Owned and operated by Penn National Gaming, Hollywood Slots at Bangor celebrated its first anniversary on Saturday. As the only slot machines venue in the state of Maine, the initial year of operation has produced better than expected results. Over US$17 million has been paid to Bangor and the state from the mandated 39% of slots revenue, and neither crime nor problem gambling statistics have seen an upward trend. However, anti-gambling group No Slots for ME!, which last year failed to gather enough signatures to obtain another referendum on the gambling issue, has yet to concede defeat and is undertaking a similar attempt to force a vote in 2007.

Hollywood Slots at Bangor, billing itself as ‘the Maine attraction’ and calling every player a star, offers 475 slot machines in a temporary venue converted from Miller’s Restaurant. Penn National hopes to open a permanent facility in due course with as many as 1,500 gaming machines. The Maine Gambling Control Board adopted a non-binding resolution last August that calls for a moratorium on any gambling expansion until more information on impact has been gathered and assessed. At the same time the Board authorized the renewal of Penn National’s operating licence for another year, following a public hearing and the results of studies that found no problems with the facility.

Gross gaming revenue has risen from just over US$28.5 million in November 2005 to nearly US$54 million in October 2006. Part of the mandated 39% of slots revenue goes to support harness racing in the state, including increasing racing purses, a sire stakes fund and a fund to encourage racing at Maine commercial harness racing tracks. Community College and University scholarships, health programmes and the Agricultural Fair also benefit. An estimated 2,400 players a day visit Hollywood Slots and the gaming machines are now averaging US$3,500 per day, giving Penn National a very good reason for celebration. (E-11.06.06)

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