Bangor Slot Facility Hits Obstacle

As reported by the Bangor Daily News: " Penn National Gaming Inc.'s efforts to open a slots facility on Main Street ran into a problem Wednesday, after members of the Maine Gambling Control Board found themselves unable to issue one of Penn's slot machine distributors the permanent license it was seeking.

"The problem could temporarily affect the number of slot machines Penn National can operate at Hollywood Slots at Bangor, the interim gaming facility the Pennsylvania-based gaming and racing company is gearing up to open in the former Miller's Restaurant.

"It also could affect the timing of Hollywood Slots' tentative early November opening.

"…At issue is Bally Gaming and Systems' application for a state slots distributor license. Bally's parent company, Alliance Gaming Corp. of Nevada, is one of three slots distributors Penn National has tapped to provide the 475 machines it has ordered for Hollywood Slots at Bangor.

"The background investigations for Penn's two other slots distributors, Aristocrat Technologies and International Gaming Technologies, both based in Nevada, were slam dunks. Both companies submitted complete applications. After financial and criminal background checks came back clean, they were granted permanent licenses in separate unanimous votes.

"…Because of the missing information, the board lacked a legal basis for granting a permanent license, according to Assistant Attorney General Melissa O'Dea, the board's legal counsel…"