Maine Gambling Board Control Board Approves State's First Casino License

The Maine Gambling Control Board unanimously approved the state’s first Las Vegas-style casino on Tuesday by a vote of 4-0. The board granted a gaming license for the Hollywood Slots Hotel and Raceway, which also changed its name to the Hollywood Casino Bangor.

The casino, which previously only allowed slots and betting on harness racing simulcasts, will now feature 14 new gaming tables, including one roulette wheel, six blackjack tables and four poker tables. A charity event is expected to kick off a soft opening before the games are introduced to everyone in mid March.

In order to prepare for the anticipated spike in traffic, the casino has expanded operating hours and has hired an additional 48 dealers, as well as 12 other pit bosses and casino shift managers.

The property, which opened in 2005, is owned by Penn National Gaming, who operates a number of casinos and raceways in the northeast in states such as Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Maryland. They also operate the M Resort Spa and Casino in Las Vegas.

The Gambling Control Board also licensed Gaming Products International as the state’s first table games distributor. Before Tuesday, no one in Maine was licensed to sell poker chips, playing cards or other gambling equipment in the state.

Maine now has a leg up on neighboring New Hampshire, which has recently introduced a bill to introduce four full-sized casinos. However, Gov. John Lynch has promised to reject any gambling measure in an effort to reduce the state’s dependance on tax revenue generated by casinos.

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