Dean Harrold

Dean Harrold: Official photo.There are parts about the Oxford County casino referendum that even its new proponents don’t like.

The bill has several provisions that have been questioned by the opposing group, CasinosNO! It lowers the gambling age in the state, allows 18-year-olds to work in the casino, gives the casino president a seat on every board getting profits from the project, and requires that no more gambling facilities be built in the state in the next 10 years.

The casino project’s new president Dean Harrold of Olympia Gaming in Las Vegas has come out against some of these provisions. Ray Poirier, a reporter with trade publication Gaming Today/Slots Today, wrote:

The group advocating for a casino in Oxford County has begun its advertising campaign, with two ads running in heavy rotation Sunday.

Vote Yes On 2 For Maine is the Political Action Committee formed to support the casino effort, launched by a citizen’s initiative.

Last week the Olympia Group, a Las Vegas development group, bought controlling interest in the casino project from Evergreen Mountain Enterprises, a company created by Rumford attorney Seth Carey.

The Olympia Group, a Las Vegas gaming company, has taken over the Oxford County Casino project.

The casino project launched as a citizen’s initiative, and goes to the ballot in November. It was spearheaded by Evergreen Mountain Enterprises, a Rumford company created by Attorney Seth Carey for the project.

The sale was announced today at a press conference in Portland.

Dean Harrold, Vice Chairman of Olympia Gaming, will be the new president of the casino if it is approved. Harrold has held several top positions in Vegas, including as past president and chief operating officer of Caesars Palace.