"New gambling era arrives at Maine casino; Celebratory mood as patrons line up" by Clarke Canfield | Associated Press, March 17, 2012
BANGOR - A new era in gambling arrived in Maine on Friday with the spinning of a roulette wheel, the shuffling of cards, and shouts of “blackjack.’’
About 60 people were waiting outside Hollywood Casino in Bangor when it opened its doors at 8 a.m., and the poker and blackjack tables were filled by midmorning at the casino. It had been limited to slot machines since its opening in 2005 until Penobscot County voters in November approved the addition of table games.
I guess there is something better to do at 8 a.m. than reading a Boston Globe.
There was a celebratory mood around the table games, nestled along one side of the gaming floor, with its 925 beeping, dinging, and ringing slot machines. The blackjack and poker players were predominantly men, many dressed in blue jeans and baseball caps as they made wagers with white, pink, red, green, black, and purple chips, worth between $1 and $500 each. A waiting line for the four Texas Hold ‘em poker games had formed by 9 a.m.
Ken Kelley, 50, of Bangor, has been coming to the casino for years and thought it was only a matter of time before table games were added. The games will help boost jobs, boost business in the city, and boost revenues for the city and state, he said.
“The city gets tax revenue. The state gets tax revenue. Any revenue’s good revenue,’’ he said.
Then he also favors the legalization of drugs and prostitution, right?
The casino and Eastern Maine Community College in Bangor forged a partnership last fall for the school to offer a course in table games where students would learn how to deal poker and blackjack and run the roulette wheel. An upcoming course will teach craps....
And you wonder why AmeriKan kids are falling behind, failing, and coming out with (literally) crap degrees?
Of course, college kids don't have gambling problems or anything.
--more--"
At least the job will help you repay all the loan debt, kids.
Related: Community colleges, high schools are working toward solutions
Uh-huh.
Now deal 'em!
Also see: Teddy bear vigil held for missing Maine toddler
Related: Sunday Globe Special: Maine in Metro
