Scarborough Trying for Slot Machines

Scarborough Downs is trying to get slot machines added to their track. There is one problem though, no one in the town wants slot machines. The track has tried once before to get the slot machines added, but the town voted their petition down. Now the track is putting it as part of a package deal. The area that the town wants developed into a community would be developed by the track as they own the land – but the town has to give them slot machines to get it.

They do have their supporters however, who say that by bringing in slot machines to the track they would be enabling the harness racing industry to make more money, which they badly need. They say that they cannot compete against the other tracks in other states that have already added slot machines, and thus their horses and owners are suffering for it.

They say that since Bangor raceway added slot machines to their track, purses have doubled in the state. They are still under the national average, but they would have been even further under had slot machines not been allowed. They say that Bangor has shown great success with very little problems, and they have had the slot machines since November of 2006.

However, opponents say not true as slot machines have brought problems with them. They say that Bangor’s slot machines have led to gambling addictions and that they are already trying to figure out how to work with Gamblers Anonymous to help those with problems – and they say to make it worse they haven’t even built their permanent structure to hold the slot machines yet. They say that this is reason enough for their town to veto the slot machines and if the community doesn’t get built because of it, then that is just too bad.

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