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Maine casino plans get 99,000 signatures in support

Black Bear Entertainment, the group aiming to build a resort and casino in western Maine, has claimed it has collected 99,000 signatures in support of the proposal that the plans should go to a vote across the state.

Peter Martin, a spokesman for the group, revealed that the signatures were collected in the space of 20 days.

Maine residents could be set to vote on the issue in November next year. However, this requires 55,000 of the signatures to be certified first.

Mr Martin suggested that the reason the plans for a gaming establishment in Oxford County have been met with support is that it would create new jobs and increase revenues for the state.

He noted that the plans call for a limit of 1,500 on slot machine numbers and stated that there would be a "full array of table games" such as blackjack and poker.

Last month, Mr Martin said gambling would be taxed at roughly 42 per cent - 46 per cent on slots and 16 per cent on table games, with 32 per cent of the proceeds going towards education in the state, the Associated Press reported.