Panel: Casinos should go to voters
A trio of gambling initiatives should be decided by voters, a legislative panel affirmed Friday.
The Veterans' and Legal Affairs Committee voted to send to state referendum LD 1203, which would allow racinos in Biddeford and Washington County, and LD 985, which would establish a casino in Lewiston, according to the Maine Public Broadcasting Network. The committee voted to send the bills to the full Legislature with an ought-not-to-pass recommendation. Lawmakers argued that voters should continue to decide the fate of gambling proposals in the state as they traditionally have. Gov. Paul LePage has also indicated he would veto casino bills in order to send them to referendum.
Scarborough Downs has proposed relocating to Biddeford and adding slot machines to its horse-racing track, and has partnered with hotel developer Ocean Properties. The Passamaquoddy Tribe has also pitched a racino in Calais, an effort state voters previously denied. The measure to allow the casinos gathered enough signatures for a statewide vote. Great Fall Recreation and Redevelopment is hoping to build a casino at the Bates Mill and in February gathered enough signatures to put the measure to voters.
The committee also voted to table until this week a discussion on LD 1418, which would allow Hollywood Slots to add table games, according to the Bangor Daily News.
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