Maine tribes seek right to offer slot machines

Thursday, April 7, 2005  

Two Maine tribes are seeking the right to offer slot machines on their reservations in light of voter approval of the devices last November.

The Penobscot Nation and the Passamaquoddy Tribe say the state can't deny them slot machines while allowing them at a racetrack. Separate bills have been filed for each tribe in the state Legislature.

Normally, voter approval of slot machines would give the tribes the ability to offer them. But the tribes don't fall under the Indian Gaming Regulatory Act because their land claim settlement laws place them under state jurisdiction.

In an editorial, The Portland Press Herald calls any expansion of gaming "bad" for Maine but that the voters' approval of slot machines "makes it far more difficult to say no" to the tribes.

Get the Story:
Indians seek piece of slots action (The Bangor Daily News 4/7)
Editorial: Another racino won't be good for the state (The Portland Press Herald 4/7)