Maine doubts casino proposal

Maine State officials showed concern about latest casino proposal introduced by controversial businessmen from Virgin Islands, Shawn Scott.

US.- Maine lawmakers expressed resilience about considering a new casino in the State, as the project has been supported by a controversial American entrepreneur Shawn Scott. During last week’s public hearing a top lawmaker seemingly assured the York County’s potential casino business is hiding a “major corruption.”

Scott’s project was to get the approval by the government after November’s ballot, where Maine residents are going to vote for several reforms, including gaming expansion. However, State’s officials expressed their opposition due to apparent irregularities in the project. For instance, a Portland lobbyist, Dan Riley, hired by Scott’s offshore firm, Bridge Capital. The company’s headquarter is run by the U.S. Virgin Islands’ businessman.

“I think we have major corruption issues in front of us here,” stated Senate Majority Leader Garrett Mason, R-Lisbon Falls, the committee’s co-chairman. “I would just say that if the government of Laos thinks you’re corrupt, we have a major problem.”

The proposal was backed by Lisa Scott, who runs a political committee on Maine and who also is Shawn Scott’s sister. Lisa’s committee already approved the project and let her contribute with US$4.2 million for the casino expansion campaign, which has been held for the last two years. Dan Riley commented to the Legislature’s Veterans and Legal Affairs Committee that Scott’s company plans to sell the rights to the facility, if the project is approved.

Maine officials are assessing the prohibition of the project and will release a final resolution in the following weeks.