Now Maine officials are joining in on the argument for slots gaming to be used as a means of shoring up state coffers. There is a possible legislation on the table that could change the gaming rules in Bangor, Maine. Right now, Bangor’s City Council wants to make sure that the new bills coming into affect don’t cut down on the amount of revenue they get from Hollywood Slots Casino. As of right now, the city of Bangor takes one-percent of the 39% tax rate on net revenues that the state has, in addition to 3% of the direct revenue from the facility. The city is using that money to build its own convention center complex and arena that is said to be estimated at a $65-million project. This new legislation is expected to change the face of gambling in the state because of the tremendous push by the voters for changes to be made. Of course back in November the voting public spoke and agreed overwhelmingly that slots should be brought into the state. One of the reasons that this is such a hot topic in the city is because of the huge dollars that are available through slots gaming. Right now the money is being used to make changes in city infrastructure and other municipal improvements. Welfare reform is also a priority for the state’s legislators and namely the governor Paul LePage.

Only time will tell if the argument goes through, but right now the state is relatively confident that they are going to be using the slots revenue as a means of sustaining themselves. It is the most lucrative activity they have going for them right now and it could substantially keep them going throughout the 2011/2012 budgetary years. You can expect gambling to be expanded even farther if this plan goes through, which most likely it will in time. Legislators love the idea of having slots gaming initiatives because they know just how lucrative the games are and how popular they are with gamblers. You can expect expansions throughout the state and all states in the US for that matter in the coming year.

On November 4th the Gambling Control Board debated over Hollywood Slots request to bring a new type of slot machine to their business.  The board postponed their decision, saying they needed to investigate further. Executive director of the Gambling Control Board, Bob Welch brought the petition to bring “hosted” slot machines to the racino in Bangor. Welch explained that the machines will still be automated but instead of players placing money into the machines, a host employed by Hollywood Slots will do it for them.

The machines are a hybrid between standard slot machines and casino table games like blackjack and poker. Some board members, however, are saying that the definition of a slto nachine under existing law and includes the new type of machines. Board chairman George McHale said that it seems that nowhere in the law does it demand the gamer has to place money in the slot machine by hand. He agreed with Welch in that he believes there is no legal code to prevent the board from approving the new machines for use. Though both are adamant about the lack of definition to deny the application, there are other members who believe that there is cause for debate. Board member Peter Danton said that he considers the new slot machine a card game. Danton acknowledges that the gambling industry changes consistently, but would prefer if the state Legislature’s Legal and Veterans Affairs Committee made a decision. He believes they need to start with defining what types of machines are legal and what aren’t. He added, “Without some clarification, we could fall into the same problems that the UIGEA has..lack of definition and vagueness.”

Richard Arnold, another board member, also stated that he has some concerns. The  hosted slot machines can be played by up to 5 players at once. Though there are more players, each one would be playing the machine and not each other. Cushing Samp said that he also believes the Gambling Control Board should be making the decision and not handing it off to state legislature.

Currently the facility in question has about 1,000 slot machines. That number is not scheduled to change. The casino is looking to bring in additional tables including poker, roulette and backgammon. These changes, however, would require legislative action.

The Maine Gambling Control Board debated over Hollywood Slots’ request for new types of sot machines recently. Unfortunately for the casino, the decision as to whether or not they can have the new machines has been put off again. The Gambling Control Board is requesting additional information regarding the change before they will make a decision. The slots casino and racetrack is looking to bring “hosted” slot machines to the facility. Hosted means that the machines will be automated but rather than players placing their coins into the machine, a host of the casino will handle the actual transaction.

The “new” machines the casino wants to bring in are a hybrid of the standard slot machine and casino table games found in Las Vegas. They are akin to blackjack and poker table-style games. The Gambling Control Board said that the machines do not fit in with existing state law regarding style. That makes them exempt from being legal within the state.  George McHale, Board Chairman, said that the law does not enforce who needs to put money into machines– the customer or a host– for it to be legitimate. Therefore, there is no reason to deny the request. There is a strong force that does not agree with his statement.

