The Folly of Taxpayer Bailouts for Racing as Excuse

Racing is dead. Patrons are dwindling.

Yet wealthy investors continue to promote the folly of saving a dead industry as an excuse to support expanded gambling, ignoring the impacts, using the same arguments everywhere.



CasinosNo!




A casino in Biddeford won't attract tourists from "all over the world." It won't even attract tourists from Massachusetts, which just approved four casinos. Like Hollywood Slots in Bangor, a Biddeford casino will just suck money out of the local economy, money that would have been spent at shops, restaurants, retail stores, car dealers. Jobs will suffer and businesses will close. That's what happens when a casino comes to town. Vote NO on Questions 2 & 3.


Racino debate at full gallop
Proponents, opponents campaigning strong
By DINA MENDROS

BIDDEFORD — Both proponents and opponents of building a racino in Biddeford are kicking into high gear as the November election, when voters will decide the issue, draws near.

On Thursday afternoon, at the North Dam Mill, Dennis Bailey, executive director of Casinos NO!, who has been fighting the proliferation of gambling in Maine for years, said there is no evidence that racinos or casinos revive downtown businesses. In fact, he said, the research he’s seen shows the exact opposite.

On the other side, a divergent group gathered to talk about why additional gaming facilities should not be approved by state voters. These included: Casinos NO!, No More Casinos Maine, Mainers Against A Rotten Deal as well as the Christian Civic League and Friends of Oxford Casino.

While many pro-casino advocates try to garner support by saying a casino can bring business to a downtown, Bailey instead said gambling facilities “compete with and hurt local business.”

But, said Robert Fisk Jr., spokesman for Maine Friends of Animals, harness racing is not good for horses. Race horses, he said, are mistreated. They spend 22 hours a day in their stall, they’re whipped repeatedly during races and many are drugged and are raced even when injured.

Carroll Conley, executive director of the Maine Christian Civic League, said there will be casualties of increased gambling in Maine and it will “destroy families.”

Although Biddeford’s current mayor supports the racino, former Mayor General Wallace Nutting attended the No on Question 2 press conference.

“I’m in total opposition,” he said. “There never has been anything good come out of a gambling joint.”

As to the effect of a racino on the downtown, he said, it “will suck the rest of the oxygen out of the downtown.”