RACE TO THE START

It is understandable that Shawn Scott wants to burst out of the starting gate with his racino in Bangor. But the governor’s office and the state’s Harness Racing Commission are wise to rein in the project while so many unanswered questions remain. There are questions about the regulation of racinos – a new breed of betting parlor in Maine, – about the social and financial impact of slot machines at horse racing tracks and about Mr. Scott and his past business dealings. Until these issues are resolved, the state is right to proceed with caution.

In a clear attempt to force the state’s hand, Capital Seven hurriedly sent a check to the commission earlier this week to cover the licensing fees for slot machines set forth in the Nov. 4 referendum approved by voters. This despite the fact that the legislation approved by voters won’t go into effect for another month and the commission won’t begin deliberations until Dec. 15 on whether to issue a harness racing license to Capital Seven. In attempt to further speed the process, crews from Cianbro showed up to begin work on the Bangor Raceway on Wednesday.

There are so many racino-related activities happening on so many fronts, it is hard to keep track. In Bangor, a group – including two city councilors – is circulating a petition seeking to revisit the agreement the city signed with Capital Seven to develop the racino at Bass Park. Another city councilor – who works for Capital Seven – suggested that such efforts, coupled with the city’s ongoing discussions with other potential racino developers, could lead to legal action initiated by Mr. Scott’s company.

In southern Maine, it has been revealed that Mr. Scott is associated with a political action committee that is campaigning against the opening of a racino near Scarborough. One day Mr. Scott denied any involvement. The next he admitted that his company was behind the PAC.

On the state level, the Maine Supreme Judicial Court will rule any day on whether documents about Mr. Scott and his companies that the harness racing commission has collected should be made public. At the same time, the attorney general is analyzing the racino law to see where – and there are many places – it should be strengthened or clarified.

Given all this activity, it makes sense for everyone to hold their horses. First, anything done involving slot machines before the new racino law goes into effect in 30 days, such as installing them at Bass Park before year’s end as Mr. Scott said he intended to do, is a criminal offense.

Second, a regulatory agency set up to handle possibly thousands of new slot machines must be established before a racino is opened. This entity should ensure the best oversight while also seeking a way to minimize negative impacts – financial, social and otherwise – on the state and Bangor.

Mr. Scott is partly right that some of these issues should have been worked out before the November vote. Clearly, the legislation, which among its many deficiencies provides no funds to the state to cover the cost of racino regulation and only $250,000 at most for gambling addiction treatment, is flawed. But, with so much attention devoted to defeating a tribal casino in southern Maine, the racino question passed without enough scrutiny. Part of the blame for these problems lies with the Bangor City Council which was eager to saddle up one horse without sizing up other potential rides.

Going forward, state and local officials can learn from their mistakes and pay close attention to the details as licenses are considered and agreements made. They can only do so by going slowly.