A group of daily fantasy sports operators are no longer operating in Maine.
The Maine Gambling Control Unit (MGCU) has issued a public notice that five DFS operators are shuttering operations in the Pine Tree State after the group failed to renew their licenses. The operators exiting Maine’s DFS market are Underdog, Data Force, Bidventures, Boom Shakalaka and Sportshub. Maine is now home to six DFS operators which include DraftKings, FanDuel, Yahoo, RealTime Fantasy.
Maine regulator levies a hefty fine
Underdog leaving the Pine Tree State comes after the operator was fined $391,850 in October 2023 for alleged regulatory violations regarding its pick’em-style DFS contests.
The MGCU issued the fine allowing Underdog to file a petition for an adjudicatory hearing with the Commissioner of the Department of Public Safety.
The penalty came after a formal complaint by the MGCU that required Underdog to provide the regulator with information regarding its pick’em-style contests. Underdog, which began offering the contests in 2021, reported slightly over $1.4 million in total net revenue from its contests. The revenue came from 7,837 unique customers across the state.
Underdog’s fine represents a $50 fee for each of its unique customers in Maine.
Maine joins a nationwide trend
Maine adds to a growing list of states where DFS operators are exiting the market.
In February, the Arkansas Department of Finance and Administration sent cease and desist letters to Underdog and PrizePicks for their DFS contests, which violate Amendment 100 to the Arkansas Constitution for their resemblance to sports betting.
That same month, the Florida Gaming Control Commission ordered PrizePicks, Underdog, and Betr to shutter operations in the Sunshine State. Underdog also decided to shutter its paid contests in North Carolina amid its debut as a gambling operator in the state.
