Lawmakers in Maine are debating a third casino, this one an Indian casino rather than another commercial casino as operate in Oxford and Bangor.
The bill in play would benefit the state’s four federally recognized tribes, which would jointly operate a casino with slot machines and gaming tables. The tribes would share 25 percent of the profits from slots with the state for education and 16 percent of table game revenue would be earmarked for the general fund.
The bill’s author Rep. Benjamin Collings, points out that the two commercial casinos send their profits to Pennsylvania and Europe. “That money is leaving the state and is going to stockholders and owners of the company, whereas the money that the tribes would earn if they had this would go directly to economic development, fighting healthcare disparities, education, and environmental cleanup,” he said.
