Early Morning Casino Gambling Call Coming On Sundays In Maine

When it comes to revenue dollars that are generated from casino gambling, states are paying particular attention to what the casinos want these days. Money has been hard to find for budget deficits, so every little bit helps.

Perhaps that is why the one casino in Maine is pushing lawmakers buttons when it comes to what time they can open on Sunday morning. Penn National Gaming is trying to gain approval to open their Hollywood Slots Hotel and Raceway at 8:00AM on Sundays.

The current rules in effect allow the casino to open no earlier than noon on Sunday. Penn National claims that the extra four hours of being closed is causing the state to lose out on a million dollars a year.

That figure apparently has turned some heads. The Gaming Control Board in Maine discussed the possibility of expanding the casino hours in a meeting on Wednesday, and the outcome of that meeting looks good for Penn National.

"We came to the decision that there was no overriding harm that would be done by allowing expansion," said Board Chairman, George McHale. The four members of the Board are expected to vote on the issue in the near future.

As expected, local church groups in Bangor are upset that the casino may go head to head with their services on Sundays. The opposition, however, is not strong enough for the rule not to be changed.

January 16, 2009
Posted By April Gardner
Staff Editor, CasinoGamblingWeb.com
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