HARRISBURG, Pa. – A casino gambled and lost – big time. Now it’s asking thousands of customers to give it a break. Hollywood Casino at Penn National Race Course set out to do something nice for its best customers, rewarding 1,000 of them with free… Read More
    SCARBOROUGH – Rejection of slot machines at Scarborough Downs was upheld Tuesday by an inspection of ballots by the clerk’s office. The proposal to allow the slot machines was defeated 5,804 to 5,565 on Nov. 4, and officials found no flaws that required a change… Read More
    Last November, Washington County residents were stinging over voters’ rejection of a Passamaquoddy petition to bring gambling – and therefore jobs and tourists – to their economically depressed corner of Maine. On Tuesday, Washington County fired back. googletag.cmd.push(function () { // Define Slot var slot_sizes… Read More
    A $184 million casino and resort proposed for western Maine was defeated Tuesday despite a high-profile push by backers in recent weeks. With 79 percent of precincts reporting, opposition to the controversial Oxford casino was holding steady at roughly 54 percent. googletag.cmd.push(function () { //… Read More
    PORTLAND – Maine’s Indian tribes have tried three times to have laws passed so they could build a casino in the state. Three times they’ve failed. There’s a lingering bitterness among many tribal members as Mainers prepare to vote Tuesday on whether to allow a… Read More
    CALAIS – A Las Vegas developer’s desire to build a casino in Oxford County has some people here betting it will pass while others are hoping the gambling company from “away” will roll snake eyes. Some of the hard feelings here are due to the… Read More
    Like a bad penny, Maine casino proposals keep bouncing back. The latest plan, promising a huge gambling palace in Oxford Hills, will face voter approval or rejection on Nov. 4. If Maine voters authorize big-time gambling, the losses won’t be just from slot machines or… Read More
    OXFORD – Supporters of a proposal to bring a casino to western Maine say the casino and resort would be located in Oxford if voters allow it to move forward on Election Day. Olympia Gaming of Las Vegas said Thursday it is looking at several… Read More
    OXFORD – The town of Oxford, home to Maine’s best-known stock car racetrack, is putting out the welcome mat for a proposed $150 million resort and casino that a Las Vegas developer is promoting in a Nov. 4 statewide referendum. After a presentation Thursday from… Read More
    AUGUSTA – Maine’s Gambling Control Board will meet Thursday, Sept. 18, at the Maine Department of Public Safety offices at 45 Commerce Drive. The monthly meeting takes place in the Gambling Control Board hearing room beginning at 12:30 p.m. Executive Director Robert Welch will brief… Read More
    AUGUSTA – Noting that everyone was ignoring it anyway, the Maine Gambling Control Board has opted not to extend its request for an intermission before any more casino-style gambling venues are authorized. Adopted in August 2006, the board’s request was issued in the form of… Read More
    SCARBOROUGH – Owners of Scarborough Downs harness-racing track and the developer responsible for bringing Cabela’s to town are holding out a carrot to local residents as they seek again to get approval to install slot machines. The track’s owner and a developer want to create… Read More
    MONCTON, New Brunswick – The province’s first casino will have 600 slot machines and borrow its style from the grand old hotels in Banff, Alberta, and St. Andrews, New Brunswick, the private consortium behind the Moncton-area project announced Tuesday. Plans for the $90 million facility,… Read More
    Nov. 18, 2002: Representatives of Capital Seven LLC, a Nevada-based company owned by entrepreneur Shawn Scott, present proposal for $30 million racino project for Bass Park during Bangor City Council committee meeting. March 23, 2003: City schedules local June referendum seeking permission to have slots… Read More
    HALIFAX, Nova Scotia – Nova Scotia Finance Minister Michael Baker is betting that Halifax’s casino can handle a new competitor three hours down the road in New Brunswick, where a $90 million destination casino and hotel is expected to open in Moncton in 2010. Baker… Read More
    CHICAGO – The Illinois Gaming Board has fined an Aurora casino $800,000 for sending promotional materials to problem gamblers in violation of an agency program. The penalty was assessed at a Monday board hearing against Hollywood Casino and three of its managers, who were suspended. Read More
