Lawmakers last month upheld Governor John Baldacci’s veto of a bill that would have allowed the Penobscot Nation to deploy 100 slot machines to its Indian Island beano casino.
The House vote was 94-49, less than the two-thirds majority of both houses required to overturn the governor’s veto. Baldacci reiterated his stand that this issue should be referred to the voters.
“In my view, such expansions must gain the approval of Maine’s voters via the signature-gathering and referendum processes,” said the governor, who personally opposes gaming.
Last year voters defeated a proposal that would have allowed the Passamaquoddy Tribe to build a racino in Calais.
That was just the latest of five times that tribes have tried to obtain permission to operate casinos. There is one commercial casino in the state: Hollywood Slots, in Bangor. It is in the process of expanding into a permanent casino resort.
