There’s a lot that the backers of the Oxford County casino aren’t telling the people of Maine about their proposal.
They love to talk about the (supposed) jobs and taxes it will bring, but ignore other important facts buried in the lengthy legislation that we’ll be voting on in November, such as:
- The Oxford County casino proposal would lower the legal age for gambling from 21 to 19. It would also lower the legal age to work in a casino from 21 to 18. So at a place that features slot machines, card games, roulette, craps and cocktails, we would have teenagers under the legal drinking age gambling and dealing cards. (I guess they’re not concerned with the fact that teen gambling is one of the fastest growing addictions in the country.)
- The Oxford County casino proposal would allow the casino to give credit to gamblers, currently prohibited under Maine law. So when a player has run out of cash, depleted his bank account and reached his limit on his credit card, he can still get credit from the casino owner. More evidence that the house always wins. (And if you don’t think that getting gamblers into debt is part of a casino’s business strategy, click here.)
- In their proposal, the owners of the Oxford County casino have written themselves a 10-year monopoly on casinos. If it passes, no other casino could be built in Maine, and no existing casino (Hollywood Slots) could have table games. If you’re against the spread of casinos, you might think that’s a good thing. On the other hand, the casino promoters often claim that casinos are great for economic development. If true, why should they be the only ones to operate one? If the Oxford County casino is built in Bethel, Rumford – and every other town in Maine – will be denied this wonderful “economic development” opportunity. Seems like the owners want to make sure their wallets are fattened and no one else’s.
- Under current law, in order to get a license to operate a casino an applicant must have “sufficient knowledge and experience” operating slot machines and table games. Since none of those associated with the proposed Oxford County casino have experience in the casino business, they’ve amended the law to allow them to be licensed as long as they “form a partnership with persons or entities” who have casino experience. In other words, the owners and backers of the Oxford County casino can’t possibly be licensed unless they have an experienced partner, and they know this. But who is that partner? Why aren’t they disclosing the partner’s identity? Will voters know who the true operators of the casino will be before they go to the polls in November?
These are just some of the hidden facts surrounding the proposed Oxford County casino. Buyer beware, or rather voter beware. There’s more to this latest casino proposal than its backers are willing to tell you.
For more information – and to donate to the campaign against the Oxford County casino – go to http://www.casinosno.org/
Dennis Bailey
CasinosNO!
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1 comment:
This is great info to know.
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