    MONCTON, New Brunswick – New Brunswick’s first casino will be built near the Magnetic Hill tourist site in Moncton, the provincial government said. Sonco Gaming New Brunswick Ltd. will build the gaming facility, a 128-room hotel and an entertainment venue that will seat 1,500. A… Read More
    There is an old-fashioned look to Old Town. Main Street is flanked by a canoe factory, an Indian crafts store, and a small shop which sells mostly maps and compasses. Men wear red mackinaw jackets, and women drive to Hannaford’s in pickups. To many, the town seems like… Read More
    AUGUSTA – Members of the Maine Gambling Control Board were briefed Thursday on the near completion of the Hollywood Slots Hotel and Raceway in Bangor and plans for a July 1 grand opening of the $131 million gaming and entertainment complex. The new facility at… Read More
    The governor’s veto of the bill to allow the Penobscot Nation to operate slot machines at its Indian Island high-stakes beano facility and the Legislature’s failure to overturn that decision was “the last nail in the coffin” for tribal officials. Penobscot Chief Kirk Francis said Wednesday that he’s… Read More
    DES MOINES, Iowa – Day and night, gamblers crowd into the casino east of here and sit at thousands of slot machines and gaming tables – but the stands are largely empty at the complex’s horse racing track. The scene at the Prairie Meadows Racetrack… Read More
    AUGUSTA – A proposal to amend the state’s formula for taxing slot machines drew a crowd of mostly supporters Wednesday to a nearly 31/2-hour public hearing before the Legislature’s Legal and Veterans Affairs Committee. The proposal, which has been incorporated into LD 1924, seeks to… Read More
    INDIAN ISLAND – Gov. John Baldacci is going against his word by saying he will veto the Penobscot Nation’s proposal to operate slot machines on Indian Island and not agreeing to move an amended bill to referendum without a citizen-initiated petition, according to Penobscot Nation Chief Kirk Francis. Read More
    BANGOR – A special panel created by Gov. John Baldacci has issued its recommendations to amend the state’s formula for taxing slot machines in Maine. But unlike the last time state lawmakers tried to tinker with the formula, the owners of Hollywood Slots at Bangor… Read More
    AUGUSTA – A bipartisan majority of the Legislature’s Legal and Veterans Affairs Committee is supporting legislation authorizing the Penobscot Nation to operate slot machines in Old Town. But Gov. John Baldacci says any expansion of slot machine gambling needs voter approval. “I’d like to talk… Read More
    Playing cribbage is a lot of harmless fun all over Maine, especially in American Legion posts, as the state police and Legislature now know if they didn’t before. The current trouble began just before Veterans Day, when a Maine State Police inspector shut down the… Read More
    Though supporters of the Nov. 6 statewide referendum on development of a racetrack casino in Washington County promoted the issue as one of economic development, that argument didn’t quite catch on in the state’s business community. In fact, some businesses and business leaders contributed to… Read More
    FREDERICTON, New Brunswick – The provincial government has issued a request for proposals for a casino to be in operation somewhere in the province by 2010. In doing so, Maine’s Canadian neighbor is wagering that a casino will revive its faltering tourism industry, which has… Read More
    A day after Maine voters denied the Passamaquoddy Tribe its wish to build a racetrack casino in Washington County, anti-gambling groups said they have not given up on their efforts to rid the state of all gambling facilities, including Hollywood Slots at Bangor, whose $131 million construction project… Read More
    Penobscot Indian Nation Chief Kirk Francis said the tribe will use the defeat of the Passamaquoddy tribe’s racino initiative as a learning tool. The Penobscots have their own bill currently in the Legal and Veterans Affairs Committee that would allow them to operate 400 slot… Read More
    Voters narrowly defeated a Passamaquoddy Tribe proposal to build a harness racetrack and slots facility in Washington County on Tuesday, according to unofficial vote tallies. With 86 percent of precincts reporting, 51.7 percent of voters had rejected a Passamaquoddy bid to locate 1,500 slot machines… Read More
