Group revives campaign to open casino in York County

Backers that failed to put the referendum on the November ballot are trying to revive the campaign.

US.- A US$300.000 donation and hiring people to circulate petitions mark a starting point to boost the campaign to open a casino in York County. Earlier this year, Maine’s secretary of state invalidated more than 55.000 petition signatures because the circulator’s signature on the circulator’s oath did not match the signatures on file.

Lisa Scott, sister of international casino developer Shawn Scott, donated more than US$300.000 to Horseracing Jobs Fairness, the group behind the casino campaign. With this donation, her total contributions rise to US$3.5 million.

In order to qualify for the 2017 ballot they need at least 61.000 signatures, and the campaign has already gathered more than 35.000 valid signatures. The casino campaign has until June 8 to gather the remaining number of signatures.

The state currently has two gambling establishments, and a new casino could draw gamblers from population centers in New Hampshire and Massachusetts.