Gaming watch | A roundup of recent Maine casino and gaming-related news
It was an election season of high stakes for the gambling industry in Maine — with referenda to add gaming in Oxford and Cumberland counties. But now that voters have once again denied plans to expand gambling, it suddenly seems like the industry here is on the outs with Lady Luck. Here’s a rundown of the odds:
Olympia Gaming of Las Vegas appears to have folded its hand, at least for the time being. Dean Harrold, vice chairman of Olympia Gaming, told the Sun Journal the company doesn’t plan to continue to try and open a casino in Maine after the referendum it backed on the November ballot was rejected by voters. Olympia Gaming in September took over the effort to pass a referendum in favor of an Oxford County casino from attorney Seth Carey, but voters rejected the casino 54% to 46% on Nov. 4.
Maine gambling revenue has ended up on the losing end of the downturn. Grant Pennoyer, director of the Legislature’s Office of Fiscal and Program Review and a member of the Maine Revenue Forecasting Committee, told Capitol News Service that revenues from Hollywood Slots and the Maine State Lottery are down. Racino revenue is projected to dip $3.6 million this year and revenue for the two-year budget cycle beginning in July could be reduced by about $4.5 million a year.
Since the chips are down, Hollywood Slots in Bangor recently announced it is reallocating staff in order to minimize layoffs. Maine’s only racino also said it would lay off an unspecified number of people because revenues have declined, according to the Bangor Daily News.
And after Scarborough residents narrowly defeated a proposal to allow harness racetrack Scarborough Downs to operate slot machines, the racetrack owner said she may have to move the business, according to the Portland Press Herald. Sharon Terry issued a statement through her lawyer that she was disappointed by the outcome of the vote and that the track will consider moving to a locale more receptive to slot machines.
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