OXFORD — Two bills that would allow more gambling in Maine without a referendum are unpopular in Oxford County among both supporters of and opponents to the Black Bear casino.
A bill that would allow a 1,500-slot-machine facility in Lewiston passed 78-61 Monday in the Maine House of Representatives, shortly after the House passed a bill allowing casinos in Biddeford and Washington County.
Oxford Town Manager Michael Chammings said allowing those facilities to operate without going through a referendum was unfair to Black Bear Entertainment and the backers of Hollywood Slots, both of which spent millions of dollars on ballot initiatives.
“I don’t care what side of the table you’re on with the gambling,” Chammings said Tuesday, “fairness would dictate it should go to referendum.”
Scott Smith, community development director for Black Bear Entertainment, said he was concerned about the precedent. “Going from one to five (casinos) is a significant increase,” he said.
He said Black Bear isn’t against other casino projects, but he said the process for approving them should be consistent. “Expansion of gaming in Maine should be weighed in on by all Maine voters,” Smith said. “We’re hopeful that the Senate sees it that way.”
Black Bear Entertainment spokesman Peter Martin agreed.
“We had to go out twice,” he wrote in an email. “The rest should be held to the same standard. We do not believe our Legislature has a mandate to expand gaming to that level.”
Martin said with five casinos, Maine would have more slot machines per capita than any state east of the Mississippi River. “We believe those expansion decisions are best left up to our citizens, and if they vote to expand gaming, then we are fine with our citizens’ decisions.”
He pointed out that Gov. Paul LePage has voiced support for sending the question to referendum. In April, Dan Billings, legal counsel for LePage, said the governor prefers that voters decide on future casino projects.
Zizi Vlaun of Oxford Hills No on 1, a group organized to oppose the casino, said more casinos would be bad for Maine and could kill the Oxford casino.
“It’ll probably fail quicker, and that will still have a huge negative impact for Oxford Hills,” Vlaun said. “Either way, we lose.”
“We hope the Senate has a clear idea of the impact that this is going to have on the future of Maine,” Vlaun said. “Fifty percent of Maine voters understood that this is a huge problem for Maine.”
Both proposals now face Senate votes.
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