Gaming board OKs licenses for racino in Maine

Glenn Adams

Friday, Aug. 19, 2005 | 9:44 a.m.

AUGUSTA, Maine -- Maine gambling regulators voted unanimously Thursday to approve a series of final licenses that opens the door for Penn National Gaming Inc. to operate slot machines in Bangor.

"It's an exciting and historic day," Penn National spokesman Eric Schippers said after the Gambling Control Board's 5-0 vote to approve a license for Bangor Historic Track to be a slot machine operator. Penn National, based in Pennsylvania, owns the Bangor harness racing track.

By the same tally, the board also approved an application for International Gaming Technologies, based in Nevada, to be a slot machine distributor for the Bangor operation, as well as licenses for several individuals who will manage the facility.

The licenses are issued for a year's duration and can be renewed after that.

Schippers said Penn National was grateful to the gambling board, which "has moved heaven and Earth to get us to this point so quickly." He said the company was working hard to have an interim facility open on schedule in November. A job fair to hire employees for the site, to be called Hollywood Slots at Bangor, will be held Sept. 7-9.

Hollywood Slots, which is being built in a former Bangor restaurant, is to have 475 slot machines. Penn National plans to replace the temporary site with a permanent one with up to 1,500 machines near Bangor Raceway.

The gambling board had granted a conditional slots license last November. Background investigations had to be completed before the state could issue a permanent license.