Baldacci vows to veto off-track slots Proposal passed by legislators allowing machines would be rejected, he says

Gov. John Baldacci said he’ll veto a proposal passed by legislators in June to expand slot machines into off-track betting parlors in Bangor, Waterville, Sanford, Brunswick and Lewiston.

Baldacci met with racino supporters Thursday to listen to their concerns but said he still intended to veto the bill. The bill passed by more than two-thirds majorities in the House and Senate in June. If all of the lawmakers remain true to their last recorded votes on the measure, an override of any gubernatorial veto would be assured.

Meanwhile, the Bangor Daily News learned late Friday that in August representatives of the five betting parlors, Capital Seven LLC (the company seeking to open a racino at Bass Park), Scarborough Downs, and Maine horsemen’s and racing associations signed an agreement to stage a cooperative effort to promote legislation legalizing the ownership and operation of slot machines and video lottery terminals at both commercial tracks and off-track betting locations in the state.

Lee Umphrey, spokesman for Gov. Baldacci, said Friday that the governor’s office received a copy of the agreement signed by all of the racing organizations on the day after Election Day.

“We were perplexed by this prenuptial agreement,” Umphrey said. He said Baldacci’s office was reviewing the agreement and its potential implications. The legal ramifications of the agreement weren’t immediately obvious.

The proposal to allow slots at off-track betting parlors – or “OTBs” – was supported by the harness racing industry and approved by legislators in June. It would allow up to 200 slot machines at most OTBs, and more at those owned by commercial racetracks. But if the governor vetoes the bill, as promised, the betting machines could be located only at racinos at Bangor and at or near Scarborough.

In the document, Capital Seven agreed to actively support the industry bill to allow slots at the OTBs. In return, the OTBs agreed to support the November referendum, which passed with 53 percent of the vote.

John Miller, owner and operator of Miller’s Restaurant and its OTB, said the agreement was seen as a way to keep OTBs afloat after they had propped up the racing industry during recent years. Part of the OTB revenues has gone to the harness tracks for bigger purses. Some say they have been a means of life support for the industry.

Miller hopes the agreement will prompt Baldacci to work with the OTBs and Capital Seven to give everyone a “level playing field,” meaning there would be slots at both the racinos and the OTBs.

The legislation passed in June, LD 1361, would give shares of OTB slot profits to the state, harness racing programs, agricultural fairs and commercial tracks. The agreement signed in August and kept secret until recently was also reportedly signed by the Maine Harness Horsemen’s Association, the Maine Standardbred Breeders and Owners Association, and the Maine Agricultural Fairs Association.

Baldacci has said all along that he would veto the bill, but he has to wait for the Legislature to reconvene so lawmakers can have an opportunity to try to override the veto, Umphrey said.

Peter Martin, owner of John Martin’s Manor in Waterville, said he hopes members of the industry can convince Baldacci and the Legislature to incorporate provisions in the bill with the recently adopted racino legislation.

For instance, the OTB bill gives the Department of Public Safety enforcement jurisdiction over the slot machines. The racino bill puts that responsibility in the hands of the Maine State Harness Racing Commission.

“I think it’s going to be a process that evolves over the next month or two – looking at two pieces of legislation, and how they can work together,” he said.