PORTLAND — Voters by a narrow margin have approved the first casino in Maine that would have table games in addition to slot machines.
With 96 percent of precincts reporting in Tuesday’s election, just over 50 percent of voters favored allowing a casino in the western Maine town of Oxford, with just under 50 percent opposed.
Black Bear Entertainment LLC wants to build a $165 million, four-season casino and resort it says would support more than 2,700 jobs, pump tens of millions of dollars into the economy and generate more than $60 million in tax revenue.
Opponents said a casino would suck money and jobs out of the economy, while increasing drunk driving and gambling addiction.
Maine’s only casino, Hollywood Slots in Bangor, has 1,000 slot machines but no tables games.
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