The Maine Gambling Control Board has just passed a moratorium on any expansion of gambling until they can determine the risks involved in having the gambling.  They want to know “the effects of gaming, both tangible and intangible, on the people, the social fabric and the business infrastructure of Maine.” This would not be a bad idea, especially if it had come before the slot machines came to town. However, waiting until nine months after the slots have already been running, it seems to many a bit like putting the cart after the horse. 

When asked what sort of time frame residents were looking at, the board could not give an answer. It seems that the board has gotten nervous – understandably so when you look at the amount of money coming into Hollywood Slots in Bangor – just over $369 million. That is just for the last nine months – can you imagine what a couple of years will do for the industry? Last month their numbers were amazing - $51.7 million – for one month! 

The board understands that not all of that money is coming from residents pumping their hard earned quarters into the slot machines, but it can be assumed that quite a bit of it is from them. They are getting business from Ohio, New York, etc., but without knowing exactly how much is coming from the residents of Maine, the board wants to be sure that they are prepared for what this could mean in the long run. When figured out, money in minus money paid out, the slot machines ended up costing roughly $44 per visitor. That is $3.5 million in the pockets of the state (they get half) and the racino. The problem is, this formula assumes everyone lost the same amount, and any slot machine player will tell you – that just doesn’t work out.

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