Will a casino in Oxford County destroy Maine's soul and bring high crime, or attract tourists and their money and save its economy? And more importantly, will it have some of those "Wheel of Fortune" games?

The latest casino proposal, by Evergreen Mountain Enterprises, an organization based in Rumford, has politicians wringing their hands, public relations firms shaping their anti- and pro-casino messages and everyday Mainers wondering what it all means.

MaineToday.com users commenting on the Portland Press Herald stories about the proposal didn't stake out much middle ground; they saw casinos as either the devil incarnate or the magic bullet that will cure Maine's sluggish economy.

Doris was one person who thought a casino would be the end of Maine as we know it.

"What kind of vision does Maine have for itself – just one more gambling mecca? What is Maine's soul worth, anyway? I am a frequent visitor to South Dakota – a state that has had casinos and gambling for many years. It is not something I want for my home state."

Maintaining Maine's uniqueness and its image as the place of pine trees and puffins is important to a lot of people opposed to casinos here. That Maine is known for its natural beauty and not its glitzy resorts isn't a fault but an asset, many think. Maine: Lobster, blueberries and serenity, capice? If people want to gamble, let them go to Connecticut!

The problem, a few of you noted, was that people are going to Connecticut to gamble – including Mainers. And when they leave the state, so does potential revenue.

A user named Tom said, "Any Mainer that can't see the millions in our tax dollars headed to Connecticut each year will never be convinced of anything, they are either already rich or don't believe the state needs these millions we lose each year."

It's hard to say how many people would come to Maine instead of Connecticut if there were a full-scale casino to keep them occupied in addition to all those boring trees, mountains and water. But it's a safe bet to say that a lot of Mainers who gamble elsewhere would drop their quarters and dollars at a local full-scale casino if they could. (One good indicator is the success of Hollywood Slots in Bangor, which took in $60 million in bets in its first two months of operation – mostly from in-state visitors, according to the Bangor Region Chamber of Commerce.)

But should the state encourage people to gamble and profit from it? Some of you found the very idea of a casino unseemly. What about the people who aren't responsible enough to know when to say when and the vulnerable old ladies? People like Pete had an answer for people playing the morality card:

"Personally, if the opportunity arises, I will vote 'for.' Maine needs all of the help that it can get and the 'morality' issue is moot when the state crams the airways with Megabucks advertisements."

Take it from the girl who worked for years at a supermarket customer service booth hawking cigarettes and lottery tickets: People can blow as much money on a bunch of "Lucky Spin" scratch-offs as they can with a few rolls of the die. But morality aside, scratch tickets and Powerball don't have nearly the direct impact on a community that casinos do. It's the unknowns associated with casinos – how much traffic, how much crime, how many good-paying jobs, really? – that make some of you uneasy.

John B., while not opposed to casinos, thinks Maine should proceed with caution on this latest proposal:

"Done the right way, a casino can be a very effective tool in raising revenues, both in terms of local jobs and tourism, without sacrificing Maine's "soul" as someone put it. This proposal, however, coming as it does from someone with no reported experience gives me pause. Maine should be very careful aligning themselves with the right consortium/enterprise when considering this venture."

Finally, some of you showed evidence of casino petition and referendum fatigue. It's sort of like watching a baseball game go 20 innings; after a while you just want it to end, no matter what the outcome.

Jim was one person calling on Maine to just make a decision on whether it will welcome casinos or not, already:

"I am not for gambling in Maine. However, if we are going to allow it, then we should figure out how many casino licenses we are going to allow and then put them out to bid. Look big picture here folks. . . .We need to make a long-term plan and then hold to it. A petition every year is a royal pain in the rump."

Good point, Jim. Now who wants to sign a petition to get that on a ballot?