A bill which might allow table games to be operated at Rhode Island racinos did not advance beyond the governor's veto, leaving voters unable to determine for themselves.

A bill glided by both houses of the Rhode Island legislature which might allow full casino gambling on the state's two slot parlors won't make it to the voters, as a deadline to override the Governor's veto passed today. Governor Donald Carcieri had refused to cooperate with a bill expanding gambling, and the lawmakers needed to bypass the veto by today to have the measure put on the ballot this year.

The new law would allow the operation of table games, including blackjack and roulette, to the choice of gambling provided on the racinos.

The Twin River slot parlor is already in bankruptcy, and the Newport Grand facility is struggling financially, because the state places an onerous tax burden at the gaming houses. Carcieri helped change rules which forced the 2 erstwhile dog tracks to fulfill minimum hours of live racing, because the racing was losing money, however the chunk given to the state is substantially more than greyhound losses.

Carcieri also denies his own constituents the best to choose the problem for themselves. Since the expansion of gambling requires a constitutional amendment, without equal fate of the bill would has been decided within the general election.

With table gaming denied for greater than a year at best, the way forward for the Rhode Island gambling houses is in question. OCA gambling analyst Sherman Bradley says the state's greed, combined with its intransigence over admitting new casino games, might cost it the multi-million-dollar golden goose.

Published on August 10, 2010 by MattMiller

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