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. One of the best sites available is Ignition Poker. There are no state laws that prohibit partaking in these games, and federal law doesn't criminalize the act of playing online poker in Maine either.
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.
Maine law is pretty clear that poker is gambling and is thus an illegal game. However, the law is equally explicit in stating that mere players in gambling games are not committing crimes. It is those who organize and profit from the games that are the targets of the law. Therefore, you have nothing to fear legally if you wish to head online and enjoy internet poker from Maine.
There are many options for real money poker online from Maine, which means that it's not always easy to find trustworthy sites for poker. Regardless of which of the below poker rooms you join, you'll be able to enjoy a variety of games and stakes, the prompt payment of your winnings, and a fair randomization of the deal.
Playing online poker in Maine is not difficult. We've provided simple instructions below for getting started at our #1 site, Ignition Poker. The exact steps for completing the process at another room may differ slightly but should be mostly the same.
None of the rooms for online poker in Maine are identical to each other. We've used our expertise to research them all, and we have evaluated them against each other according to a set of relevant criteria.
There are many poker variants, like Texas Hold'em, Omaha, Razz, Stud, and HORSE. The specific menu of games available is distinct at each site, and even those providers that offer the same variants seldom spread the same exact blind levels for each one.
There are plenty of other ways that these rooms differentiate their product lineups. Some sites have such intriguing formats as fast-fold poker, lottery-style sit-and-goes, step tournaments, and satellites to major live events.
If you prefer tried-and-true cashier methods, like credit cards and checks, you'll find plenty of ME online poker sites that cater to your desires. However, with the march of time, new methods, such as Bitcoin, have emerged, and we feel that it's better than legacy payment channels.
BTC enables rapid transaction timeframes combined with low fees. If you haven't yet experienced the benefits of Bitcoin, then you can read this instructional Bitcoin guide to learn how to get started.
When you make your first deposit at a poker site, you'll probably get a bonus that will clear as you play and add extra money to your balance. Then after that, you may be eligible for further bonuses on subsequent deposits, rake races, leaderboards, freerolls, and many other kinds of promotions.
Some promotions are offered month after month, and you can keep taking advantage of them as time goes on. Others are seasonal and are liable to change frequently.
Rakeback is a recurring rebate on the rake you pay at the tables, and it's one of the most valuable online poker promos you could get. We appreciate the benefits of rakeback so much that we have included it in our name, Professional Rakeback.
Here's a list of the best online poker rakeback sites:
For those who wish to get as much info as possible before committing themselves, we have provided below additional details about our recommended Maine online poker rooms. Read to find out more about these firms, and then make your selection.
Credit Card, Voucher Code, Bitcoin, Bitcoin Cash, Bitcoin SV, Litecoin, Ethereum, Tether, MatchPay
Ignition is the largest online cardroom open to Americans. Cash games start out in the micro-stakes and increase through to $10/$20. You can play NL Hold'em, PL Omaha (hi-only and split-pot), and Limit Holdem.
Fast-fold Zone Poker is present too along with lottery Jackpot SNGs and normal single-table games. The tournament schedule is headlined by a weekly $150,000 guaranteed event, and special tournaments that award millions in prize money pop up several times a year.
Ignition has anonymous games where nobody can see your username or get a bead on your long-term play. In addition, seats and tables are assigned by an automatic function, so you cannot choose tables based on who your opponents are. Some do not like this limitation, but it makes newcomers feel comfortable, leading to some soft tables.
You can play at Ignition on a Windows system, a Mac, an Android device, or an iOS machine. The first deposit bonus is 150% up to $1,500 if you deposit with crypto-currency.
Credit Cards, Person to Person, Money Orders, Bank Wire, Cashiers Check, Bitcoin, Avalanche, Binance, Bitcoin Cash, Cardano, Dogecoin, Ethereum, Litecoin, Polygon, Ripple, Shiba Inu, Solana, Stellar, Tether, Tron, USD Coin
SB Poker and its partner site BetOnline are fine destinations for ring games up to $5/$10, Windfall lottery tournaments, Boost fast-fold games, and more. Cash tables are offered for NLHE, PLO, PLO/8, and 5 and 6 Card Omaha. There are separate Bad Beat Jackpots for each blind level of NLHE and PLO ring games. One drawback, though, is the high rake.
Promotions include occasional reload bonuses, leaderboards in various game formats, contests and missions, and the RISE rewards program.
