and Payouts?

Whenever it's time to request a cashout of your winnings, you can rest assured that every one of the sites we've discussed today is ready to send you a check. There may in fact be extra payout methods available, like debit cards and bank wires, depending on the site.

One of the payment networks that has been growing in popularity lately is Bitcoin. All our recommended Maine online poker rooms transact in Bitcoin, the premier digital currency in the world. By making BTC money transfers, you can avoid the waiting times and fees inherent in many traditional withdrawal processors. If you're curious about Bitcoin but have never used it before, then our guide to Bitcoin online poker may be just what you need.

Alternatives to Registering Your Account in the State of Maine

Perhaps you are lucky enough to have another address in a nearby state, be it your business address, summer home, second apartment, family home, etc. If so, then you may have additional online poker options available to you. Here is a list of the states that border Maine and Professional Rakeback's review on each of them: Connecticut, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York, Rhode Island, and Vermont. If these few states don't especially appeal to you but you have dealings elsewhere in the United States, then our page describing the scene for online poker in the U.S. may be just what you've been looking for.

Many Mainers are ignorant of the possibility of playing online poker on their computers. If you have any friends or family members that you think would be interested in engaging in this entertaining pastime, then please think about sharing this page with them and helping to spread knowledge of poker.

Facts About Maine Poker Industry

This section aims to provide accurate information detailing the legality of online poker, live gambling choices, current and potential state regulation, and the history involving gambling throughout the state of Maine.

The Legality of Online Poker in Maine

If you're wondering about the legality or illegality of the Maine laws regarding online poker, then it's time to head over to the primary source: the Maine Revised Statutes. There's nothing specifically referencing card games played online, so we'll have to review the general Maine statutes regarding gambling in general and then try to work out how they apply to online poker. They're contained in Title 17A - Maine Criminal Code, Chapter 39, Unlawful Gambling.

First of all, let's look at a few key definitions from §952. Gambling is defined as follows:

A person engages in gambling if he stakes or risks something of value upon the outcome of a contest of chance or a future contingent event not under his control or influence, upon an agreement or understanding that he or someone else will receive something of value in the event of a certain outcome. Gambling does not include bona fide business transactions valid under the law of contracts, including but not limited to contracts for the purchase or sale at a future date of securities or commodities, and agreements to compensate for loss caused by the happening of chance, including but not limited to contracts of indemnity or guaranty and life, health or accident insurance.

This is a pretty straightforward passage that's very similar to what other states have listed in their law books. Whether or not poker falls into the category of gambling depends on what “a contest of chance” is. Let's consider what Maine has to say about this:

"Contest of chance" means any game, contest, scheme or device in which:
A. A person stakes or risks something of value for the opportunity to win something of value;
B. The rules of operation or play require an event the result of which is determined by chance, outside the control of the contestant or participant; and
C. Chance enters as an element that influences the outcome in a manner that can not be eliminated through the application of skill.

There seems to be some wiggle room for poker here especially because of the phrases “outside the control of the contestant or participant” and “in a manner that can not be eliminated through the application of skill.” However, the text continues by stating:

For the purposes of this subsection, "an event the result of which is determined by chance" includes but is not limited to a shuffle of a deck or decks of cards [emphasis added], a roll of a die or dice or a random drawing or generation of an object or objects that may include, but are not limited to, a card or cards, a die or dice, a number or numbers or simulations of any of these.

The fact that outcomes that depend on a deck of shuffled cards are included as chance-based endeavors is not good news for those who would argue that poker is a game of skill as decided in 2012 by federal judge Jack B. Weinstein. The final few words of this passage, “or simulations of any of these,” even closes the possible loophole of arguing that generating an array of values through random number algorithms doesn't really count as “shuffling.” It's extremely likely, nearly a certainty, that online poker is treated as gambling by the ME legal authorities.

Let's look then at the penalties for engaging in the pastime. §954 shows how the state views unlawful gambling:

1. Any person is guilty of unlawful gambling if that person intentionally or knowingly advances or profits from unlawful gambling activity.
1-A. A person is guilty of unlawful gambling if the person is under 21 years of age and plays a slot machine as defined in Title 8, section 1001, subsection 39.
2. Unlawful gambling is a Class D crime.
3. A person convicted of a violation under this section must forfeit to the State all income associated with that violation.

An individual who “intentionally or knowingly advances or profits from unlawful gambling activity” could be found guilty of unlawful gambling. We need to turn back to the definitions section to see what this means:

“Advance gambling activity.” A person “advances gambling activity” if, acting other than as a player or a member of the player's family residing with a player in cases in which the gambling takes place in their residence [emphasis added], he engages in conduct that materially aids any form of gambling activity. Conduct of this nature includes, but is not limited to, bookmaking, conduct directed toward the creation or establishment of the particular game, contest, scheme, device or activity involved, toward the acquisition or maintenance of premises, paraphernalia, equipment or apparatus therefore, toward the solicitation or inducement of persons to participate therein, toward the actual conduct of the playing phases thereof, toward the arrangement of any of its financial or recording phases, or toward any other phase of its operation. A person also advances gambling activity if, having substantial proprietary control or other authoritative control over premises being used with his knowledge for purposes of gambling activity, he permits that activity to occur or continue, or makes no effort to prevent its occurrence or continuation.

