Maine Casino Complex Budget Grows

BANGOR, Maine – As reported by the Bangor Daily News: "The project budget for Penn National Gaming Inc.'s permanent gaming complex has grown from $72 million to $90 million, members of the company's development team said Wednesday during a briefing for city officials.

"'That's not driven by our development agreement with the city; that's our commitment to Bangor,' Penn National spokesman Eric Schippers said after a presentation for members of the City Council's business and economic development committee.

"…The proposed permanent gambling complex would replace the interim Hollywood Slots at Bangor facility that the company opened in November with 475 slot machines at the former Miller's Restaurant building on Main Street.

"The new, larger Hollywood Slots is slated to open in mid-2008, Hollywood Slots' General Manager Jon Johnson said.

"The new gambling facility will include, among other things, a 116,000-square-foot gaming facility housing 1,475 slots, a 1,500-space four-story parking garage…"