Background

Maine has a lottery and slot machines at racetracks.

Racinos

In 2004, voters approved slot macines for two racetrack facilities. Hollywood Slots in Bangor, Maine, opened in 2005. In 2010, voters approved a casino for Oxford County, as well. In 2012, the Oxford Casino opened.

Taxes: Gambling facilities are taxed at a rate of 1% of all gross gaming revenues, plus 39% of net revenues.

The revenues are divided as follows:

1% of Gross Revenues-General Fund for Board Administrative Expenses

39% of Net distributed as follows:

• 4% - General Fund for Board Administrative Expenses
• 10% - Harness Racing Purses
• 3% - Sire Stakes Fund
• 3% - Agricultural Fair Support Fund
• 10% - Healthy Maine
• 2% - University of Maine System Scholarship
• 1% - Maine Community College System Scholarships
• 4% - Fund to Encourage Racing at Maine Commercial Harness Racing Tracks
• 1% - Fund to Stabilize the State's Off-Track Betting Facilities
• 1% - City of Bangor, host municipality

For more information, see the Maine Gambling Control Board.

Lottery

Development: The Massachusetts State Lottery was established by the legislature in 1971 to provide revenues for the 351 cities and towns of the Commonwealth. The Lottery is operated by a 5­member commission that includes the State Treasurer as Chairperson, the Secretary of Public Safety, the State Comptroller, and two gubernatorial appointees.

Beneficiaries: After prizes and expenses, the remaining Lottery revenues are transferred to the the state's General Fund. General Fund contributions from the Maine State Lottery are redistributed by the Maine State Legislature and the Governor of Maine to over 250 various state programs and services that have a direct impact on the citizens of Maine. In addition, since 1996, the Maine State Lottery has transferred $15.8 million to the Outdoor Heritage Fund. This money, generated from the proceeds of certain $1 instant ticket games, has been helping to fund critical conservation and wildlife projects throughout Maine.

For more information see the Maine Lottery website.

Powered by GamblingCompliance.com. For current information, visit GamblingData.com.

Total revenue is total ticket sales sales plus interest earned on the lottery fund balance and miscellaneous revenue sources . Prize liability is the total amount of prize money paid back to winners. Net Revenue is the total revenue minus vendor and retailer commissions and prize payouts and operating expenses; it is equal to "operating income." Prize and net revenue percentages are taken from the total revenues.

Powered by GamblingCompliance.com. For current information, visit GamblingData.com.

Racino data (calendar year)

"Slots" is the total number of slot machines reported for the fiscal year in question. "Slot Revenue" is the total amount, in dollars, won by casinos. Win/Slot is the average win per slot machine for the year, "Win/Slot/Day" us the average win per slot machine per day for the fiscal year in question. "Hold %" is the average hold percentage for all slot machines for the fiscal year in question.

1973: Referendum to permit a state lottery passed

1974: On June 27, first lottery draw held

1980: “Pick 3 Daily Numbers” game debuts

1981: The weekly draw game is discontinued

1985: Maine, New Hampshire, and Vermont create the Tri-State Lotto Compact-the first multi-state lottery in the US.

1985: “Pick 4 Daily Numbers” game  and Tri-State "Megabucks" games are added

1992: Maine Legislature decides to merge the state's liquor and lottery operations into one administrative agency to be called the Bureau of Alcoholic Beverages and Lottery Operations (BABLO)

1994: First $2 Bingo Instant Ticket is released

2004: Voters approve slot machines at racetracks

2004: Maine joins the “Powerball” multi-state draw game

2005: Hollywood Slots in Bangor opens

2009: Maine joined the multi-jurisdictional jackpot game, Hot Lotto

2010: Maine joined the multi-jurisdictional jackpot game, Mega Millions

2010: Maine State Lottery surpasses the $1 billion mark in transfers to the State’s General Fund

2012: On June 6, the Oxford Casino opens in Oxford

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