AUGUSTA, Maine (AP) – A bill to create a casino in southern Maine appears to be doomed after a vote in the Senate.
The Maine Senate on Monday rejected a bill to establish a competitive bid process for the right to build a casino in Cumberland or York counties. The House already rejected it, and Gov. Paul LePage has voiced opposition, as well.
Supporters of the proposal say they’ve encountered resistance from lawmakers in Bangor and western Maine, home to existing casinos.
A separate effort to put a casino on the ballot failed because supporters failed to get enough signatures to put the proposal on the ballot. The secretary of state’s office said the effort fell short because tens of thousands of signatures were invalid.
