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Maine Lawmakers Fight Over Gambling Bill

AUGUSTA, Maine – As reported by the Portland Press Herald: "State lawmakers are gearing up for what may be a big fight over a proposed gambling-control bill, even though both sides agree that the state needs tougher regulations before the owner of Bangor Historic Track installs slot machines at Bangor Raceway to create a racino there.

"The Legislature's Legal and Veterans Affairs Committee is expected to send two competing versions of the bill to the House and Senate. Both versions call for a five-member Gambling Control Board to license and regulate slot machines in Maine.

"The committee has split over other key provisions, including the number of slot machines allowed statewide, how the revenue from those machines should be distributed, and whether racetracks and other gambling interests should get a share.

"…Bangor voters approved slots there in June, but voters in Scarborough, Saco and Westbrook refused to let Scarborough Downs install slots in their communities.

"…The competing versions of the bill differ on how much money to put into those programs. More importantly, they also differ on whether to use some of the state's share to help gambling interests…"

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