Some board members consider the machines to be outside of the acceptable range of slot machines. Part of the reason is that the games can accomodate a multiple number of players- up to five at the same time. Despite the multi-player capability, players would still be playing against the machine and not each other. The question is whether or not the new slots are “card games.” Many board members stated that they would be more relaxed if the state legislature and Veterans Affairs Committee made the determination. Part of the issue is board officials are not definite on whose responsibility the approval is predicated on. Some believe the state should step in, whereas others believe the Gambling Control Board has the authority to decide.

Hollywood Casino is expected to keep the number of slot machines the same, but switch out the newer machines. The newer ones are anticipated to be more lucrative and popular with the gambling public. The Gaming Board requested more time in making a decision and may even push it off on the state. Until then Hollywood Casino is left hanging on whether or not they can reorganize to make more money.

Earlier this month the Gambling Control Board debated the request of Hollywood Slots to install a premiere style of slot machine. Bob Welch, executive director of the board brought th epetition to bring “hosted slot machines” to the race track and casino, or racino, in Bangor.  He noted that the machines would be automated but there will be a host posted on the gaming floor to insert money into each machine for guests.

The special machines that are a new generation of slots combine standard slot machine gaming and a casino table game like poker or blackjack.  Members of the board are divided over the issue but some believe that under existing state law the new machines fall within the definition of “slot machine.” It is a rhetoric question mainly and people are weighing in whether or not the new machines are truly slot machines, and as such should have the same freedoms.

George McHale, chariman of the board, said that to have gamers directly place their wager into a machine does not play a part in defining the game. He said that he does not see any valid ground to deny the request. There is however, another side of the issue. Board member Peter Danton said that he and his supporters see the new slots as card games. He claims that the gambling industry changes all the time but he said that would feel better if the state Legislature’s Legal and Veterans Affairs Committee made a decision. Another board member, Richard Arnold, stated that since the new machines allow for up to five players concurrently, the game ultimately is played against a computer and not against the other players. This may give it a difficult definition when it comes to placing the game in a specific category listing.

In the mean time, Hollywood Slots has brought the newest slot machines to their floor and Welch maintains that that is all the machines are- slots games. Although they may have a feel of “formal Las Vegas” or casino table games, in essence they are not in that category. The debate continues as to what place the “new slots” will find in the market, if any.

In Bangor, Maine the debate over slot machine parlors is in full swing. As of late the Hollywood Slots company wants to add a new type of slot machine. Seems somewhat harmless but the state’s Gambling Control board has been dragging its feet on whether or not to allow the slot machine into the market. The new slot machine is referred to as a “hosted” slot machine. That just means that it mimics table card games although technically it operates like a slot machine with a random number generator.

The new machines are still automated but instead of putting money into slots, customers sit around a table like they would playing blackjack or poker, and a casino employee puts the money in for them. They have a dealer of sorts so the overall feel of the game is more “gambling” than it is “slots.” To add to confusion, a lot of the debate over whether or not they fall into the category of “slot game” is dependent on the individual’s perception.

The Gambling Control Board last week put off making a decision. Some board members said the machine technically meets Maine’s definition of a slot machine, but others said it feels more like a card game, which is not legal. After debate, the board agreed to revisit the matter in December after gathering more information. The debate will rage and comes down to how the legislators perceive the machine. If it is a slots machine it should have no problem being legalized. However if it is a card game, then Hollywood Slots can expect to have a pretty big problem on its hands trying to convince legislators otherwise.

As municipalities move through the legalization process, more and more debates will rage. As of yet the UIGEA still does not define what exactly gambling is. This is creating many problems for states and cities that are now left to define things such as “what is a slots game” and “what is legal” for themselves. The disparity in a uniform decision could prove to be a bigger problem down the road.  Only time will tell whether or not Bangor, Maine will allow the new slots to enter the market and how they will eventually define “slot machine.”