News

Maine senator wants 'racino' ATM-free

February 14, 2005

The Portland Democrat: Maine Sen. Ethan Strimling thinks slot machines are the "crack cocaine" of the casino world, preying on a small minority of patrons who are incapable of exercising fiscal restraint. As the state capital of Bangor prepares to become Maine's first city to permit slot machine operations as part of its "racino" facility at Bass Park, Strimling wants to make sure no ATMs are on the premises to entice players into spending more than they can afford during an evening's entertainment.

"Allowing gamblers to use ATMs, credit and debit cards directly for gambling removes one of the last remaining checks on compulsive gambling - the need to walk away to find more cash to gamble."

Strimling's proposed legislation has attracted no supporters but many critics. Dimming its prospects for confirmation is the opposition of the Maine Gambling Control Board.

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