MEASURE HELPING VET ORGANIZATIONS RECEIVES INITIAL SUPPORT IN MAINE SENATE

AUGUSTA—The Maine Senate gave initial support for a bill that would allow charitable nonprofits, including Veterans organizations, to operate up to five slot machines at their facility. In a vote of 19 – 14, LD 1469 received bipartisan support.

“The question we should all be asking is whether or not as lawmakers we’re going to help out Veterans the way they want to be helped or the way some lawmakers would have you believe they think is best,” said Senator John Patrick of Oxford who also serves on the Veterans and Legal Affairs committee. “Veterans organizations can no longer hold car washes to fundraise. This is an ironclad bill that will help them stay afloat.”

The measure applies to existing nonprofits only which includes approximately 70 organizations. The measure limits 250 machines total and would be subject to the same central site monitoring that applies to casinos and slot machines at harness racing tracks. Net income from the slot machines would be allocated accordingly: The Gambling Control Board would receive 10% to cover administrative expenses; another 8% would go directly to the state’s General Fund; another 10% would go directly to the host municipality and 2% would be dedicated to gambling addiction prevention and treatment. The remaining revenue generated from the slot machines would be used to support charitable purposes of the fraternal or veterans organization.

During the public hearing for this measure, veterans and fraternal organizations statewide testified in favor of the measure citing its importance as a tool for keeping the organizations financially viable. The committee voted 7 – 6 in favor of the measure.

The measure now goes to the House for further votes.