Gambling In the Hands of Voters in Maine
Thursday, April 1st, 2010Yesterday the House in Maine decided to contemplate gambling within the state. The Oxford Casino bill was scheduled to go to the voting floor this November, thus allowing people to make a decision on the issue. Now, there is a long list of bills looking to be brought to the ballot later this year and it promises to offer voters a bigger choice as to what they want to happen with the issue of gambling within the state of Maine.
Many states in the US are in the midst of debates over gambling. Legislators are pushing hard for legalization due to the overwhelming amount of tax-revenue dollars available. They know that the recession created huge budgets and deficits to overcome. With deficits in the millions, it is hard to find money-generating activities that are going to help overcome and bring in the huge dollars needed. Gambling is a hopeful alternative to future cut-backs in spending and financial disaster.
The Passamaquoddy Tribe and Hollywood Slots are two entities that are happy about the vote that took place. It means that the decision is in the hands of the people and that’s a good thing. To both operators, it means that they will have adequate time to petition and advertise the many virtues of allowing gambling into the state. Just like other US states are voicing their support of gambling legalization and regulation, so Maine is joining in the campaign. If the vote is to be put off until November, residents of the state can expect a lot of promotion in the form of TV ads, print ads, flyers and radio spots. The main goal will be to showcase how gambling would bring in a wide range of job opportunities. This is a chord that hits a note with many of the voting public due to the soaring unemployment rate. If various entities that want gambling can focus on the good it will bring to the state and to the local market, then they have a shot at a positive vote in November of this year. There are still those who oppose gambling, but the advantage of more tax-revenue dollars and employment may be too big a point for them to argue against.

