Oxford County Racino Proposed

County Commissioner Caldwell Jackson of Oxford would like to see slot machines come to town. He proposed at the last selectman’s meeting held on May 1st that they approve up to 1,500 slot machines to come into the Oxford County Fairgrounds.

He appeared before the board to see if the town would ask its citizens if they are interested in bringing in the slot machines – to see if adding gambling to the racetrack is something that would prove profitable for the track. Thy agreed to hold a hearing, but did not set a date as they need the Oxford County Agricultural Society to be ready.

Jackson came prepared to state his case with information regarding bringing in the racino and how it relates to Penn National Gaming Inc.’s Hollywood Slots racino in Bangor. He showed that $609.7 million was spent at the racino’s slot machines and that both the state and the town of Bangor profited from it.

Jackson said that these numbers are based on 475 slot machines, and he is proposing 1,500 – which mean even more revenue for everyone. This fact alone probably had the most impact on the board, as they were all visibly impressed by the amount of money that could be made from such a large number of slot machines.

He wanted to be clear that bringing slot machines to the track was not related to the idea of bringing in the casino that Maine voters will be approving or rejecting in November. He says that the law that created the slot machines in Hollywood is the same law that would allow for another racino in Southern Maine if the voters approve it. Scarborough and Westbrook have both already tried for the racino and failed, and Jackson thinks that Oxford might stand a real chance at succeeding.
 

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