Gaming News

R.I. governor vetoes 24/7 gambling at Twin River

PROVIDENCE, Rhode Island -- As reported by The Providence Journal: "Making good on an earlier warning, Governor Carcieri has vetoed legislation allowing Twin River to operate 24-hours a day, seven days a week, while also forcing the owners of the Lincoln track and slot parlor to drop their plans to suspend greyhound racing Aug. 8 and run a full 200-day season.

"The Rhode Island Greyhound Owners Association soon after issued a statement criticizing the governor's veto, saying that the owners were 'disappointed with Governor Carcieri for prioritizing big banks over Rhode Island jobs.'

"The owners of the bankrupt slot parlor had served notice of their intent to suspend the live races .Aug. 8 after conducting the minimum of 125 annual racing days required by current law. Legislative relief from their obligation to run the races, at a steep loss, was also one of the conditions of the Chapter 11 restructuring plan filed in U.S. Bankruptcy Court District last week.

"The House and Senate approved the bill nonetheless, despite warnings from Gary Sasse, the director of the state Department of Administration, that the state could lose upward of $25 million in needed gambling revenue if legislators interfere with the restructuring plan that Twin River owners, a subsidiary of BLB Investors, filed in U.S. Bankruptcy Court last week..."

< Gaming News