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October 7, 2011

Ocean Properties funds pro-racino effort

By The Mainebiz News Staff

Ocean Properties, one of the partners behind the proposed Biddeford Downs racino, has contributed nearly $800,000 to the campaign, according to third-quarter finance reports filed Wednesday.

The New Hampshire-based hotel developer loaned pro-racino committee Putting Maine to Work $779,893 and contributed more than $19,000 in in-kind contributions during the third quarter, according to its finance report. Putting Maine to Work raised a total of $806,230 during that time period. Ocean Properties has teamed up with Scarborough Downs to pitch the horse-racing facility with slot machines that will go before voters November. Question 2 will ask voters if they want to "allow a slot machine facility at a harness racing track in Biddeford or another community within 25 miles of Scarborough Downs, subject to local approval, and at a harness racing track in Washington County."

A second ballot question asks voters to approve a casino in downtown Lewiston. Green Jobs for Maine, a committee supporting the casino, raised $33,200 in the third quarter, all of it from Georgia-based gaming platform provider GT Source.

Pro-casino fundraising is outpacing money collected by committees opposing the projects. CasinosNo!, which opposes both gambling questions, has raised $2,675 this year, and newly formed Mainers Against a Rotten Deal, a PAC fighting Question 2, has raised $200. Penobscot County for Table Games & Jobs, which supports a regional vote to allow table games at Hollywood Slots in Bangor, has brought in $100,000 in cash contributions and more than $235,000 in in-kind contributions. The group has also registered as opposed to the other proposed gambling operations.

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