    FREDERICTON, New Brunswick – The New Brunswick government is eliminating about 25 percent of the video lottery terminals operating in the province. Finance Minister Victor Boudreau said Tuesday the decision is a first step in a comprehensive new gaming policy that will be released Thursday. Read More
    CALAIS – Marden’s may have to salvage its Washington County customer base after it was learned Friday that the company had contributed $10,000 to CasinosNO!, a political action committee that opposes a proposal by Passamaquoddy Indians to build a racino here. Voters will decide by… Read More
    BANGOR – Representatives on both sides of the fence regarding referendum Question 1 – the Passamaquoddy Tribe’s proposed racino in Washington County – threw verbal punches at one another during forums Thursday in Bangor and Machias. The issue will be decided during the Nov. 6 statewide election. Read More
    CALAIS – A week before voters decide if Washington County can become home to a proposed racino and high-stakes bingo facility run by the Passamaquoddy Tribe, questions remain about the finances associated with the plan. . As of Friday, the tribe has no developer for… Read More
    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… Read More
    AUGUSTA – Associated Constructors of Maine’s board has voted to support Question 1 on the Nov. 6 ballot, which would allow the Passamaquoddy Indian Tribe to run a harness racing track and slot machine facility, and high-stakes bingo, in Washington County. The constructors group said… Read More
    AUGUSTA – Members of an advisory committee heatedly debated among themselves on Tuesday how the millions of dollars slot machine gambling generates now are allocated, an indication of how complicated the current tax and distribution system is. They eventually turned to the reason Gov. John… Read More
    Mainers are split over whether to allow the Passamaquoddy Tribe to build a gambling facility in Washington County, according to results of a poll released Thursday. This November, voters will be asked to approve or reject a plan by the tribe for a harness racing… Read More
    BOSTON – Gov. Deval Patrick on Monday proposed licensing three resort casinos in Massachusetts in a move he said would generate $400 million to $450 million in annual tax revenue that would be spent on transportation upgrades and property tax relief. Under the plan, the… Read More
    BANGOR – Though construction of its $131 million permanent gaming and hotel complex on Main Street is in full swing, Hollywood Slots at Bangor will temporarily suspend delivery of some key construction components to accommodate the American Folk Festival on the Bangor Waterfront, set for Aug. 24-26. Read More
    BANGOR – The steel beams beginning to create a new skyline on lower Main Street are those of the future permanent home of Hollywood Slots, and it’s just the beginning, according to the facility’s spokeswoman. All the steelwork currently being put up is for the… Read More
    MIDDLEBOROUGH, Mass. – Middleborough officials, under fire from some residents who say a tentative deal that would bring millions of dollars to the town if the Mashpee Wampanoags build a casino is not enough, are now planning on demanding much more from the tribe. The… Read More
    AUGUSTA – The Maine House and Senate voted Friday to allow the Penobscot Indian Nation to operate 400 slot machines at its high-stakes bingo facility on Indian Island, but the bill faces an uncertain fate with a gubernatorial veto threatened. The 101-38 House vote meets… Read More
    WASHINGTON – Indian gambling pulled in $25 billion in 2006, 11 percent more than the year before as the industry’s explosive growth outpaced Las Vegas. Federal figures announced Monday, compiled from 387 tribal facilities in 28 states, show Indian gambling revenue has nearly doubled in… Read More
    NEWPORT, R.I. – A hotel developer buying the Newport Grand slot parlor is pushing to change the state’s 10-year master contract with the gambling facility, according to a report published Sunday. The Cranston-based Procaccianti Group is promoting legislation that would extend the contract for five… Read More
    AUGUSTA – Gov. John Baldacci is creating a committee to review the tax structure for slot machine revenues. The executive order to form the panel was signed by Baldacci Friday following negotiations between the governor’s office, the Legislature and Penn National Gaming Inc., which operates… Read More
