The republican Fred Moore is planning a meeting with Calais business leaders who will discuss slots gambling facility among other urgent issues. The state representative of the Passamaquoddy Tribe presented legislation that would allow Indian tribes in Maine to maintain high stake slot and bingo machines anywhere across Washington County. However, the bill would still have to pass quite a long venue till it is forwarded to a poll. Moor added that this could serve as a consolidation of tribe's gambling interests in the state as it allows for up to 1,500 slot machines in Washington County when the facility is owned by the tribes who are eager to participate.
Moore emphasized that his proposal is not tied to any particular location but would acknowledge any chosen site in the county. He expressed uncertainty about the way the bill would be accepted by his fellow legislators in Augusta as past experience has shown the opposition is quite probable both from in and outside of the state capital. The last year tribe's attempts to establish a high-stake bingo hall in Washington was obstructed by the former gaming partner, the Penobscot Nation which has already managed its own bingo hall on its reservation north of Old Town.
Calais voters, back in 1992 supported the idea of tribe's building a casino hall, but the Legislature wiped out the project two years later. Two years ago, the casino plan at Passamaquoddy-Penobscot was revoked but slots at the state's commercial harness racing tracks in Bangor and Scarborough were authorized. In 2006, a grand opening of a racetrack-casino is scheduled to take place.
