House passes bill allowing tribal racino

AUGUSTA – The Maine House on Tuesday gave its final approval to a bill that would allow the Passamaquoddy Indian Tribe to develop a racetrack casino in eastern Maine, leaving only a final Senate vote before the measure is sent to the governor.

But the 84-59 vote in the House still lacked a two-thirds majority that would be needed to override a veto, which Gov. John Baldacci has promised. An earlier Senate vote also narrowly missed the two-thirds threshold.

Even if it’s vetoed, or fails in the Senate, the initiated proposal is certain to go before Maine voters next November.

The Passamaquoddy tribe wants to give Washington County’s economy a shot in the arm by creating a harness-racing track with 1,500 slot machines, as well as a hotel, conference center, restaurants and other amenities.

Currently, the only slot machines in Maine are at Hollywood Slots, which is near the Bangor Raceway at Bass Park.

Under the proposal, the Passamaquoddy racino would have to be within 45 miles of either of its two reservations in the region and at least 100 miles from the Bangor Raceway, the nearest commercial track.