Expanding Gambling is a Mistake

Many think that Maine made a mistake when they allowed slot machine gambling to come to Bangor. There had been many attempts for slot machines to be legalized before, and each time they had been defeated – so when voters decided to legalize them this past time they didn’t realize they were opening the door to expanded gambling.

Now there is talk of expanding gambling and many are concerned with how it is progressing. There is no rhyme or reason to how the voters of Maine may choose to vote, and it is often noted that they will veto one bill only to approve another one just like it. Now with the idea of expanding gambling, they have often voted against it, but then they legalized it in Bangor – so who knows?

In 2003 they voted against an Indian gambling resort for Southern Maine, while they authorized slot machines at Bangor Raceway. Obviously a case of racial bias, the tribe called the state on it, but they claimed that it wasn’t. Many think that it was simply voted in because there were so many people fighting the big casino that they forgot to fight the smaller one. Because of that, they got a casino in even though they didn’t want one.

However, those slot machines are now becoming a $131 million gambling casino, and the tribe is back fighting for the right to have slot machines as well. The people of Maine, and their government can fight to keep the tribe from getting the slot machines, but in the end the tribe will win as it is their right by governmental law to be able to have the same gambling operations as the rest of the state.

Gambling is seemingly taking over the state, and voters have no one to blame but themselves – for if they hadn’t approved the slot machines at the racetrack, the tribe wouldn’t be able to have their either.

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