AUGUSTA — A bill clarifying that the mandatory minimum 100-mile distance between casinos in Maine will be measured by road miles, not air miles, moved closer to law Thursday following a unanimous vote in the House.

The bill is significant to the $165 million Oxford County casino. Developers of that project, Black Bear Entertainment, say ambiguity in the state’s gambling law could threaten the project and mire its development in legal challenges.

The law currently states that a casino or slot machine license cannot be awarded if another gambling facility is located within 100 miles. However, how that distance is defined is not clear in the law.

Sen. Debra Plowman, R-Hampden, the assistant majority leader, said her bill is a common-sense approach to defining the build radius because people visiting casinos use roads. Plowman’s bill has the support of Gov. Paul LePage.

In air miles, the proposed Oxford casino is within a 100-mile radius of the Hollywood Slots gaming facility in Bangor. The project is 125 miles from Bangor by road.

Black Bear representatives have said the bill would not affect gaming proposals in Biddeford or Lewiston because proponents of those projects have stricken the 100-mile provision from their respective referendums.

The bill was passed unanimously by the Senate earlier this week. The House will read it a second time on Monday before it heads to the Senate again.

smistler@sunjournal.com

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