Maine Casino News

OXFORD CASINO LOOKING FOR A SIGN OF THE TIMES...
As that old song by the Five-Man Electrical Band says, "Signs, signs, everywhere signs..." But in Maine, in 1977, legislature made the opposite happen - they were the second state to ban odd-site billboards. But now, Maine lawmakers are lining up behind nine bills that would grant variances to state sign regulations for individual businesses and attractions, one of which would impact Oxford Casino. Rep. Roger Jackson, R-Oxford, cited the casino's "incredible economic boost" to his region as the reason why he's asking for signs near the Gray and Auburn exits of the Maine Turnpike to direct traffic to the casino.

Although the Oxford Casino meets traffic measures that could warrant road signs, it's the turnpike authority's policy not to erect signs for private businesses, though there are many exceptions.

Scott Smith, a spokesman for Oxford Casino, said the casino estimates it has drawn 360,000 visitors via the turnpike and around 600,000 overall. I guess Maine legislature interest is a "Sign" of the times...

THE STATE'S FIRST CONFERENCE ON PROBLEM GAMBLING TO BE HELD MARCH 7th
The Maine Office of Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services said the conference, at 74 Drummond Ave. from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., will focus on raising awareness about problem gambling and promoting responsible gaming. Conference co-sponsors include the SAMHS office, the Maine Gambling Control Board, the Bureau of Alcoholic Beverages and Lottery Operations, Hollywood Casino and Oxford Casino. It will coincide with National Problem Gambling Awareness Week, which is this week, March 3 to 9.

The keynote speaker will be Lesa Densmore, a Maine native who struggled with and overcame an addiction to gambling. Other sessions will focus on responses to gambling problems in Maine.

Interest in a social problem of addiction that can accompany Casino expansion has been has been a concern for Maine's two casinos since their opening - supporting the effort to prevent problem gambling.  For a small group – estimated nationally at 2 to 3 percent of gamblers – it progresses to the point of dipping into savings and money for other needs and becomes an addiction that "just comes to a point where it consumes their lives."

Christine Theriault, prevention manager for the Office of Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services. said it's wrong to blame such problems solely on the casinos, noting that many forms of legal gambling predate the casinos by decades, including state-run lotteries and legal bingo games.

Maine continues to expand it's casino revenues as well as it's responsibility to it's communities and state patrons. Slow and steady worked for the tortoise, and that process will consideration to it's gambling patrons needs are a winning combination.

That''s all for now!

Binbin