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Maine Tribes Want Shot at Slots License

AUGUSTA, Maine – As reported by the Bangor Daily News: "As Penn National Gaming took steps Wednesday to complete its acquisition of Bangor Historic Track, a new potential player in Maine's fledgling racino industry emerged. Representatives of the Penobscot Nation and Passamaquoddy Tribe announced Wednesday that they are asking state lawmakers to amend the governor's emergency gambling bill to require an 'open selection process' for slot machine licensees.

"That, they said, would give Maine's tribal people an opportunity to apply for a license to operate slots at Bangor Raceway , the historic half-mile dirt oval located at city-owned Bass Park.

"The move puts the tribes in direct competition with Penn National, the Pennsylvania-based gambling corporation that is still in the process of attaining the rights to operate slot machines at Bangor Raceway.

"…As things stand, the Bangor track is the only commercial harness racing track in the state eligible for slot machines. Scarborough Downs was unable to win the needed local approval by the Dec. 31, 2003, deadline set in the citizen-initiated legislation Maine voters adopted on Election Day…"

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