Question 2: Slot machines, harness racing debated

By Natalie Bazinet
Staff Writer
    While many have lumped the Citizen Initiative Questions Two and Three together, they are both comprised of independent ideas with unique results.
    Question 2 asks citizens “Do you want to allow a slot machine facility at a harness racing track in Biddeford or another community within 25 miles of Scarborough Downs, subject to local approval, and at a harness racing track in Washington County, with parts of the profits from these facilities going to support specific state and local programs?
    A “yes” vote on Question Two will, pending local approval, allow for the creation of two slot machine facilities at harness racing tracks — one either in Biddeford or a neighboring community of Scarborough Downs and another slot machine facility at a harness racing track in Washington County. A portion of profits gleaned from both new slot machine facilities would go toward supporting specific state and local programs.
    A ‘no” vote on Question Two would deny the creation of the previously mentioned slot machine facilities.
    Voters groups supporting either “yes” or “no” on Question Two have emerged across the state, both equally adamant about gaining support for their views. Such organizations include the “yes” endorsing group “Putting Maine to Work, and the “no” endorsing group “CasinosNO!” — both of which feel that a majority vote in their favor will positively impact Maine.
    According to Crystal Canney, communications director of “Putting Maine to Work,” a “yes” vote will “put 1,300 people to work in Biddeford and hundreds more in Washington County. A good job is a solution to many problems.”
    Canney also cites that the Biddeford proposal would create the only entertainment facility of its kind in southern Maine, featuring a state of the art harness racing track, resort and entertainment complex. She also mentioned that a “yes” on Question Two would provide more than $34 million a year in new state revenues in these difficult times and strengthen the state’s harness racing industry, “which has been in serious financial trouble,” Canney wrote. “That, in turn, will help preserve more than 1,500 jobs and also preserve tens of thousands of acres of open space.”
    But CasinosNO! Executive Director Dennis Bailey believes that Casinos do not represent true economic development.
    “They don’t produce a product, they don’t add value, [the proposed casinos] will not attract out-of-state tourists, they only take money from the local economy — money that would have been spent at local retail shops, restaurants, car dealers and other businesses,” he said.
    Bailey is also encouraging the public to vote “no” on Question Two because “contrary to what the proponents are saying, a casino will not help harness racing. In fact, the casino will compete for the gambling dollar and only hasten the demise of this traditional Maine sport.”
    He also Cited statistics that since Hollywood Slots of Bangor opened in 2005, the number of people attending and betting on harness racing in Maine has declined nearly 40 percent.