WE DID IT!

On Election Day, Maine voters soundly defeated two casino schemes, and for that we thank you.

The big one was the proposed Oxford County casino. Despite being outspent 4-1, despite a sour economy that made the pro-casino message of jobs and economic development more enticing, despite a record turnout of over 70% of Maine voters, we emerged victorious, defeating the casino 54-46%. Eric Conrad, executive editor of the Kennebec Journal, wrote in Thursday's edition: "To me, this year was the best chance that a casino operator had to come to Maine, economic conditions being what they are. It didn't happen."

And in Scarborough, voters narrowly defeated another proposal for slot machines at the local racetrack, backed by Penn National, the giant gambling corporation that owns Hollywood Slots. That proposal was cleverly disguised by the proponents as a downtown village development and included all sorts of bribes like a new school, a town swimming pool and lower taxes. In fact, the proponents hardly talked about the slot machines at all, referring to that part of the proposal as "enhanced gaming." Fortunately, with your help, CasinosNO! organized a campaign in Scarborough to get out the facts so voters could decide the issue with all the information they needed. And they did, voting the proposal down by a 239 vote margin.

These were tough, hard-fought campaigns. The proponents ran television and radio ads attacking CasinosNO!, its executive director Dennis Bailey, and key supporters like LL Bean and the Gorman family. They were some of the sleaziest, most inaccurate ads ever seen in a Maine referendum campaign. Fortunately, Maine people saw past the lies and made their decision on the facts.

We'd like to believe that these two votes were the final, definitive votes for casinos in Maine. We'd like to believe that the casino moguls will now take Maine off their target list of states to spread their gambling scams.

But we'd probably be dreaming.

Tuesday's stunning outcome was only possible with your help. Your contributions helped offset the huge financial advantage of the proponents who spent more than $2 million in just two months on newspaper, radio, television ads, signs, web advertising, direct mail and probably a few things we don't even know about. We had barely a fourth of what the proponents spent, and most of it went to produce two very effective television ads that pointed out the ridiculous provisions in the Oxford County casino proposal. We also hired staff in Scarborough who worked tirelessly at the grass roots organizing volunteers, phone banks, and going door-to-door with leaflets. It was just enough to pull out a win.

But our biggest advantage was you. Supporters of CasinosNO! are the unsung heroes who spread the message by "word of mouse," talking to their friends, writing letters to local newspapers, making home-made signs against the casinos that were far more powerful and effective than the mass produced slick signs bought with Las Vegas money.

The campaigns have left us victorious, but they have taken a toll. We still need your help.

We would welcome a contribution to help clear up our expenses and debt from these two campaigns. Anything you can give would be appreciated.

We really hope that this is the last time we'll ever ask you for a contribution, but we make no promise. Already casino proponents are talking about "next time." We hope there will never be a next time, but if there is, we'll be there, with you, once again, and once again we'll keep casinos and the troubles they bring out of Maine.

THANK YOU!