As the gambling industry changes, Oxford Casino may be sold. What’s that mean for the community?
Churchill Downs may sell Oxford Casino as gambling shifts online, leaving locals hoping the facility remains a community asset.Summary
Churchill Downs Inc. is considering selling Oxford Casino, Maine's first casino, which it bought in 2010, along with eight other gaming properties. The company wants to focus on live horse racing, the Kentucky Derby and its online betting platform TwinSpires, as casino revenue growth lags behind sports betting and internet gaming. Local leaders and business owners say the casino has been a benefit: it employs 400-450 people, has contributed more than $338 million to the state, county and town since opening in 2012, and Oxford received over $2 million in 2025, helping keep property taxes low. Fears of crime and gambling addiction did not materialize, and experts consider casinos well-regulated and less harmful than mobile betting. Under state law, a casino license is not transferable, so any buyer would need to obtain a license before the sale. No decisions on a sale have been announced.
(Source：Portland Press Herald)