Maine’s gambling laws are overdue for an overhaul

By Mike Lange
Staff Writer

    The Maine Legislature’s special session agenda includes a potpourri of gambling bills, including another attempt to allow the Maliseet Indians to operate a casino in Aroostook County and a bill to let the Passamaquoddy Tribe put slots machines in a Washington County bingo hall.

    But it seems that the Legislature has been tossing gambling laws around the chamber like the proverbial hot potato for decades.
    Voters passed a landmark law in 2005 allowing a single casino in Bangor. Once Hollywood Casino was up and running, the cries of “Me, too!” were heard in the Statehouse lobbies from Native American tribes, entrepreneurs and the harness racing industry.
    Tracks want slot machines to augment their dwindling attendance as the demographics of harness racing fans gets greyer each year; but so far, voters have said “no dice.”
    Joining the forces to expand gaming opportunities in Maine this session is a coalition of nonprofits that have lost a huge chunk of revenue to the casinos in Bangor and Oxford. Grandma isn’t content to play bingo in the Legion or Elks halls anymore if she has a chance to tackle the slots or blackjack tables.
    So the nonprofits want to put tightly-controlled slots in their halls to make up for some of the lost revenue. Of course, the casino lobby had a fit about it and the Gov. Paul LePage vetoed a bill last year that would have allowed a few one-armed bandits in the fraternal and veterans’ organizations’ halls.
    Although I dislike the terms “blue ribbon panel” and “task force” as much as anything, the state needs to completely overhaul its gambling laws. They’re complicated, discriminatory and serve no purpose except to limit our entertainment options.
    I seriously doubt that Hollywood Slots is going to suffer a great deal if the Brewer Eagles Club puts in a few slot machines. And I’d be skeptical if Oxford Casino threatened to lay off staff because the Norway American Legion adds a few electronic one-armed bandits to its bingo hall.
    The Native Americans have been clamoring for their own casinos for 20 years. Let ‘em build them.
    Hollywood Casino thinks that Canadians will drop a big wad in Calais instead of traveling to the Queen City to gamble. They seem to forget Bangor is a one-stop destination for New Brunswick residents who want to shop and dine out, not just gamble. Calais is nice — but it’s no Bangor.
    Bottom line: Let municipalities decide by referendum if they want to allow expanded gaming and to what extent. Simplify the application process, keeping reasonable safeguards in place so we don’t get ripped off by absentee casino or track operators.
    If there’s a major difference between Aunt Millie spending $50 on Lucky Seven tickets at the bingo hall and putting the same amount in a slot machine, you’ll have to prove it to me. Let the market decide which venues thrive or go belly-up.
    Gambling is gambling. Let’s bring Maine’s laws kicking and screaming into the 20th Century. The 21st may have to wait a few years.
    Mike Lange is a staff writer with the Piscataquis Observer. His opinions are his own and don’t necessarily reflect those of this newspaper.