Gov. John Baldacci’s long-awaited bill tightening the rules around slot machines in Maine would create a five-member gambling control board and likely include a way of limiting the number of slots allowed in the state, according to those familiar with the legislation.

An outline of the 20-page bill is set to be unveiled today, with a final version coming later in the week, Baldacci said Tuesday, noting that a draft is currently circulating among legislative leaders.

“Even if we disagree with it, my job is to make sure that if [slots] are coming – and they are – we need the best possible regulatory oversight under the best possible circumstances,” said Baldacci, who, unlike the majority of Maine voters, opposed the Nov. 4 referendum allowing slots at the state’s two harness racing tracks.

Just as important as what the bill does include could be what it does not.

The governor’s bill does not – as some gambling opponents had hoped – include a provision allowing voters an opportunity in June to reconsider allowing slots at the state’s harness racing tracks.

“I want another bite at the apple,” said Casinos’ No! spokesman Dennis Bailey, whose group is assisting racino opponents in Saco and Westbrook in their efforts to derail a plan to put slots at Scarborough Downs. “The voters were sold a bill of goods the first time, and if the governor has put together an acceptable deal, they should be able to decide on that, too.”

That stance received little support – and even a harsh rebuke – from some in Augusta.

“The governor is respectful of the voters,” said Baldacci spokesman Lee Umphrey, dismissing Bailey’s call for a new vote. “It’s easy for a person who’s not elected by the people to make that suggestion, especially someone who makes his money running campaigns.”

House Minority Leader Joe Bruno flatly said his GOP caucus would not support any attempt to send the matter back to voters, 53 percent of whom backed the so-called “racino” referendum a little more than a month ago.

“If they feel so strongly about it, let them go get the signatures,” Bruno said, referring to the citizens petition process needed to put the issue out to referendum.

Although some parts of the new bill are still under review, the governor said his legislation would remedy a number of deficiencies in the original bill.

Among them, the bill would eliminate a provision that grants an automatic license to operate slot machines to those holding a 2003 harness racing license.

The newly created gambling board, which would come under the purview of the Department of Public Safety, would assume responsibility for licensing slot machine operators from the Maine Harness Racing Commission.

The commission, which would continue to oversee harness racing, is set to meet next week to consider an application from Las Vegas developer Shawn Scott to place 250 slot machines at the Bangor Raceway by Jan. 3.

Henry Jackson, the commission’s executive director, said that the licensing hearings, set to begin Dec. 15, were still on as of Tuesday.

The bill is also likely to increase the state’s share of the slot machine revenue, according to lawmakers familiar with the legislation. Under the existing law, the state would receive 25 percent of the slot revenue. But an analysis from the state’s Office of Fiscal and Program Review suggested that the existing racino law would still cost the state more than it would contribute because of administrative costs and lost lottery revenue.

Christen Graham, spokeswoman for Scott and his company, Capital Seven LLC, said she would reserve comment on the new legislation until company officials could review it.