    AUGUSTA – Leaders of the Penobscot Indian Nation pressed their case Wednesday for legislation to permit them to operate 400 slot machines during high-stakes bingo games on their reservation on Indian Island, saying it’s “a necessity for us.” A bill that has received an 11-1… Read More
    BANGOR – Penn National Gaming Inc. gave the green light Monday to resume construction on its $131 million gaming and hotel complex on Main Street in Bangor, company spokesman Eric Schippers confirmed. News that workers will be back at the job site today came shortly… Read More
    BANGOR – Penn National Gaming Inc. and state officials may be close to a deal for getting construction crews back to the site of a $131 million gambling and hotel complex across Main Street from Bass Park. City officials meeting Saturday were told that Gov. Read More
    AUGUSTA – Members of the budget-writing Appropriations Committee were expecting ideas Tuesday from both Hollywood Slots at Bangor and the harness racing industry in response to proposals before the panel to take more of the revenue from slot machines to help balance the state budget. No one showed… Read More
    AUGUSTA – The Legislature’s Legal and Veterans Affairs Committee voted Monday to recommend allowing the Penobscot Nation to operate 400 slot machines in conjunction with its high-stakes bingo games on Indian Island. But the proposal faces strong opposition, including a likely veto by Gov. John Baldacci. Read More
    BANGOR – A legislative push to increase the state’s share of revenues from Hollywood Slots at Bangor could scuttle the company’s $131 million project in the city. Representatives of Penn National Gaming Inc., the Bangor facility’s parent company, confirmed Monday that the possibility of losing… Read More
    AUGUSTA – Hollywood Slots at Bangor would be “killed” if a proposal to increase the state’s share of slot machine revenue were included in the state budget and Maine’s harness racing industry would be “seriously hurt” by another series of proposals, lawmakers were told Thursday. Read More
    PLEASANT POINT – The Passamaquoddy Tribe wants the same gambling rights as Bangor, and that’s why it is continuing its battle to build a racetrack-casino operation – known as a racino – Down East. And a battle it will be, all summer long, now that… Read More
    A member of the Maine Gambling Control Board has resigned and is speaking out against proposals to expand the number of slot machines in Maine. In his resignation letter to Gov. John Baldacci, Mike Peters of Dixfield said the state must do all it can… Read More
    BANGOR – Construction will begin this week on Penn National Gaming Inc.’s $131 million gaming and hotel complex. Excavation and earthwork at the Hollywood Slots at Bangor project site, across Main Street from Bass Park, are complete, spokeswoman Amy Kenney said Saturday. googletag.cmd.push(function () {… Read More
    AUGUSTA – The state Senate on Wednesday followed the lead of the House and voted to give the Passamaquoddy Indian Tribe the green light for their proposed racino in eastern Maine, but the matter still appeared destined for the referendum ballot next fall. Senators voted… Read More
    AUGUSTA – The Maine House of Representatives voted 82-60 Tuesday in favor of a bill to allow the Passamaquoddy Indian Tribe to install slot machines at their proposed harness racing track in eastern Maine. The bill now goes to the Senate and faces at least… Read More
    AUGUSTA – Leaders of the Penobscot Indian Nation told lawmakers Monday that since the Hollywood Slots gambling facility opened in Bangor in late 2005, they have had a significant reduction in revenues from their high-stakes bingo games on Indian Island. They asked that 400 of the 1,500 slot… Read More
    The Maine Legislature is now considering a citizen-initiated bill for a major expansion of gambling in Maine. LD 805 will double the number of slot machines in the state, allow the Passamaquoddy Tribe for the first time to conduct high-stakes beano off their reservation, and expand off-track betting. Read More
    AUGUSTA – Supporters of a proposed Indian-owned racino in Washington County said Wednesday they plan to earmark a share of its revenues for college scholarships and hope to win legislative backing for the citizen-initiated bill by a “veto-proof” two-thirds majority. The Passamaquoddy Tribe said it… Read More