Biddeford councilor would ban all gambling Proposal aims to fuel discussion on casinos

BIDDEFORD – If residents don’t want casino gambling, Vince Keely figures all forms of gambling – including bingo – should be banned in the city.

Keely, a city councilor who supports a casino, said he intends to introduce an ordinance to do just that.

Keely said a measure banning all gambling will fuel further discussion on casinos.

“I’m just going by what the people said,” Keely said.

Residents this month rejected having the city negotiate for a casino resort complex by a vote of 4,761 to 2,964.

Biddeford had been targeted by the Passamaquoddy and Penobscot Indian tribes as a possible site for a $650 million casino and resort in southern Maine, but casino supporters say they won’t build it in any municipality that doesn’t want it.

Casinos are now illegal in Maine. But voters may have a chance to vote in a referendum next year on whether to legalize casino gambling.

Keely’s proposal to ban gambling on the local level is unlikely to halt the state-run lottery games that are sold at stores.

But the City Council must approve games of chance, such as bingo, and regularly gives approval for games at St. Louis Alumni, the Rochambeau Club, the Eagles and Le Voltigeur. The permits must be renewed annually, and require buildings in which the games are located to meet applicable city codes.

Some say a ban on bingo or video games could constitute hardship for the organizations.

But Clement Fleurent, a city councilor, said he would support a ban on all gambling in Biddeford. He said if people donated more to the church in the first place, the churches wouldn’t need to hold bingo games to raise money.

James Grattelo, a councilor who actively supported a casino in the city, said Keely’s proposal won’t get any support on the council other than from Fleurent.

“The fact of the matter is that people in Biddeford are not against gambling,” he said. “They just didn’t want a casino in Biddeford.”

At the least, Keely thinks raising the issue will give residents reason to re-examine the casino issue. “Maybe they’ll think harder and look closer the next time they have to vote,” he said.