The State of Maine is regretting a 2003 decision that entitled the town of Bangor to bring in slot machines. They had a ban on the slots that they lifted as they felt that it would bring in much needed revenue to their state. The slot machines seemed as though they were the perfect answer to their problems. They are not the first state to consider bringing in slot machines, as many other states have done the same thing – and for many of them it has worked out nicely. Millions in revenue have been brought in by the machines, plus their residents get the fun of playing the slots, making it a win-win situation for the state.

However, when the State of Maine decided to bring slot machines into their state, the residents had not fully thought out the implications that this might have on their citizens. They have since changed their tune. The gambling has brought to light the seedier side of slot machines, in that it is not always rosy. There are those that play for the fun, but there are also those that play for a quick fix to an ongoing problem. They have found that many of their residents have a gambling problem, and the slots have made it all too easy for them to gamble. The money that has been coming in is from those with these gambling issues already, as well as the poorer of the state trying to fix money problems they already had. They are playing the slot machines with their paychecks, trying to double their amounts.

Citizens have decided that they want the lift reversed, and want the slot machines pulled from the state. The State’s Secretary has approved a petition to have the ban on slot machines reinstated, and the state’s citizens are extremely happy about the approval. The slot machine ban will come up for vote in 2007 and the state’s citizens think it can’t come soon enough.

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