There are downloads available for Windows and Mac, and this poker room also works nearly flawlessly on mobile phones and tablets. The first deposit bonus is a 100% up to $1,000 match, and there are plenty of casino and sportsbook welcome offers too.
Credit Card, Voucher Code, Bitcoin, Bitcoin Cash, Bitcoin SV, Litecoin, Ethereum, Tether, MatchPay
Bovada is a partner of Ignition, and the poker platform is virtually identical at the two sites. However, Bovada lets you bet on sports, which is not possible at Ignition.
All the major professional sports leagues, like NFL, NHL, and MLB, are covered, and you can also bet on collegiate athletics and all manner of other contests, like political elections and DOTA matches. A racebook is included, so you can make your straight and exotic wagers on races in the United States and around the world.
Bovada software runs on Mac and Windows operating systems, and there's also a web-based interface for mobile users. New poker customers can claim a 100% up to $500 bonus, another $3,750 for casino games, and $750 to engage in sports betting.
Credit Cards, Bitcoin, Litecoin, Ethereum, Tether, Money Transfer
ACR Poker has cash games as low as $0.01/$0.02 as well as stratospheric tables of $25/$50 and even higher. There are a few niche poker variants here that aren't found at every site, like 7 Card Stud.
Where ACR truly shines is in its tournament selection. A few times per year, there are series that hand out seven or eight figures in prize money as well as a recurring Venom event that guarantees no less than $5 million!
You can run the ACR software on a PC or Mac, and there's also a mobile client. We've partnered with the site to provide a $10 no deposit bonus unlocked with the bonus code PRB10FREE. Then when you're prepared to deposit your own funds, you'll get a 100% up to $2,000 bonus.
Bitcoin, Ethereum, Tether, CHP, Polygon, BNB
Of the numerous crypto-centered poker sites available, CoinPoker is the busiest. Poker play is denominated in Tether (USDT), but you can utilize a few other coins for cashier functions, like Ethereum, Bitcoin, and CHP, CoinPoker's proprietary coin.
The poker variants offered include NL Hold'em, PL Omaha, and 5 Card Omaha. Unfortunately, there are no standard sit n' gos, but lottery-style Cosmic Spins are present.
The CoinPoker software is widely compatible with numerous operating systems. You can play on any Windows, Mac, Android, or iOS device. CoinPoker currently offers new players a welcome bonus of 150% up to $2,000. Additionally, you'll get 33% rakeback every week if you maintain a balance of the proprietary CHP crypto coin.
Credit Card, Bitcoin, Bitcoin Cash, Lightning Bitcoin, Litecoin
Traffic levels at Everygame are a bit light, particularly in high stakes, but it should suffice if you like to play just a couple of games at once. This site shines in other ways, though, such as in the variety of bankroll-boosting offers available. For starters, you can get 36% rakeback by following our links and then compete in weekly rake races, join tournaments with frequent overlays, and advance through the loyalty program.
The full Everygame poker software is compatible only with Windows, but there's an Instant Play version on the web that permits you to play on a Mac, mobile device, or tablet. The initial deposit bonus is 200% up to $1,000.
Bitcoin
All poker play and cashier operations at SwC are done utilizing Bitcoin. The games offered are quite varied featuring all of the usual poker formats, like NLHE and PLO, and also fairly obscure types of poker, like H.O.R.S.E., Razz, and Open Face Chinese.
SwCPoker offers HTML5, browser-based software, that is compatible with any modern computing device. There are also downloadable clients available for PC, Mac, and Android users. Although SwC doesn't extend any deposit bonus, you can receive up to 50% rakeback through the Krill rewards program.
Bitcoin, Bitcoin Cash, Litecoin, Ethereum, Tether, USD Coin, BNB
Nitrobetting is a crypto-only poker room with NL Hold'em and PL Omaha games. The Nitrobetting poker software runs in a web browser, so you can access it on any modern computing device. There's no poker bonus, but you can earn up to 35% rakeback depending on your monthly volume of play.
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.
Maine has two casinos, but unfortunately, neither of them has a poker room. Hollywood Casino Bangor used to have a small, four-table cardroom, but it closed during COVID and has not yet reopened.
Apart from lotteries to distribute land and fund civic improvements, there's wasn't much gambling in the early history of Maine. An exception was the waterfront district called The Devil's Half Acre in Bangor, which served up booze, prostitution, and gambling to visiting sailors during the 19th century.
