March 29, 2024
GAMBLING

Plan for dividing revenue from proposed Calais racino

CALAIS – Slot machine net revenue from the proposed Washington County racino would be divided several ways based on the legislation approved by the 123rd Maine Legislature.

Net revenue reflects the amount that would remain after the state takes 1 percent of the facility’s gross revenue, or total wagering handle, for General Fund administration costs and after winnings are paid out to players.

. 10 percent to the Treasurer of State, who shall credit the money to the fund established to supplement harness racing purses.

. 10 percent to the Fund for a Healthy Maine.

. 4 percent to the Fund to Encourage Racing at Maine’s Commercial Tracks.

. 3 percent to the General Fund for administrative expenses of the gambling control board, including gambling addiction and counseling services.

. 3 percent to the Sire Stakes Fund for horses bred at Maine’s Standardbred horse farms.

. 3 percent to the Agricultural Fair Support Fund.

. 2 percent to the University of Maine System Scholarship Fund to fund scholarships at the University of Maine campuses in Washington County.

. 2 percent to the Fund to Stabilize Off-track Betting Facilities.

. 1 percent to the Maine Community College System scholarship program for Washington County Community College students.

. 1 percent to the city of Calais.

. 1 percent to the Washington County Development Authority.

. 1 percent to the Career and Technical Education Centers located in Washington County.

. 59 percent goes to the facility.

Voters who do their homework before Election Day will find discrepancies between the revenue sharing terminology used by the state treasurer in a legal advertisement published Monday and that used by the Secretary of State’s Office on its Web site, which appears to have reversed the definitions for “gross” and “net” revenues. On the Secretary of State’s Web site, the word “net” is replaced by “gross,” which several officials said they believed was an error.

That same definition error appeared in the text of the state’s original slots law, developed after voters authorized the slots facility in Bangor. The error eventually was addressed by means of a technical correction.


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