Rhode Island Lawmakers Approve Casino Table Games

Add Rhode island to the ever-growing list of states in the Northeast that will expand their casino gambling options. Legislators in both the House and the Senate have approved bills that would legalize table games at the two licensed casinos in Rhode Island.

Governor Don Carcieri will now get the bills and will have to decide whether voters will have a say in the process. No Matter what the outcome, the areas where the two licensed casinos operate will have to approve the new measure. The House passed their bill by a 62-12 vote, and the Senate bill passed 21-14.

The gambling issue has become a heavy one in the Northeast and Rhode Island lawmakers had to move quickly in their efforts to expand the slot parlors. Neighboring Massachusetts is in the process of adding casino resorts, and Rhode Island legislators were concerned that their slot parlors would lose customers to Massachusetts.

Newport Grand in Newport and Twin River in Lincoln are the two slot parlors that will receive the benefit of the additional revenue from table games. Twin River last month received permission from Governor Carcieri to no longer offer greyhound racing after years of offering the sport. Now the facility will focus on casino gambling.

Currently, the two gambling establishments offer virtual blackjack and video lottery terminals. The table games would include blackjack, roulette, and craps. Having a full-fledged casino is becoming the norm in this area of the country.

Pennsylvania lawmakers legalized table games earlier this year, and New York, Maryland, Delaware, and previously mentioned Massachusetts are all expanding their casino options. New York is still attempting to bring slots to their famed Aqueduct Racetrack.

June 11, 2010
Posted By April Gardner
Staff Editor, CasinoGamblingWeb.com
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