Disappointment in Maine as Six Gambling Bills Rejected
The Maine Senate has rejected a number of bills presented last week to expand gambling in the state. The bills had all passed in the House earlier in the month, however, in the Senate both Democrats and Republicans agreed that the state needs to slow down and work on a regulatory process before any expansion of gambling.
Six gambling bills were rejected by the Maine Senate resulting in disappointment across the state.
Included were proposals to give the Passamaquoddy Tribe and the Houlton Band of Maliseet Indians permission to run casinos in Washington County and Aroostook County.
Clayton Cleaves, the Passamaquoddy chief, said that the tribe will keep fighting for permission to run a casino, “It’s not fair in my opinion. We’re just trying to get jobs on our reservations, just like everyone else in this state.”
The Scarborough Downs racetrack was also annoyed by the rejection of the bills. It argues that it needs a casino to stay competitive with ones that already exist in Oxford and Bangor. Furthermore, veterans’ organizations also saw a bill rejected which would’ve allowed them to install slot machines in their clubs.
