Senate kills six bills to expand gambling
The Maine Senate has delivered a final blow to six bills to expand gambling in the state, including proposals backed by various American Indian tribes and from owners of Scarborough Downs, who hoped to add slots and table games to its race track complex.
The Associated Press reported lawmakers on Thursday agreed the state must create a regulatory process for approving any expanded gaming before hearing specific proposals.
The decision puts off gaming plans that various tribes and Scarborough Downs argued are necessary to the economic survival of their communities or, in the case of Scarborough Downs, its business. The bills were opposed by operators of the state’s two existing casinos, Oxford and Hollywood casinos, which said any expansion of gaming would “cannibalize” their businesses.
The bills turned down Thursday included proposals to allow five tribes to expand gambling operations or create new casinos; to allow Maine veterans’ organizations to put slot machines in their clubs; and to allow Scarborough Downs to expand gaming if it built a hotel and made other improvements to its facility. The Senate’s decision to hold off on the gaming bills comes after they cleared the House earlier this month.
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