Bangor accepts ‘racino’ City voters bet on slot machines at Bass Park

BANGOR – Residents made it apparent Tuesday they are ready to pull the lever on slot machines at the city’s commercial harness racing track in the hope of a big payoff for the area’s economy.

With all nine precincts reporting, voters approved a citywide referendum on allowing slots at Bass Park, 57 percent to 43 percent. The actual tally was 2,917 in favor with 2,199 opposed. Voter turnout was 30.1 percent, compared with statewide voter turnout on the jobs bond of 13.4 percent.

The referendum question was prompted by a proposal from Shawn Scott, the Nevada developer whose company, Capital Seven LLC, hopes to build Maine’s first “racino,” or racetrack casino, at the city-owned harness racing track.

“Today’s endorsement by Bangor voters was an extremely important step in moving forward with the plans for the Bangor Historic Raceway,” Scott said after the vote. “We thank all of our supporters for their help and their vote of confidence in our project.

“All of us affiliated with the track are excited about building a long-term partnership with the city of Bangor,” he said. “And that partnership begins today, as we will build on this local approval to secure a successful statewide vote in November.”

Scott said he chose Bangor in part because it has been home to harness racing for more than 150 years.

“We are confident that with Bangor’s support behind us, our vision for redeveloping the Bangor Historic Raceway, creating new jobs, sharing revenues to support prescription drug coverage and providing a boost to Maine’s agricultural industry will be fully realized,” he said.

Capital Seven first approached the city with the proposal last fall. Advocates said the racino could bolster harness racing, which has been struggling, with revenue from slots.

Scott and his associates said the project would create hundreds of jobs and generate an estimated $75 million in annual revenue, 25 percent of which would go to the state for agricultural, social service and education programs.

“It goes to so many great causes that once people realize it, how can they not support it?” Scott said earlier Tuesday.

The city stands to gain a minimum of $1 million from the slot revenues, according to the developers. However, if the developers’ revenue projections of $71 million hold up, the city could realize new revenue of close to $2.5 million each year.

The developer also would pay $420,000 in annual rent and about $700,000 in property taxes on a $30 million facility, bringing the city’s total take from the property to between $2.1 million and $3.6 million.

A “yes” vote during Tuesday’s citywide election is one of the obstacles Scott needed to overcome if he is to carry out his $30 million plan.

Remaining hurdles for Scott’s racino plan include negotiating a development agreement with the city of Bangor – owner of Bass Park and the raceway – and winning statewide approval for racetrack slot machines on Nov. 4.

Scott also needs a state pari-mutuel racing license. In January, the Maine Harness Racing Commission issued Scott a conditional license for 2003, pending the results of a state-mandated background check.

Scott said that if his racino plan succeeds, he would rely on some of the people who have kept the track viable during its recent lean times.

“We have a great group who have been operating the track for the last 10 years. Our hope is that nearly all of them would stay on,” he said.