“Profit from gambling activity.” A person “profits from gambling activity” if, other than as a player, [emphasis added] he accepts or receives money or other property pursuant to an agreement or understanding with any person whereby he participates or is to participate in the proceeds of gambling activity.

As we can see, Maine has exemptions written into its legal framework for people who are merely players. This means that there's no chance of your being prosecuted in Maine for enjoying online poker games.

Even 1-A, which deals with underage gaming, is specifically applicable to only slot machines, not poker, although we certainly wouldn’t advise you to gamble for real money on the internet if you're below the legal age.

Those who are actively running gaming enterprises are, however, subject to being charged and punished under the ME gambling laws. Besides the Class D crimes that they might be convicted of for unlawful gambling, they could also be found culpable of aggravated unlawful gambling, possession of gambling devices, and/or possession of gambling records.

The worst of these is aggravated unlawful gambling, which is a Class B crime and punishable by up to 10 years in prison and a fine as high as $20,000. The rest of these offenses are Class D crimes, and the penalties attached to them are imprisonment for less than a year and a fine of $2,000 or less.

All of the offshore real money poker sites have retained the services of professional counsel who have undoubtedly informed them that the chances of having to face any of these charges in a Maine courtroom are extremely remote. None of the internet poker rooms that serve the United States have blocked Mainers from becoming customers.

Within the explanatory verbiage contained in the definitions paragraphs (§952), we discover that “'Unlawful' means not expressly authorized by statute.” Thus, the forms of real money gaming that are permitted by other parts of the ME law are legal. They include charitable bingo and raffles, pari-mutuel betting, the Maine Lottery, and commercial casinos.

Live Gambling

Although it hasn't traditionally been a heavy gambling state, Maine does have a decent menu of real money offline gambling options. Pari-mutuel wagering is possible at horse racing venues, of which the largest is Scarborough Downs, and several off-track betting locations dot the state.

The Maine Lottery has been going strong since 1974. Charitable bingo (called “beano” in Maine and most of the rest of New England) and raffles are allowed to qualifying organizations that obtain the appropriate licenses.

There is one “racino” along with one commercial casino. The only one with a poker room is Hollywood Casino in Bangor, but this venue was closed during the coronavirus pandemic, and as of June 2023, the poker room has not yet reopened.

State Regulation

Maine hasn't by any stretch of the imagination been averse to real money gambling, but it has taken a cautious approach. There's only one commercial casino and one racino, so there aren't exactly a ton of existing operators clamoring to be able to offer Maine poker online.

The passage of daily fantasy sports legislation in July 2017 and the legalization of retail and online sportsbooks in 2022 are good signs, but there are reasons why licensed internet poker may face significant challenges.

It has historically been the case that states operate ring-fenced online gaming markets first before trying to expand player volumes with interstate compacts, but the prospect of a Maine-only player pool doesn't seem sustainable. The population of the state is just over 1.3 million: not really enough for bustling online cash games and large tournaments.

We can't definitively rule out state-regulated online poker in Maine appearing in the next decade or so, but it does seem to be a longshot.

History of Gambling in Maine

Maine's gambling history dates very far back. Even before Europeans arrived, traditional gambling pastimes were common.

The game of waltes was popular among the Penobscot, Passamaquoddy, and other native tribes in the area. Players took turns flipping six flat dice in a bowl.

If all of the dice or five of them landed with the same face up, then the player scored points and got to go again; otherwise, it was the turn of the next player. There were bonuses for getting multiple winning combinations in a row. They kept score with counting sticks, and periodically, the participants would settle up by tallying everyone's sticks and exchanging them for the agreed-upon stakes.

Early European settlement of Maine started in the 1600s, and there were frequent skirmishes between the English, French, and Dutch for control. In 1652, it was attached to the Massachusetts colony, but because it was sparsely populated and physically separated from the rest of Massachusetts, it was tough to enforce existing puritanical laws against gaming. Perhaps for the same reasons, however, we know little about what types of real money gambling occurred in Maine during the colonial period.

What's certain is that the authorities often resorted to lotteries for raising public funds because they didn't cause anger amongst voters as direct taxation did. In 1758, a lottery was held for the purpose of generating funds to build a bridge across the Saco and Presumpscot rivers. In 1786, a land lottery sought to dispose of 2,760 lots of public land scattered throughout Maine, but participation was dismal because most of the land consisted of unwanted leftovers that had not been claimed earlier.

Map Showing Some of the Lots to Be Distributed in Maine via Lottery, c. 1758

Even after the Revolution, Maine was still a part of Massachusetts until 1820 when it was admitted as the 23rd state. Maine was thus now able to conduct lotteries under its own authority, but this soon came to an end when the state banned lotteries in 1834.

