Organizers behind the proposed Lewiston casino spent seven months deciding how to divvy up the state’s cut.

“Everything that went in there had to pass a political test and an economic development test,” campaign manager Stavros Mendros said.

The result? A revenue cascade that would give nearly $250,000 each, per year, to Meals on Wheels, humane societies and a riverfront bike path connecting the Twin Cities to Brunswick.

The state has estimated that, based on 1,000 slot machines, a Lewiston casino would see $653.4 million in gaming each year and would return $598.2 million in winnings.

That would leave $6.5 million for Maine’s general fund, $29.2 million to casino operators and $19.5 million to be split 30 ways.

“The knock on casinos is the way they’re designed, the economic design,” treasurer Peter Robinson said.

He said he’s voted against casinos in Maine in the past, in part, because of how the money was going to be spent.

Among the groups that each would see close to $1.5 million per year, according to the referendum: Androscoggin River cleanup, ports and fisheries and rail service.

Nearly $1 million each: The town of Bethel for rail and the city of Lewiston as host. (Lewiston would receive additional funds, as well.)

And nearly $500,000: The city of Auburn, Androscoggin County, agricultural fairs, the Lewiston-Auburn Economic Growth Council and the Maine Technology Institute.

Money also would go to veterans, bingo games, college students and tourism.

Ron Chicoine, a Lewiston native and the largest local investor in the project, said the Androscoggin River has come a long way since his youth, but it could be cleaner.

“I’d love to see people water skiing on the river,” he said. “I know it seems far-fetched. It would have really seemed far-fetched when I was 12 years old, but I never would have thought people would be fishing in it.”

[email protected]