Slots at Scarborough a dead issue for now

PORTLAND – The prospect of introducing slot machines at Scarborough Downs apparently will not be on the Legislature’s radar screen during the upcoming session.

Neither Penn National Gaming nor Scarborough Downs plans to pursue legislation this session to develop a racino at the southern Maine harness racing track.

Instead, lawmakers will focus on regulating slots at Bangor Raceway, where Penn National plans to have the machines up and running by mid-2006. The company is focusing on a bill that would allow regulators, but not the public, to review corporate and personal information submitted to the state for a slot license.

Other racino-related bills before the Legislature would ban ATMs at racinos and create a tax on the winnings of out-of-state residents who gamble in Maine.

Voters last year approved a referendum that allows slot machines at Maine’s two commercial harness tracks. But because the Downs and Penn National failed to win local approval, they would need new legislation to open a racino.

“It is not even a twinkle in our eye right now,” said Robert Tardy, a lobbyist for the Downs. He said the track wants the Bangor racino to open first and give Mainers a chance to see what it is like.

Eric Schippers, vice-president of public affairs for Penn National, said the company is concentrating at this point on getting the Bangor racino started. The company got a conditional license in November, but cannot operate slot machines until it supplies regulators with a variety of information about its finances and executives.

Penn National has not turned over the information because under Maine’s current law it could be open to review by the public. Schippers said the information includes trade secrets and personal data about company officials and their families.