It looks like the Narragansett Indian tribe is out of the running as far as a Rhode Island casino is concerned. Although they had their shot and they lost. For whatever reason, voters convincingly rejected their proposal. But that doesn't mean the issue is going away. In fact, casinos will be a major topic of discussion in the next General Assembly session.
Much depends on whether Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick decides to support or oppose casinos in the Bay State. If he comes down against the idea, then the pressure will be off Rhode Island.
But if Patrick supports casinos, Rhode Island lawmakers have a decision to make: Do we let Massachusetts go ahead with casinos, perhaps siphoning off tens if not hundreds of millions of millions of VLT revenue Rhode Island' state budget now depends upon? Or do we gird our loins by rolling roulette wheels, craps tables and poker rooms into Twin River as a pre-emptive strike?
Pawtucket Rep. William San Bento is ready to put a bill in today if he gets the O.K. from House leaders. The Rhode Island constitution currently calls for a referendum to approve any expansion of gambling both statewide and in the host community. Changing the constitution for purposes of getting a casino has proven to be a non-starter. So it looks like bribing Lincoln residents with big-time property tax relief is the way lawmakers will have to go if they want to do this.
It's still really early, but I would not be surprised if Rhode Islanders going to the polls to pick a president next year also found themselves voting on another casino referendum.
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