AUGUSTA – The state Senate on Wednesday followed the lead of the House and voted to give the Passamaquoddy Indian Tribe the green light for their proposed racino in eastern Maine, but the matter still appeared destined for the referendum ballot next fall.

Senators voted 22-12, with one absent, to allow slot machines at the tribe’s proposed harness racing track, which it envisions as a destination resort in Washington County. The House voted a day earlier to allow the slots.

State law closely regulates slot machines and the conditions under which they operate. The proposal voted on Wednesday would double the number of slots allowed in the state, which is now set at 1,500.

But even if the bill is enacted by lawmakers, it faces a veto threat by Gov. John Baldacci, who already has vetoed two similar Down East racino measures. In each chamber, the bill fell short of the two-thirds support that would be needed to override a veto.

The bill was sent before lawmakers through a citizen initiative. If it’s rejected in the State House, it must go to voters in November’s statewide election – a process some lawmakers say has been followed regularly with gambling proposals and should be followed this time.

Wednesday’s Senate vote followed a debate in which a leading supporter, Sen. Kevin Raye, pleaded for passage of a measure he said will help Washington County lift itself from long-standing economic stagnation.

Raye, R-Perry, said Washington County’s poverty rate is 60 percent higher than that of the rest of the state, while incomes are below the rest of Maine “by a considerable margin.”

He asked senators to support a measure he said would bring an infusion of cash into the county, helping to revitalize its economy.

“We’re not asking for help from others,” said Raye, adding that the legislation would help to “lift ourselves up by the bootstraps.”

An opponent, Sen. Ethan Strimling, said casinos don’t necessarily bring prosperity, and in many cases in other states, they weaken local economies. Strimling, D-Portland, said the matter deserves to be sent before voters.

“We cannot stand aside and say all you need to do is buy 50,000 signatures and put them before us, and we will [allow] a casino,” said Strimling.