Gaming News

Maine Tribes Try New Approach for Slots

BANGOR, Maine – As reported by the Bangor Daily News: "A week after a legislative committee rebuffed their bid to reopen the process for awarding state gaming licenses, representatives of two Maine Indian tribes adopted a new approach to grabbing the slot machine rights at Bangor Raceway. Portland attorney Richard Spencer, a member of the Penobscot Nation and Passamaquoddy Tribe's legal team, said his clients mailed an application for intervenor status to the Maine Harness Racing Commission on Thursday.

"…Intervenor status, if granted, would give the tribes legal standing in the ongoing tussle over a racing license for Bangor Raceway. A private company, Bangor Historic Track Inc., operates the racetrack, owned by the city.

"Slot machines are headed for Bangor as the result of a citizen-initiated law Maine voters adopted Nov. 4.

"…Tens of millions of dollars in revenue are at stake. As things stand, Bangor Raceway is the only racetrack in Maine with the state and local authority to operate slot machines.

"As intervenors, the tribes would work to prevent the commission from issuing a conditional license to Capital Seven, the Las Vegas-based company owned by entrepreneur Shawn Scott, or his apparent heir, Penn National Gaming of Pennsylvania…"

< Gaming News