AUGUSTA, Maine — Veterans organizations and fraternal clubs would be allowed to operate as many as five slot machines under a new bill the Legislature approved Wednesday.
The House voted 88-57 to approve LD 1469 and the Senate unanimously supported the measure later Wednesday pending final approval by the Appropriations Committee, which weighs in on all bills that have a financial effect.
Gov. Paul LePage has not seen the bill, his spokeswoman said Wednesday, but it’s possible that he could veto it. In the past, the governor has said he believes voters should decide on whether to expand gambling in Maine.
Maine’s two casinos, Hollywood Casino in Bangor and the soon-to-be-built Oxford County casino, both were approved by statewide voter referendums, but a host of other proposals have been rejected by voters over the years.
Fraternal organizations have long lobbied the state for equity in gambling, saying they need the revenue to survive, and the latest bill has received bipartisan support in the Legislature.
In order to operate slot machines, groups such as the Elks Club or American Legion posts would have to apply to the state by October 2013 and pay a fee of $1,000 and a $5,000 refundable deposit to the state’s Gambling Control Board.
The machines could be used only by members and their guests.
The bill also caps the total number of slot machines at 250 statewide, not including what already exists at Hollywood Casino in Bangor and what has been approved for the casino in Oxford County.
Revenue generated by these new slot machines would be distributed as follows: 1o percent to the Gambling Control Board, 10 percent to the host municipality, 8 percent to the state’s General Fund and 2 percent would help fund gambling addiction prevention and treatment.
The rest would go to the nonprofit organization.
Not everyone is pleased with the measure.
The Christian Civic League of Maine said the bill would expand gambling in Maine without voter approval.
“This is not a veterans’ bill and legislators should not wrap the American flag around slot machines,” the group wrote in an email this week urging lawmakers to oppose LD 1469.
Follow BDN reporter Eric Russell on Twitter @BDNPolitics.
I thought republicans were the superior moral values people…. What the heck!
Richard Rosen, (R) Bucksport, is dead set against this thing. He says it is just bad policy, which it is. They are using veterans as a back door to expand slots and gaming in general, without enabling the public to vote on it.
Let’s let everyone have them and NOBODY will make a dime.
That is everyone BUT the Indians who would have actually benefited the most from them and wanted them first.
freedom expanding
Wait, the voters spoke not to expand gambling, yet the Republicans still do it. What an insult to the people who actually put their proposed gambling facilities before the voters. I cna’t believe they did this.
Unbelievable that the Maine Legislature woulod completely blow off the voters wishes and pass this expansion of gambling that was quite soundly defeated by the people of Maine. I have written my Senator and Representitives complaining about how they are ignoring the voters, I suggest you do the same. Even though their votes can be bought, if enough people complain, they realize people are watching and caring. Help stop these politicians from going against the people’s wishes.
This was bi-partisan expansion of gambling. You can’t hang it all on Republican.
Obviously, I am not against gaming, but gaming should be limited to well run establishments and not every “group” that wants a few slot machines at their bar. I have seen the effects of slot machines in every kind of space from abandoned gas stations turned into small time casinos of slots and at the end of grocery aisles. Maine needs to figure out where casinos would best serve the public and regulate what kind of establishment needs to be built. Leave it up to the voters to make the choice.
Another one of those last minute bills that won’t get adequate hearing time is passed. I wonder just who the sponsor of this bill is. Hey BDN how about the rest of the story !
Social clubs are quite common in Australia, usually founded for a designated group, often athletic. However for example, one does not have to be a rugby player or offical to belong to a rugby oriented club. Other than socialbility, they exist to provide reasonably priced food (typically buffets). They also feature “pokeys”, slots machines. A member can furnish one day memberships to non-member visitors and guests. We visited one on a tour. Good food, good ambience, and a A$2 payout for my wife.