Gov.: Population Can't Sustain 5 Casinos

Gov. Calls Mayor's Claim A Lie
Battle Brewing Over Maine Racinos


WATERVILLE, Maine -- Gov. Paul LePage says he doesn't think Maine is in a position to support five casinos and racinos in the state.

LePage made his comments Thursday in response to an audience question following a speech at Colby College in Waterville.


Mainers will vote Tuesday on two statewide referendum questions seeking approval for racinos in southern and eastern Maine, and a casino in Lewiston.

Maine now has a racino in Bangor and a casino under construction in Oxford.

The governor didn't tell people how they should vote, but said the state's small population can't support five gambling locations.

Lewiston Mayor Larry Gilbert was quoted in MaineTodayMedia saying he suspected that lobbyists from Black Bear Entertainment, which is building a casino in Oxford, are influencing the governor. "I smell a rat," he said.

LePage issued the following statement about Gilbert's comment;

"I have a degree in finance and economics and I do not see how five casinos in Maine can be sustained. We have a population of 1.3 million and we earn 82 percent of the national average per capita income. Connecticut has 3.5 million people and they can barely support two casinos. I don’t see how the State can sustain five casinos. Mayor Gilbert’s accusations are a bold faced lie. I do not gamble. The only gambling I do is I get up in the morning and go to work and hope I get home safely. That’s my biggest gamble.’’