For those of you who have posted messages about Maine and I can tell from the posting that you love Maine as much as I do for it's natural beauty and wonderful, quiet way of life. The big dispute going on right now is a Las Vegas developer backed initiative to build a casino in Maine. They've tried so far to get approval to build in southern costal towns but all towns have voted it down except for one that's inland.There's a referendum on the ballot in November and if it doesn't pass then a casino cannot be built in Maine. Just curious on what everyone's thoughts are on how this will affect the "Maine" you all know and love.

As a former Mainer ( I grew up there), I have to say that I am in favor of this casino going into Maine. Actually, my sister lives about 15 miles from the proposed site. From my conversations with locals this past summer, it is still up for grabs, but almost every one of them says that the casino will bring a much needed economic boost to Southern Maine. The casino. if approved, will be located in Sanford, Maine, a short drive from the Maine Turnpike and Amtrack stop in Wells. The the jobs that go with the casino will be a big help to Mainers who live on low wage jobs. Sanford, Maine is a very economically poor town, as are alot of small Maine towns. Sadly, most of the younger kids who graduate leave the state because there are no jobs. The population of Maine is aging and real estate is sky high in southern Maine, pricing out alot of the locals. For purely economic reasons I am in favor of this. That's my opinion anyway.

A casino won't affect "Maine", it will affect the area immediately around it.
That said, I'm not sure if the plus of casinos, such as jobs, out-weights the minus.

Why will a casino not affect Maine but will affect the area immediately around it ? What is the area immediately around Maine - New Hampshire, Vermont ??

Well, put it this way, I'm heading off to Las Vegas on this Friday and I live in Portland. I think the casino is a perfect solution for the high taxes and low incomes in Maine. The Sanford area, where they're looking to put the casino, definately needs economic improvement and jobs, plus the land they're looking at putting it on is currently wasteland (aka a big sandpit). I say bring it on, maybe it will attract even more tourist dollars and bring the 10,000 new jobs to the state like they say it will. Also, an extra $200 million a year in the state's general fund won't hurt either.
I'm voting yes!!!

It won't affect THE ENTIRE STATE. It will affect the town it's located in.

Exactly, it will make the area that it's in liveable and productive for the "State's" economy. If I remember correctly, back in '93, this same tribe tried to put a casino in Calais, ME (way up north to those southern Mainers) and the southern Maine politicians voted it down, mainly because they figured it would drive tourist traffic away from them. So, they decided to put it a spot in southern Maine (now, we're getting all these "not in my backyard" responses). If we can't put it in Sanford area, where can they build the casino?? Obviously the southern Maine politicians won't let the highly outnumbered northern politicians put it in their part of the state??? Anywhere north of Bangor would welcome this!!!

The area that the booze hall and sucker grubing is slated for is an aquifier for Kennebunk,Kennebunkport and Wells water supply.It also abuts a conservation area known as The Kennebunk Plains.NO

Some of you are dreaming. Think about the impact of such a concentrated investment, focused control, and unrestricted cash flow on future Maine politics. Nevada is a one idea state, run by big money gambling interests. The same can happen here over time. Let's make the state more business friendly in other ways. Pollution comes in many forms including casinos. LV may be a fun place to visit but I wouldn't want to live there. Don't sell out to an illusion. Vote no!

I hardly think that one casino in Maine is going to turn it into Las Vegas. Many states now have casinos. They are neither the panacea nor the doom that people usually predict.

Considering so many New Englanders go to Mohegan Sun and Foxwoods, and both of these places haven't attracted low-lifes, crime, I think it would be a welcomed opportunity to an area that could use more tourist money. Big YES vote here!

Being from CT, the one drawback I can think of is that once you allow a native american tribe to build a casino, everyone is going to think they're an "indian" and want to build one too. It's happening all over CT and our tax dollars are going to hoardes of lawyers and politicians trying to prevent further casino development. Think about how you would feel if some guy came strolling up to your house and said he wants you to move out because his great great great great grandfather Chief Megahawk owns the land your house is on and he wants to reclaim it to build a casino on. Obviously frivilous to us but they're actually trying to bring such matters to court in CT. So far, common sense has prevailed, but like I said, it does cost taxpayer money and a lot of grief for those affected.

Here's a thought ( from experience) that doesnt seem to come up often..til after the fact, unfortunately.
I live in an area also debaitng an "Indian" casino and come from the ast where we did get one. The casino provides lots of jobs and higher-than-average rates. Good, right!? sounds good. The problem in our area (75 mi radius) was that every small biz or minimum-wage job couldn't get filled. there are no handymen, no home-health aides, nobody to work at the dry cleaner, the drugstore,the nursing homes, th e library, the grocery store,motels,nobody to deliver newspapers, because any breathing moron can get a job bussing tables for $8, with benefits. So even in the places that survivced, service is poor due to few workers..which only makes it bad for the RESIDENTS.

It wreaked havoc on our economy and so many small biz's shut down becasue they HAD NO HELP and cant afford to pay $12 an hour - which is what the casino hotel started their hotel maids and desk clerks at..no less the higher paid jobs - bartenders, dealers, etc.

So yes the Indians are wealthy - billions annually, tax free...but all the "new business" the casino was to draw to the town didnt happen....if they came to gamble, they stayed at the swank casino hotel, ate at the casino, spent $$ at its shops. Those visitors have McDonalds and cafes and movie theaters & newsstands in their own hometowns..when they come to the casino that's where they leave their money.

Its a shame, and in all the letters to the editor and radio calls I hear, pro and con, that never comes up.

That's a good point!!! BUT there is also a high concentration of tourist attractions in this area and I think there's plenty to go around. The casino and the ocean resorts both attract different type of visitors and workers. A lot of the hospitality workers in the summertime in Maine are from out of state (or out of the country for that matter). We actually lose a lot of our full-time jobs in southern Maine to positions in NH and MA anyways, so why not have a business that will generate income and business opportunity for people that don't want to leave the state for another job. Maybe it will even keep them working in state?? This is starting to remind me of the whole WalMart issue when they first came to town: NO ONE WANTS IT, BUT EVERYONE AND THEIR RELATIVES GO THERE