Saturday, January 13, 2007

Proponents and opponents of gambling are preparing to square off again this
year as the new Legislature considers whether slot machines should be
allowed in places other than the Hollywood Slots parlor in Bangor. Three
state legislators are drafting four bills that, if approved, would allow
casino gambling in Maine, create another so-called racino with slots and
harness racing, and allow two of Maine's Indian tribes ­ the Penobscot
Nation and the Passamaquoddy Tribe ­ to operate slots on tribal land. At the
same time, Gov. John Baldacci has renewed his opposition to more gambling in
Maine, suggesting that supporters may have an uphill fight. Meanwhile,
supporters and opponents of gambling are continuing their efforts to place
citizen-initiated referendums on the ballot to let voters decide such
issues. It all follows heated, and unsuccessful, drives in the last
Legislature to either allow a racino in Washington County or let voters
settle that issue. The Legislature passed both Washington County bills in
2005, but Baldacci vetoed them. Backers of a racino in Washington County
hope to learn later this month whether they collected enough valid
signatures to force a November vote on their plan. A referendum campaign to
outlaw slot machines in Maine and a competing referendum drive to allow a
casino in Oxford County have yet to submit their petitions to the state.
Seth Carey, an organizer of the Oxford County casino campaign, said on
Wednesday that he has abandoned plans to get that proposal on the ballot
this year and hopes to collect enough signatures to schedule a vote in 2008.
It was not clear on Wednesday whether the group that wants voters to outlaw
slot machines will meet the state's Jan. 25 deadline for submitting
petitions for a referendum this year. Organizer George Rodrigues could not
be reached for comment. The looming legislative battle centers on bills from
Democratic Rep. Deborah Simpson of Auburn, Passamaquoddy Tribe Rep. Donald
Soctomah and Penobscot Nation Rep. Donna Loring. None of their bills has
been drafted yet, but interviews with all three lawmakers confirm that they
hope to expand gambling in Maine. Simpson, who supported a failed 2003
referendum that would have allowed a tribal casino in Maine, said on
Wednesday that her bill would order the state to find a developer to build,
operate and own a casino somewhere in southern Maine, possibly in
cooperation with one or more Indian tribes. The host community would have to
approve the plan before a casino could be built, she said. A casino would be
"more of a resort destination" than a slots parlor or a racino, Simpson
said, because it would include a hotel and a conference center that would
"bring people in from away." Such a facility, she said, would create jobs,
boost state revenue and help in the transition from an economy that relied
heavily on manufacturing. Soctomah said one of his bills would be a backup
in case the campaign for a referendum on a Washington County racino falls
short of the required 50,519 voter signatures. The bill would have the
Legislature schedule a referendum on the issue if the initiative campaign
fails.

Both Soctomah and Loring have bills that would allow slot machines on their
respective tribal reservations, in conjunction with high-stakes bingo.
Loring said the Penobscot Nation wants 400 of the 1,500 slot machines now
allowed by state law because the Hollywood Slots parlor has cut into the
tribe's revenue from high-stakes bingo on Indian Island.

Soctomah said the Passamaquoddy Tribe wants to install a total of 200 slots
at its two reservations. Hollywood Slots now has 479 slot machines in a
temporary facility. It plans to have 1,000 to 1,500 slots in a permanent
facility that it expects to open in mid-2008.

"They're spending their money at Hollywood Slots rather than at our
facility," said Chief Kirk Francis of the Penobscot Nation.
As a result, he said, the tribe's bingo operation is now breaking even
instead of providing what had been "thousands of dollars" for the tribe.

Soctomah said the Passamaquoddy Tribe has not ruled out legislation
authorizing a tribal casino, but he said the bills he has introduced so far
do not seek a casino. He said the Bangor slots parlor has not produced the
crime and social ills that opponents predicted, so Washington County should
be allowed to expand its revenue base with a racino or slots parlors.

Baldacci's spokeswoman Joy Leach said in an e-mailed response to questions
about the governor's reaction to the bills that "the governor's position on
the expansion of gambling has not changed; he continues to oppose such
expansions."

She said Baldacci "agrees with the (state) Gambling Control Board that a
moratorium should be in place until a report or review with recommendations
on gambling is completed."

"This is exactly what we worried about" when Hollywood Slots opened, said
Dennis Bailey of Casinos No!, an anti-gambling group. "Once you open the
door a little bit, you're going to be in this fight year after year after
year."