Maine sports betting on hold until 2020
Hopes for the launch of sports betting in Maine have suffered a setback after the state’s Governor Janet Mills failed to sign legislation into law before the July 2 deadline.
Legislative Document 553 was one of 39 that the Governor decided to hold back for further review, meaning the bills have neither been signed, vetoed nor allowed to pass into law without her signature.
According to the state’s constitution, if the Governor does not act on legislation within ten days, it passes into law unless the legislature has been adjourned. With the legislature having adjourned on June 20, the bills are now effectively on hold until the legislature returns in January 2020.
At this point, Mills has three days to act, or the bill passes into law. She plans to review the unsigned bills over the coming months, before making a final decision.
“The Legislature has passed a significant number of bills this session, and I take seriously my constitutional obligation to thoroughly review all of them, evaluate their implications, and decide whether they are in the best interest of Maine people,” Mills explained.