AUGUSTA – Stymied by an unusually short legislative timetable and a governor irrevocably opposed to large-scale gambling, Maine’s Indian tribal leaders decided Monday to postpone plans for a $400 million casino in Kittery.

But supporters of the proposal predicted a casino bill could be back before the Legislature as soon as January when a new governor is apt to view the plan more favorably.

“We’ve listened to lots of people and one of the things that we’ve learned is that there is good and growing support for this proposal,” said Tom Tureen, a Portland attorney representing the tribes. “This opportunity to inform people was absolutely [invaluable].”

None of the three tribal leaders speaking during Monday’s State of the Tribes Address – Chief Barry Dana of the Penobscot Nation, Gov. Richard Stevens of the Passamaquoddy Tribe’s Indian Township reservation and Gov. Rick Doyle of the Passamaquoddy Tribe’s Pleasant Point reservation – ever whispered the word “casino.” Still, there were plenty of obvious references.

Dana said the tribes must improve economically to create opportunities not only for the Passamaquoddy and Penobscot tribes, but for all the people of Maine.

“We deserve the same opportunities to move forward from poverty to prosperity as our Indian brothers across the country have had, and we believe this will benefit all of us,” he said.

“All of us must look toward the future,” Stevens said. “We must charge ourselves with developing new types of business within Maine which will generate new sources of consistent funding for essential services such as health care and education.”

“We are eager to work with our neighbors in Washington County to help spur economic development in the region,” Doyle said. “Whatever the relationship grows into, statewide or locally, it needs to help me and my people break the cycle of dependency. We want to become self-sufficient.”

During a press conference in the Hall of Flags shortly after the tribal address to the Legislature, Doyle and Dana discussed their reasons for terminating efforts to get a casino bill to the floor in the current legislative session, which could conclude as soon as March 29, according to House and Senate leadership.

“We’ve been down here for a couple of weeks talking about this issue and we’ve gotten to meet a lot of legislators and decision makers,” Dana said. “I guess it’s our sense that maybe the timing isn’t right. It’s late in the session. We don’t want this to be hurried. We want it to be thoroughly looked at. And in our view, waiting a little longer is not a problem, because what’s worth having is worth waiting for. This is good for the tribes and it’s good for the state of Maine.”

Proponents of the proposed Penobscot-Passamaquoddy casino claim the gambling resort would rival the Foxwoods Casino in Mashantucket, Conn., and generate $50 million for the tribes and $100 million for the state’s General Fund annually. Tureen said the tribes were evaluating a 150-acre to 200-acre parcel near the interstate in Kittery for the casino, which would employ up to 4,000 people. The resort would rely on out-of-state players whom supporters claim would make up 80 percent of the casino’s customers.

Under the provisions of the 1980 Maine Indian Claims Settlement Act, the tribes need legislative approval to acquire land they intend to use for gambling purposes. Eight years ago, the Passamaquoddys unsuccessfully attempted to move a much smaller version of the casino bill through the Legislature. Doyle said that bill’s fatal flaw stemmed from the fact that the casino’s profits would have benefited only the Passamaquoddys.

“Now that the tribes have united so that all the tribes will be served, we can make a bigger project and also include the whole state of Maine,” he said.

The tribes’ announcement came days after Gov. Angus S. King all but promised to veto a casino bill should it reach his desk. Doyle denied that the governor’s looming threat influenced the tribe in any way, but Dana suggested the tribes wanted a better understanding of the subtle machinations in the legislative process.

“From a tribal perspective, the nuances of how the Legislature works is a little yet to be learned,” he said. “I think if we had formulated ourselves and our partnership a little earlier on in the process, we could have been a little more ready.”

Tureen said Mainers can expect to hear more about the tribes’ casino plans in the months ahead.

“The next step is to inform people, clarify the plan, answer questions and see what people think,” he said.