For most of the rest of the 19th century, there wasn't really a bustling real money gambling scene in Maine. A rare exception was in Bangor where a riverfront district known as The Devil's Half Acre catered to transient loggers and sailors. Here, madams, saloonkeepers, and gambling hall owners were all waiting to separate visitors from their cash.

Things were quiet on the legalized gaming front until 1935, which saw the authorization of pari-mutuel wagering on horse races. In 1943, charitable bingo games were legalized. In 1973, voters approved the creation of a lottery, and the Maine Lottery started selling tickets the next year.

The Penobscot High Stakes Bingo Hall opened for business in 1973 in Old Town as one of the first tribal gaming halls in the country. Because it only offers Class II games, like bingo and pull tabs, it can operate without a compact from the state. Throughout the next few decades, the Penobscot and other federally recognized Maine tribes tried to get approval for Class III games, like blackjack and poker, but their efforts have been periodically blocked by either the legislature or the governor.

The Passamaquoddy sued in the '90s to compel Maine to negotiate a compact under the provisions of the 1988 federal Indian Gaming Regulatory Act, but a U.S. Court of Appeals decided against them in 1996. The court reasoned that tribal-state relations in Maine were governed by the Maine Indian Claims Settlement Act of 1980, which prohibits such gaming, and that the IGRA did not overturn this previous act.

In 2004, a law was passed allowing slot machines at racetracks, and the Bangor Raceway became Hollywood Slots. In a 2010 referendum, Mainers approved of the construction of Oxford Casino as the state's first commercial casino, and it opened its doors in 2012. Also in 2012, the Hollywood Casino was allowed to host table games in addition to the slots it had previously featured.

In July 2017, Maine legalized daily fantasy sports with firms having to pay licensing fees or application fees along with a tax of 10% if their revenue from the state exceeds $100,000 in a year. Maine legalized betting on sports with LD 585 in 2022. This law authorizes both brick-and-mortar and online sportsbooks.

Below, you will find a compiled timeline detailing the history of gambling and poker to occur within the state of Maine.

Famous Poker Players From Maine

Maine is a kind of out-of-the-way and sparsely populated state, so it's perfectly understandable that its residents haven't exactly taken the poker world by storm. Still, there are a few individuals from the Pine Tree State who have make their mark on the game. Perhaps the most successful of them is Matt Woodward from Waterboro.

Matt Woodward

Although there isn't much info publicly available about Woodward's early years, we do know that he competed in football at the high school level and was a swimmer during his college years at UMass. First appearing on the live tournament scene in 2005, he enjoyed a few minor cashes per year until 2009 when he made the largest score of his career with a second place finish in the €10,600 EPT Monte Carlo Grand Final for €1,300,000 ($1,709,312).

Since then, Matt has been a fixture on the tourney scene and has collected more than 50 cashes to his credit. Woodward's career total from live poker tournaments exceeds $2.6 million: the highest of any player from Maine.

Other Types of Online Gambling in Maine

Maine is not well known for offering live, in-person gambling. With only two casinos in the state, many folks are looking for an alternative to gamble online from the comfort of their own home. Fortunately, there are plenty of online casinos and sportsbooks to choose from. Our expert team has narrowed down the field to only the best and most trusted options for online casinos and sportsbooks in Maine. Our top recommendations can be found below.

Online Casinos

There are only two live casinos in the entire State of Maine. Unless you happen to live near one of them, you may be better served by heading online to one of the many international online casinos that offer blackjack, roulette, slots, and just about any other kind of real money game you could think of.

We have evaluated these organizations and have winnowed them down to three that provide a superb overall experience.

1. Cafe Casino - Special ProfRB Bonus of 350% up to $5,000

2. Wild Casino - Bonuses on First 5 Deposits – up to $9,000 Total

3. Ignition Casino - Bitcoin Welcome Bonus of 150% up to $1,500

Click over to the page dedicated to trustworthy online casinos for information on other destinations for online casino gaming in Maine.

Online Sportsbooks

State leaders in Augusta finally passed sports betting leglislation in 2022, but we're still waiting on the appearance of the first legal Maine sportsbooks. Therefore, you'll need to head over to an offshore bookmaker if you like to place bets on sports.

There are dozens, perhaps hundreds, of sportsbooks to choose from, but we have come up with a shortlist of three of them that are honorable and fair.

1. Bovada Sports - 75% up to $750 Bonus for Crypto Users

2. Sportsbetting.ag - Up to $1,000 Match Bonus and Reloads for Life

3. Everygame Sports - Get a $250 Bonus on You First Deposits

There are other dependable places to bet on sports online, and you can research them by clicking over to this page about the leading offshore sportsbooks for the United States.

BACK TO TOP

We strive to maintain this information and update it frequently with our research. However, we are not immune to making mistakes or omitting information that you, dear reader, may find of use. If you have any further questions not addressed in this guide or have noted any discrepancies or inaccuracies we urge you to contact us with your questions and concerns so that we may swiftly address them!