Casino Study Renews Hope for Maine’s Indian Tribes

AUGUSTA, Maine (AP) – Bolstered by new study that finds that Maine can handle more casinos, Maine’s American Indian tribes are renewing their push to bring slot machines to their communities.

The report, which lawmakers began examining Wednesday, suggests there’s room for another casino in southern Maine and potentially a smaller casino in Aroostook or Washington County.

Maine has casinos in Bangor and Oxford.

Representatives of the Passamaquoddy Tribe and the Houlton Band of Maliseet Indians say after the defeat of their casinos proposals last session, the study gives them hope that their efforts will be successful in the coming year.

But the $100,000 report by New Jersey-based WhiteSand Gaming is also drawing criticism from gambling opponents who say the Legislature is letting out-of-state entities decide what’s best for Maine.