"Maine voters made a big mistake when they approved this bait-and-switch operation while rejecting the Indian casino three-and-a-half years ago. The schizophrenic decision paved the way for a big-time slot machine operation in Bangor and currently for the Passamaquoddy Tribe to argue for a similar "racino" enterprise of its own in economically challenged Washington County.

This proposal, also an initiative, is working its way through the legislative process. Backers of the scheme had hoped that lawmakers, acting out of either a sense of fairness or of guilt (or both) would approve the measure by veto-proof margins. That hasn't happened and the likelihood now is that it will wind up on the November referendum ballot.

If so, Maine voters will get another chance to exercise wisdom on this pesky and persistent issue. They should begin by studying the effects of their earlier decisions.

Meanwhile, in addition to the Washington County racino proposal, the Legislature is also being asked to approve a proposal to bring 400 slot machines to Indian Island in Penobscot County, to supplement existing bingo operations there.

The Penobscot Tribe says it needs the slots because bingo playing on the reservation has declined since Hollywood Slots opened a few miles downriver in Bangor. Tribal revenues from high stakes bingo reportedly have dropped from $150,000 to barely $4,000.

In other words, the supply of gambling dollars to be extracted from Maine suckers is not infinite. Slot machines are just the new kid on the block, attracting lottery and bingo players away from their former gullibility baubles of choice. Racism has little or nothing to do with it, nor does economic imbalance."

Get the Story:
Jim Brunelle: Voters should reject upcoming attempt to expand gambling (The Kennebec Journal 4/12)