Maine Casino Proposal Will Go To Voters As Planned

Three different groups have banded together at the last minute in an effort to change the language of a casino proposal that will be voted on by residents of Maine. Legislators, however, have shot down the new agreement.

Over 100,000 signatures were collected for Black Bear Entertainment to develop a casino in Oxford County, Maine. Those signatures put the proposal in the hands of the legislature, which was set to vote yes or no on the plan. Regardless of the outcome, the end result would have been a public vote on the issue.

Then, earlier this week, the Passamaquoddy Tribe and Hollywood Slots decided they wanted to be part of the casino expansion. The three groups all joined forces and was set to rewrite the proposal going to voters.

Lawmakers stepped in, however, and denied the new plan. They felt that the process was too far along for any changes to be made.

"We're saying that we as a legislature have even a better idea than the 100,000 people that signed that," said Senator Nancy Sullivan, "And I'm OK with that if I really was convinced that we have a better idea. I haven't seen all the ideas to know that it's really better, so I think in this case, the people might better."

There are additional variables to the casino expansion. If the legislature would have allowed the Passamaquoddy Tribe to be involved, there may have been a conflict with other tribe's in the state that could have wanted to develop casinos in the future.

Maine is just one of dozens of states that are considering expanding their casino gambling industries in light of the economic recession. Casino revenue has become a popular way for states to help balance their budgets in recent years.

March 18, 2010
Posted By Tom Jones
Staff Editor, CasinoGamblingWeb.com
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