The debate over gambling in Maine will continue this legislative session, with two lawmakers proposing bills that would allow a new casino to be operated with strict state oversight.
One bill, sponsored by Rep. Thomas Watson (D-Bath), would authorize the state to contract with a casino operator after a bidding process designed to maximize the benefits to Maine.
Another bill, sponsored by Rep. Sawin Millett (R-Waterford), would make way for a resort casino in Oxford County, where a similar concept was defeated by voters last November.
The state, under Watson’s bill, would have control over all aspects of the deal including the location, the terms of the agreement and the distribution of profits. This bill is in the process of being referred to the Legal and Veterans’ Affairs Committee.
“I don’t support casinos in general, but if we’re going to have one I’d rather have it managed by the state,” Watson state.
Millett’s bill, which is still being written, will be based on the legislation which was defeated at the polls in November, minus what Millett called “the objectionable pieces.”
The bill calls for the state’s Gambling Control Board to solicit casino proposals. Millett said he has cleaned out all references to Olympia Gaming, the company that pushed the referendum question last fall.
If the law were passed – Millett expects that the Legislature would pose the question to statewide voters as opposed to enacting it – a new casino would require a positive vote of Oxford County residents.
Millett’s bill also eliminates some of the provisions of last year’s bill that attracted the most opposition: that the casino would be allowed to issue credit to gamers; that the president of the casino would sit on numerous state boards and committees; and that passage of the law would preclude another casino in Maine for a certain amount of time.
It would allocate the casino’s revenues as follows: 1 percent of the gross to the general fund, followed by 40 percent of net profits to the state, including 1 percent to the town. The remaining state share would be split evenly between economic development and transportation projects, Millett said.
Asked why he is sponsoring this bill, Millett said his area needs a boost.
“Oxford County is desperately in need of economic development opportunities,” he said. “I’m hoping I can make a better case (than Olympia gaming did). All of my towns voted for it last year and I’ve heard from many municipal officers and citizens since then.”
Millett said revenues from the casino would help improve the Rt. 26 corridor, create jobs and help promote Maine as a destination in general.
“The retail establishments are hurting and we need jobs,” Millett said, citing a tractor and equipment retailer that recently created 16 full-time jobs in Oxford and saw 500 applications. “This would provide a lot of pretty good year ’round jobs.”
Dennis Bailey, a spokesman for CasinosNo! who has led the fight against casinos for years, said neither the economic climate nor the fact these ideas were born in the Legislature changes anything.
“I really thought the vote last November would be the nail in the coffin,” he said. “The voters have spoken and I wish the people in Augusta would listen.”
Furthermore, he said, the casino industry is suffering due to the recession.
“I don’t think anyone would build a casino in Maine at this point,” he said. “Casinos all over the country are hurting. If they’re not building casinos in Las Vegas and Atlantic City, I doubt they’d build one in Maine.”
(Statehouse News Service)
