Insanity, or matter of time?
Albert Einstein said the definition of insanity is "doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results." By this measure, then, the misguided souls who keep pondering the establishment of casino gambling in Maine must indeed be crazy.
Recently, a group of Portland businessmen with ties to Oxford County have revived the notion of a resort casino there. They've registered a political action committee, but told the Portland Press Herald they haven't decided whether to launch another citizen initiative to legalize gaming.
If they do, this group would be the latest in a long line of interests trying to achieve what, in Maine, could be called the "Gaming Quest." That is, earning popular support for a casino somewhere within its borders, while slaying the fire-breathing dragon of an opponent known as Casinos No!.
The dragon's record is nearly spotless — four electoral victories, many additional legislative triumphs and only one loss: the 2005 approval of a racino in Bangor, Hollywood Slots. Casinos No! is a formidable foe, practiced and well-funded, whose thirst for the fight hasn't slaked.
So, given all these challenges, why does the casino idea persist? Because it would be lucrative, of course, but also because it could bring some soothing balm of prosperity to economically depressed rural regions of Maine. It remains attractive because it could work.
Not as something transformational, however; rather, as a brightener in an otherwise gloomy economic picture. Jobs are leaving rural Maine and not being replaced. Unemployment — and underemployment — are rampant. A casino could put people to work and make a profit too.
At first glance, this casino for Oxford County has only one thing in common with its predecessor: geography. Unlike the prior campaign, the backers for this resort are known, funded and respected. Just having the names Barber and Hancock cement their business bona fides.
And as investors in a ski area in Oxford County, Mt. Abram in Greenwood, possible synergies between the resort and eco-tourism are apparent. Plus, even without offering details, this group is already more forthcoming about its plans than the previous proponents, who stonewalled.
In the end, it was as much mistrust about its ownership — as well as its ludicrous enabling legislation — that doomed the prior casino. This group seems much more polished, skilled, and serious than its predecessors. This could make them a force to be reckoned with, if they choose to move forward.
Either way, the state's position on gaming remains precarious. Instead of proactively addressing casino gambling and neutering the influence of citizen-initiated legislation, lawmakers have done nothing. By now, the state has had a solid decade to decide how — if at all — this industry could grow here.
Only by luck and Casinos No! has the state avoided having casino gambling thrust upon it by the voters. Every gambler knows luck runs out, and so does money. How long can the state pretend gaming will just fade away? The odds are it won't.
Not as long as gambling turns a profit, and rural Maine suffers from economic decline. It may sound crazy to do the same thing, over and over again, and expect a different result, but with this state and gambling, it's anything but.
One might say it's only a matter of time.
Murph says
Casinos No is fronted by Dennis Bailey, the shrewd president/owner of Savvy, Inc., a Portland-based PR firm. But as owner of Savvy, Inc., Bailey's primary client for years was the Scotia Prince Cruises, the Portland-to-Nova Scotia ferry THAT ACTIVELY PROMOTED ON-BOARD GAMBLING ... at the exact same time Bailey was first leading the Casinos No campaign.
Wait, what?! Isn't that a conflict of interest? Killing off casinos on the jobs-starved mainland would most certainly benefit Bailey's big, off-shore gambling client. And no doubt his client Scotia Prince Cruises rewarded Bailey for his effort$.
Yes, Dennis Baily was creating and placing ads and developing pro-gambling campaigns for his most lucrative client (Scotia Prince) while leading the anti-gambling crusade for another of his paying clients (Casinos No).
But don't expect any investigative reporting done on him. Bailey is also a former Sun Journal and Press Herald reporter. Plus, he was also Tom Andrew's and Gov. King's press secretary. The Maine media, Sun Journal included, love this guy -- he's one of them!