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Opinion: Casino in Oxford County would bring jobs, tax revenue

By Derek Mitchell

Posted on Monday, October 27th, 2008, 12:00 am

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Back in September, Maine Campus editor Nick McCrea wrote about the Oxford County resort casino initiative on November’s ballot as Question 2.

Nick claimed that other forms of gaming already legal in Maine have done little to benefit the state. I disagree. Consider the state Lottery: Just last year, more than $50 million was generated for state programs, and nearly a million more to benefit the Outdoor Heritage Fund. That’s millions of dollars in tax revenue. If we didn’t collect it from the lottery, guess where it would come from – your pockets and your paycheck. Oh, and tuition at the University of Maine would be higher, too.

McCrea said the lottery and scratch tickets appeal to poor people. He’s exactly right, but that’s why a casino is such a great idea – it appeals to rich folks from out of state.

Each year, Harra’’s Entertainment, operators of major casinos around the country, commissions an independent study into American gambling called Profile of an American Gambler.

In 2006, the study found that the average casino gambler is more than 40 years old and makes above average income. In fact, the median household income of a casino gambler is $8,000 higher than the national median. Casino gamblers are even slightly more likely to have some college education when compared to the nation overall.

Again, Harrah’s did not create this study. It was conducted formally by TNS – the leading provider of insights into the behaviors of consumers.

So McCrea was sort of right. Those with the least financial ability to gamble are the first in line to do it, in convenience stores or anywhere else lottery tickets are sold. Casinos are destinations in themselves. People don’t just spend money at the casino; they enjoy luxurious hotel accommodations, dining and other amenities.

McCrea wrote later that other risks of casino gaming include a rise in crime. That’s not true. Bangor Police Chief Ron Gastia recently found after studying crime in Bangor that there has been no increase in crime attributed to Hollywood Slots. Interestingly, the rate of crime around Orlando, Fla. and Disney World is five times higher than the rate of crime around Ledyard and Montville, Conn. – home of Foxwoods and Mohegan Sun casinos, the largest casinos in the world. You are literally safer taking your grandma to play the slots at Foxwoods than you are taking your kid brother to see Mickey Mouse.

As for the jobs the Oxford resort casino will generate, there’s no question they are good for Maine. A recent economic impact study released by Dr. Clyde Barrows of the University of Massachusetts, Dartmouth, found that the resort will result in 907 jobs with a total payroll of $32.5 million. That’s an average annual wage of $35,876 not including healthcare and other benefits. Better yet, unlike a ski resort or a summer park job, the Oxford Highlands will employ people year-round, full-time – not seasonally or part-time like other tourist destinations.

Maine needs jobs and the millions in new tax revenue the Oxford resort casino will generate. Many at UMaine are from Oxford County and realize the need better than anyone else. We can’t afford to turn away jobs or wave away tax revenue. In November, vote yes on Question 2, for Maine.

Derek Mitchell is Field Coordinator for the Vote YES on 2 For Maine campaign.