Indian Tribes in Maine Looking to Bring Slot Machines to their Communities

Recent study shows that Maine has the capacity to hold more gaming facilities, so the state’s Indian tribes are looking to add slot machines to their local communities.

With New York being heavily talked about in the media about developing four more casinos, other states have also started to explore the possibilities to have more casinos. Officials that form part of the Veterans and Legal Affairs Committee started evaluating the study recently which indicates a strong possibility that there is potential for more casinos in southern Maine.

The research also shows that a perhaps more modest gaming center could be introduced in Aroostook or Washington Country, while the tribes would be the main candidates to operate it. Considering the increased success that some other states have experienced in terms of casino developments, it is easy to see why Maine would also want to join in.

Indian tribes feel confident about their casino ambitions

• Maine looking to add a casino in Southern area

• Indian tribes may have their own casinos

• Current gaming providers fear for their businesses

For years many Indian tribes have been trying to establish a network of slot machines in the state, however every time their efforts were futile. However, now the representatives of the Passamaquoddy Tribe and the Houlton Band of Maliseet Indians are thrilled with the new findings, considering the new opportunities that the study promises to them.

Clayton Cleaves, chief of the Passamaquoddy Tribe at Pleasant Point expressed his enthusiasm about opening up a casino. “We will eventually get a casino. We are very patient … At times, a little angry, and most of the time, disappointed … but the one thing that nobody will be able to take away from us tribal members is our culture.”

The Tribes believe that setting up casinos enables them the opportunities to provide for themselves, as the gaming facilities would create jobs and see a great deal of revenues come in. More importantly, the money would then be used for social programs like education in communities that are finding a tough time with unemployment and economic developments.

Henry John Bear, representative for the Houlton Band of Maliseet Indians in the Maine House, is certain that a casino could help employ hundreds of people. He estimates that a casino in Houlton would help create up to 600 jobs for the construction phase of the project, while 150 would be employed on full0time basis once it’s complete, gambling news reports.

Immense revenues could come with new casinos

The study reveals that a Northern Maine gaming center could potentially generate $18 million in revenue earnings in 2015. Taking into consideration that a new casino would add competition in the state, some gaming providers are not too enthusiastic about the likely gaming expansion.

Maine’s two casinos in Bangor and Oxford have strongly opposed plans to introduce another gaming facility in a state that boasts just over 1 million people. They believe that new casinos would “cannibalize” their businesses as it would most likely draw people away from their current gaming establishments, which boast some of best US poker rooms.

The research team from New Jersey based WhiteSand Gaming that has investigated and gathered data on gaming conditions in Maine, is assured that new casinos would benefit the economy. They have stressed that Maine’s southern coast would serve as the main attraction area for creating substantial revenues and forming new job opportunities.

Furthermore, they claim the developments would attract tourists from nearby areas like New Hampshire and Massachusetts. WhiteSand Gaming stated that they have explored many different angles in approaching this ambitious project and are firm in their beliefs that the plans indicated by them will work out for the best.

The report also adds that licensing a special casino for the tribes in Northern or Eastern areas of Maine that are located close to the Canadian border would not hamper any current gaming facilities. In order not to pose any risk for the existing casinos, the potential casino would have to limit itself to 250 slot machines and ten tables in total.

According to US gambling law reports, many casino bills got rejected from being implements last session. Officials stated that Maine first needed to investigate the possibilities of adding casinos before it can commence with serious planning. Considering the preferable gaming conditions in the state, Maine should be setting up new casinos imminently.