There sure is a hasty push to get casinos in three new locations. Why such a rush?

Backers of the Lewiston and Biddeford locations are touting all the benefits of a casino-racino in their cities without knowing the effects of five gaming parlors in this sparsely populated state.

I’m sure those backers are only thinking about all the great things they are doing for their communities — without a thought about lining their pockets. Now that’s a good one.

A good balance for gamblers in this state is two casinos, one for northern Maine and one for southern Maine, and both with all the gambling bells and whistles.

I believe a 10-year moratorium to test the gambling waters would be a good idea. Also, a casino on every street corner would take away from the revenue the state gets from scratch tickets, Pick 3 and Pick 4, other Maine state lottery offerings, Megabucks and so on.

I voted for the Bangor operation because Mainers were throwing their money away in Connecticut. I voted for the Oxford operation because Bangor was too far to go for southern Maine gamblers to throw their money away.

That’s it. Two is plenty for now.

No more gambling referendums for 10 years. Please.

Al Pelletier, Norway