Maine Casinos Up 12.5% in August, Illegal Gambling Operators Targets Maine Residents

Maine’s two casinos, Hollywood Casino and Oxford Casino, generated $15.4 million in revenue last month, up 12.5% year-on-year compared to the previous year’s figure of $13.7 million. 

Yet, despite seeing a successful month for the legal casino sector, Maine residents have been targeted by an illegal online gambling scam. Hollywood Casino in Bangor has recently warned residents about the rise in misleading ads claiming that the casino is now available online.  

The recent scam highlights ongoing concerns about the community being targeted by illegal gambling operators. In June, the Maine Gambling Control Unit (GCU) issued a warning about ‘numerous unregulated entities’ that continue to target Maine residents, offering iGaming, which is illegal in the state.   

Positives All Around for Maine Casinos

The latest report from the Maine Gambling Control Unit shows that of the total, slots generated $13.4 million, up 1.5% from the $12.1 million generated in August 2024. Table games also experienced a double-digit increase of 27%, with revenues rising from $1.6 million to just over $2 million. 

Of the two casinos in the state, both saw revenue rises year-on-year. Oxford Casino experienced the highest increase of 17.3%, with revenue rising from $7.9 million to $9.3 million, the highest in the state. 

Table games for Oxford Casino generated $1.1 million, an increase of $56% from the $688,930 generated in August 2024, despite the number of table games in the venue decreasing from 23 to 22. Slots also increased by 13.6%, with revenue rising from $7.2 million to $8.2 million.

Hollywood Casino also saw revenues rise modestly, from $5.8 million to $6.1 million. Slot revenue in August totaled $5.2 million, up 6% from $4.9 million the previous year, despite the casino's reduction in slot numbers from 648 to 618. 

Table games also experienced a similar rise of 5.2%, from $904,992.85 to $951,732.77 year-on-year. 

Hollywood Casino Warns Residents of Phone Scams 

While Hollywood Casino Bangor is experiencing revenue increases, it has recently had to warn Maine residents that fraudulent advertisements disguised as the casino were created.

Last month, an advertisement impersonating the casino made rounds on social media. The ad offered online gaming, which is currently illegal in the state, and even a $1500 bonus for Maine residents. 

The ad featured images of the Hollywood Casino and the Maine seal. The link took people to a website where they could download an app called Hollywood Casino Bangor, offered by Hollywood Casino Inc.

Officials have confirmed that neither the app nor the company name was connected to the casino.

“We have reported the ads, but they keep appearing, perhaps under different accounts or screen names, and we are getting questions about them almost every day from visitors as well as employees,” said Hollywood Casinos Vice-President and General Manager Marc Guastella. 

Only Horse Race Betting Allowed Online

Currently, the only online betting offered by the Hollywood Casino is an app called HollywoodRace, for horse racing in the state, which is legal in Maine. State lawmakers did introduce a bill that would legalize iGaming for the state’s four federally recognized tribes. Still, Governor Janet Mills hit pause on the legislation in July, with lawmakers having to wait until 2026 to consider the bill again.