As far as legally allowed types of gambling, the first was charitable bingo in 1943, followed by a state lottery in 1973. Things were quiet for a while, but then in 2004, racetracks were allowed to install slots and become racinos, and this is what Bangor Raceway did, becoming Hollywood Slots. In 2012, the state's first commercial casino (Oxford Casino) was opened. 2017 saw the legalization of Daily Fantasy Sports, and traditional sports betting came in 2022.
There isn't really a live poker economy in Maine, and the state isn't a densely populated one by any means. It therefore makes sense that only a few notable poker pros call it home. Among them are Spencer Champlin of Scarborough, who has $2.8 million in live tourney winnings to his credit, and Matt Woodward, originally from Waterboro, with $2.7 million.
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.
Online poker in Maine is a fine form of recreation particularly when it's cold outside and you'd rather remain indoors. There are no laws penalizing Maine online poker players, so you can enjoy the game with perfect security. Choose one of our recommended sites for poker online in the State of Maine, and start building up your winnings today.
We here at ProfessionalRakeback find online poker to be a fun, engaging, and intellectually stimulating hobby. However, we recognize that some players struggle with gambling addiction and internet poker might be detrimental to their lives and health. If you think you might have a problem, then you can check out the following resources:
Maine's citizens oftentimes have questions regarding online poker that they don't have the answers to. That's why we've created this FAQ - to address any concerns our readers may harbor.
Yes, it's legal to play online poker in Maine. The state's gambling laws contain a carveout specifically exempting mere players from being prosecuted. The federal laws also only affect those who run and manage the sites rather than individual players. Thus, you're perfectly safe legally if you wish to engage in Maine online poker from the comfort of your home.
Yes, Pokerstars is a legal Maine online poker room. Nevertheless, you cannot play here for real money because PokerStars only offers play money tables in Maine.
The explanation lies in Black Friday during which PokerStars was one of the main targets of the authorities. In order to clear its name, the company had to pay a huge fine and agree to stop serving the unregulated U.S. market.
Therefore, PokerStars only provides real money poker services in those states for which it is explicitly licensed to do so. As of June 2013, these states are Michigan, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania. While there's hope that Maine may someday join these jurisdictions in granting PokerStars a license to operate, it hasn't happened yet, and so you'll need to find another option for Maine online poker in the meantime.
Maine has three distinct gambling ages depending on the type of activity involved. For casino gaming, including poker, the minimum is 21 years old, which is also the case for sports betting. However, younger people are allowed to participate in parimutuel wagering and purchase lottery tickets so long as they're older than 18. Perhaps because of its beneficent objectives, bingo is available to anyone 16 or older.
These kinds of nuanced distinctions are largely ignored by online poker rooms perhaps because it would be too much effort to establish separate terms and conditions for every form of gambling and each jurisdiction around the world. Instead, they use 18 as their guideline. If you're above 18, you can register an account and play, but you are prohibited from doing so if you're below this age.
If you are underage, we caution you to resist the urge to falsify your personal details and play anyway. You will likely have trouble when it's time to verify your identity, and it may prove impossible for you to withdraw any of your winnings. In addition, your account will probably be terminated and your entire balance confiscated.
All destinations for online poker in Maine support several convenient mechanisms for making deposits and requesting payouts. Credit cards, checks, and bank wires are some of the most popular options.
However, probably the best way to move your money around for poker and other types of online gaming is by using Bitcoin. This digital currency is widely appreciated for its independence from traditional banking systems, fast transaction speeds, and relatively low fees. In recent years, other crypto-currencies, like Ethereum and Bitcoin Cash, have been gaining acceptance in the world of online poker too, and they are even better than legacy Bitcoin is certain ways.
You will owe both Maine and Federal income taxes on your online poker winnings. Maine Revenue Services and the Internal Revenue Service expect to collect their cut of the action.
It will be up to you to calculate and pay what you owe because offshore poker rooms don't generally provide detailed tax paperwork. If you're uncertain of the amount of your tax liability from online poker earnings, then you ought to meet with a qualified CPA or tax lawyer.
Yes, almost all internet poker rooms have solutions available for those using phones or tablets. At some sites, this takes the form of dedicated mobile apps to download to your device. At others, you can log in via a web interface that's compatible with virtually every device and web browser in existence.
Some of the better mobile poker apps carry the full menu of games present on the desktop version of the software. At others, though, only a stripped-down version of the poker client is available. Moreover, multi-tabling is generally difficult on a mobile system even when it is possible. This is why we recommend playing on the desktop version whenever possible.
To find out more about gambling in Maine, you can head over to the following resources:
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!
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