AUGUSTA (AP) – Penn National Gaming, advancing toward its goal of becoming Maine’s first operator of slot machines, received a permanent harness racing license for Bangor Raceway on Thursday.

The Maine Harness Racing Commission vote was 4-1.

The Pennsylvania-based company still must obtain a license from the Gambling Control Board before 1,500 slot machines can be put on line. Mainers last November supported a referendum that allows slot machines at the track.

A decision on that license could come later this month.

“We are optimistic we will change the face of harness racing in Maine,” said Steven Snyder, senior vice president of corporate development for Penn National.

Christian Smith, an independent accountant hired by the commission, gave an overview of Penn National finances but did not reach a conclusion whether Penn National met a financial responsibility standard. He said he needed more information from the company, including its federal tax returns.

Assistant Attorney General John Richards urged the commission to postpone its vote until Smith reviewed more information.

“We may find nothing. We may find something else,” Richards told the panel.

But a commission majority voted to approve the license, with Commissioner Anne Jordan dissenting.

“If there was an issue, they would have turned it up,” Commissioner Norman Trask said.

The commission seemed ready in September to issue the permanent racing license, but Penn National’s concerns about the how the state would protect trade secrets and personal and financial information about company officials led to a delay.

Earlier this week, officials said a retired deputy police chief in Bangor has been tapped to serve as executive director of the new Maine Gambling Control Board.

Robert P. Welch is expected to be confirmed by the five-member board at its next meeting.

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