Oxford County casino proposal doesn’t pass ‘straight face test’

After voters shot down proposals to build a casino in Sanford in 2003, and a racino in Washington County last November, I figured the gaming industry in Maine held a losing hand, even with the slot machines ringing away in Bangor. However, a newly formed corporation, Evergreen Mountain Enterprises, is going all-in with a proposal to build a new casino in Oxford County.

I don’t object to casinos. You won’t find my name on the CasinosNO donor list. Casinos often bring new jobs and economic development to regions that could use a boost to the local economy. I even voted for that Washington County Racino last year, disappointing some of my Republican colleagues convinced that gambling contributes to a breakdown of values.

This latest proposal Evergreen dealt us isn’t passing the straight face test, however, and I’m calling their bluff. After reading the legislation, I’m convinced the Oxford County Casino proposal is a losing bet for Maine.

Proponents of the casino will soon begin their campaign to convince us that the legislation is great for Maine. They will tell us that, in addition to new jobs and increased tourism, nearly 40 percent of casino profits will go toward government programs to improve healthcare, education and economic development. They won’t tell us their proposal gives Evergreen a monopoly on gaming in Maine, or that it changes state law to maximize the number of gamblers, and thus their profit, at their casino. What they won’t say is just how much of a money-grab this proposal really is.

The authors of this casino proposal are clever. They wrote the legislation in such a way that if voters approve the measure, the potential flood gate of new casino proposals is immediately closed. By placing a moratorium on any new casinos for 10 years, Evergreen would be free to operate without any competition for a decade. Without other casinos attracting gamblers elsewhere in Maine, Evergreen would have written its gambling monopoly into law. If Evergreen is truly pushing for new jobs and economic development in Maine, why would it want to shut down those same opportunities in other regions across the state?

This brings me to money-grab No. 2, which is even more blatant than the 10-year gambling monopoly. Evergreen’s casino proposal would lower Maine’s legal gambling age from 21 to 19. By lowering the gambling age, Evergreen seeks higher profits from a younger, more naïve and free spending class of Mainers. Evergreen would just love to see high school graduates doubling down their tuition money.

I don’t mean to be a traitor to my generation, but I remember just a few years ago how reckless my own spending habits were on things as innocent as DVDs and Dunkin Donuts. I didn’t have high-stakes beano or blackjack at my disposal. Maybe Evergreen can persuade Joe Camel to put the hip leather jacket back on and cut a few ads.

There’s more in this proposal to which we can object. Throwing money at a laundry list of government programs to pander to potential opponents or the undue influence Evergreen’s eventual president would have over many state government programs and agencies, for example. But these issues are for another author to raise (it’s your move, Dennis Bailey). Evergreen is using Maine’s citizen initiative process to change the laws to maximize its profits in an underhanded way, and that is my primary objection.

Evergreen and its casino supporters might label me a hypocrite, whether in public or just around their private poker table. After all, I signed the petition to put their Oxford County Casino question on the November ballot. Maine is fortunate to have a citizen initiative process written into its state constitution, and I believe that citizens pushing for a change in the law deserve an up or down vote on their ideas. But, I also signed the petition to put a medical marijuana question on the ballot, and in college I signed a petition to form a Wiccan student group, but I doubt you will find too many people branding me a spell-casting stoner.

I support citizens taking an active role in their government and advancing an idea they believe will benefit Maine. I don’t support writing money-grabs in the form of monopolies and lower gambling ages into law just to line somebody’s pockets.

Chris Cinquemani is the communications director of Maine Leads, an Augusta-based non-profit working for lower taxes and government transparency in Maine. Chris previously served as field coordinator and communications director for the 2006 Taxpayer Bill of Rights Campaign, communications director for the Maine Senate Republican Office, and state director of the 2007 No More Than 4 Campaign to oppose extending term limits for state legislators.