Group formally opposing Oxford casino
A group of businesses and organizations, including Hollywood Slots, has formed to formally oppose an effort to bring a casino to western Maine.
The group, called the Citizens Against the Oxford Casino, also includes the Maine Association of Agricultural Fairs, the Passamaquoddy Tribe, the Greater Bangor Convention and Visitors Bureau and two groups that represent horse racing and breeding, according to a press release from spokesman Dan Cashman. The group says the casino proposal, which will be put to a statewide vote on the November ballot, is "a bad deal for Maine," but does not specify why. Cashman told the Bangor Daily News the economic benefits from the proposal do not outweigh the negative impacts.
The Oxford proposal by Black Bear Entertainment would return 46% of the casino's net slots income and 16% of its net table games income to the state for education, harness racing, tribal governments and administrative expenses. Hollywood Slots pays 39% of net proceeds to the state, which in 2008 was $17 million, according to the paper.
Hollywood Slots General Manager John Osborne previously told Mainebiz he would like to add table games to the facility, which would generate approximately $8 million in additional revenue and "[create] a more complete casino environment." The facility and the Passamaquoddy Tribe had previously worked with Black Bear Entertainment to put a question on the November ballot allowing the Oxford casino, table games at Hollywood Slots and a tribal-run casino in Washington County, but that measure was rejected by the Legislature. Following that decision, the tribe and Penn National Gaming, the parent company of Hollywood Slots, came out in opposition to the Oxford casino, arguing the ballot initiative could create a gambling monopoly.
For more on the effort to build a casino in Oxford County, see "All in."
Go to the article from the Bangor Daily News >>
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