The Las Vegas developer who seeks to qualify a ballot initiative in Maine to allow a third casino in the state—in York County— is being accused by a Bangor city councilor of misleading tactics.
Amid reports that signature gatherers for Horseracing Jobs Fairness are being paid $10 per signature, Rep. Louis Luchini, whose committee overseeing gambling, called the campaign “another example of out-of-state interests trying to buy Maine’s citizen referendum process.” He added, “Maine people don’t like that when it happens.”
The effort by developer Shawn Scott appeared suddenly and has generated considerable buzz in just a few weeks. Scott has tried to get a casino approved in the state before when he bought the Bangor Raceway and then promoted a plan in 2003 to add slot machines.
When he operated the raceway the Maine Harness Racing Commission in re port accused him of “sloppy, if not irresponsible financial management” and linked him to 37 lawsuits in four states.
His ballot measure would allow a casino in York County but is so specific in its description of who would qualify for it that it could only be licensed to an entity that operates a racetrack in Penobscot County. Only Scott and his business associates fit the description.
Scott’s proposed casino would be the state’s third, after the Hollywood Casino in Bangor and the Oxford Casino. His proposed casino would pay 39 percent of its slot revenue and 17 percent of its table revenue to the state.
To qualify, the initiative would require 61,000 signatures by February 1.
Signature gatherers are telling passersby that the casino will be used to support education in the state and are declining to state where the casino would be located.
The Secretary of State’s office says it has received complaints of “misleading tactics,” but notes that false claims are protected under the First Amendment.
The Bangor Daily News quoted a casino opponent as calling the efforts “dishonest” and adding “I don’t have a problem with free speech or petition efforts, but it seems that they’re being really aggressive about it.” He added, “and I can’t walk around downtown Bangor for a block without being bothered.”
The legislature is currently considering a bill from last year that would allow a casino in either York or Cumberland counties.
Senator Ronald Collins, who serves on the gambling committee told the Daily News that he “didn’t know they were spending that kind of dough,” on signatures.
