Rhode Island Governor Gina Raimondo signed into law a legislation to send the proposal for the construction of a casino in Tiverton to the November ballot.
The plan for the gambling venue emerged in April 2015. Gambling operator Twin River Management Group, Inc. proposed to build a facility that would feature 1,000 video lottery terminals and 32 table games. Currently, the company operates a casino in Newport.
As part of the plan, Twin River would shutter its existing gambling venue and would transfer its license to the Tiverton one, if it gets the necessary approval to be built and launched. The new casino would be located in the northern part of the city and not far from Fall River in neighboring Massachusetts.
Commenting on her decision to send the proposal to the November ballot, Gov. Raimond said in a Friday statement that it mirrors her and the state Legislature’s determination to keep both jobs and economic development within the borders of Rhode Island and to protect what is known to be its third-biggest source of much-needed revenue. She further added that in this way, legislators would be able to keep on investing in important causes, such as creating more jobs for residents, improving local schools, and making sure that colleges are affordable to more people.
It is now up to both state and Tiverton residents, in particular, to decide whether the plan would be eventually materialized. Generally speaking, they would be asked whether they approve the construction of a gambling venue in the town, which is located not far from the state’s border with Massachusetts. Statewide and townwide votes are to be held in November.
The state House voted 69-4 in favor of the proposed legislation on Wednesday. A day later, the Senate also approved overwhelmingly the plan (33-2).
If eventually built, the new casino would annually contribute 15.5% of the revenue its table game generate, and 61% of the proceeds generated by its video lottery terminals to the state. As for its host town, it is expected to receive no less than $3 million every year.
The proposal for the construction of a casino in Tiverton comes at a time when states in New England are expanding their gambling industries in an attempt to keep jobs and revenue within their borders and to fight competition from neighbors. Massachusetts is expected to have three casino resorts by the end of the decade, New York recently licensed three operators that would build the state’s first full-scale commercial casinos, and Connecticut is looking for the best possible location for its third tribal casino.
