New jobs were one of the biggest draws for the region, since unemployment was sitting above 10 percent in 2012. 'These jobs, they've become careers.'Īccording to the casino, a majority of employees are from the local community and more than 100 have been working there since Day 1. 'We're over 400 team members with an annual payroll of over $15 million,' Gallagher said.

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Gallagher, who has been with the Oxford Casino since it first opened, says the expansion over the last 10 years has allowed them to double their staff. 'That allowed us to add another nearly 200 slot machines, more tables and more importantly, 107 rooms.' 'When Churchill Downs took over, we looked at opportunities for expansion and saw the hotel as another opportunity,' Oxford Casino General Manager Matt Gallagher said. Oxford Casino was was originally developed and opened by Maine-based Black Bear Entertainment, but was sold less than a year after opening to Churchill Downs LLC out of Kentucky. I mean a lot of people were disappointed that it wasn't Maine owned in the end but I think it's worked out well.' 'But the casino really came through and have done a nice job.' Reporter Dan Lampariello: 'Do you feel like the promises that were made originally were kept?' Thayer: 'I think overall pretty much they were kept.

There was people saying bad things would happen and different things would happen,' Thayer said.

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He says there were many in the community who were opposed to bringing the casino in, but he believes their concerns never became reality. Thayer was Chair of the Selectboard when the casino was first proposed. 'You're always skeptical of something like that, but you know a lot more good has come out of it than bad.' 'The finished product is probably better than what I envisioned,' Oxford Selectman Floyd Thayer said.

And while its presence in the region originally brought a mix of concerns, many have seemingly faded away. Ten years later, the now expanded casino is hard to miss on Route 26 in Oxford. When first proposed, there were promises of new jobs, revenue and growth for a region that was still struggling to get out from the recession. Also read: Staffing shortages lead to new round of mail delays in southern Maine.

The state's second casino was approved by voters in 2010, with the facility officially taking its first bets in the summer of 2012. OXFORD, ME (WGME) - Next month will mark 10 years since the Oxford Casino first opened its doors.

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