Three of the state’s biggest ski resorts are joining the effort to defeat a proposed Oxford County casino, saying it would detract from Maine’s image as a family-friendly place to enjoy the outdoors.

Sunday River, Sugarloaf and Saddleback announced their opposition to the casino on Wednesday. Sunday River is the only one in Oxford County, where the $150 million casino would be built if state voters give their approval Nov. 4.

Pat LaMarche, casino campaign spokeswoman, said the ski resorts are opposed to the casino because its higher wages would siphon away ski resort workers. She chided Sunday River for giving money to Casinos No!, which is leading the fight against the casino.

“They’re going to make a financial contribution to keep Mainers from having good jobs,” LaMarche said Wednesday. “Shame on them.”

Dana Bullen, general manager of Sunday River, told workers in a memo that the casino would be incompatible with Maine’s “brand.”

“Maine is known for its rugged outdoor image, uncompromised natural beauty, family-friendly environment and Yankee originality,” he wrote. “There is a stark contrast between these attributes, for which Maine is known, and those associated with casino gambling.”

Warren Cook from Saddleback expressed a similar sentiment. “A gambling casino doesn’t play to our strengths, it preys on our weaknesses,” he said.

Sunday River and Sugarloaf USA are owned by Michigan-based Boyne Resorts, and Sunday River plans to contribute to the effort to defeat the casino, according to reports. While Saddleback opposes the casino, it has no plan to put money into the effort, Cook said.

LaMarche accused the resorts of hypocrisy, saying there was no opposition to earlier attempts to win approval for a casino or slot machines because there was no impact on their workers. “So clearly this is not about Maine ‘branding,”‘ LaMarche said.

But Cook refuted that saying the resorts were not concerned about losing workers to the casino or about competing for workers.

“There are plenty of people out there looking for work,” he said.