Rhode Island House And Senate To Decide On Expanded Casino Hours

The first step in generating casino revenue for any state is to legalize casino gambling. One of the next steps is to put those casinos in the best position to succeed. That step will occur this week in Rhode Island.

State lawmakers will vote this week on whether or not to allow the two slot casinos in the state to stay open for twenty four hours a day. The House will vote on Tuesday, and the Senate will vote on Wednesday.

By the end of the week, the two slot parlors will know the hours they will be able to operate. Expanding the hours around the clock will increase the revenue that the slot halls are generating.

The change would not be for all seven days during the week. Under the new Bill, they would be allowed to stay open for twenty four hours on the weekends, and also on holidays. During the week they would have to close at 3:00 A.M..

The state is considering the expanded hours to help with the budget. Like other states currently, Rhode Island is having trouble generating enough money to balance the state budget.

It is expected that millions of dollars would be raised by expanding the hours of the two casinos. Lawmakers against the Bill, feel the state should pursue other avenues to help balance a budget that looks to be a deficit of $550 million.

April 20, 2008
Posted By Terry Goodwin
Staff Editor, CasinoGamblingWeb.com
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