Gambling expansion advocates, foes face off
Advocates and opponents of expanding gambling in the state faced off before a legislative committee Wednesday, arguing about the potential economic ramifications of expanding the gaming industry in the state.
The Bangor Daily News reported that representatives from Oxford Casino and Hollywood Casino testified against a proposal by the owners of Scarborough Downs to add a casino to the harness racing track. Track owner Sharon Terry told lawmakers on the Veterans and Legal Affairs Committee that track revenue has dropped 21.8% since slots opened in Bangor and that the trend has been exacerbated by the opening of Oxford Casino. Representatives of the Oxford and Hollywood casinos told lawmakers expanding gaming in the state would only fracture the market and put existing casinos at risk.
Lawmakers also discussed other proposals for expanding gaming in the state, including bills to allow the Houlton Band of Maliseets to operate slots and table games in Houlton, to allow the Passamaquoddy Tribe to operate slots and table games at the tribe’s beano operation in Washington County and to allow nonprofit and veterans’ organizations to operate up to five slot machines at their headquarters.
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