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Boyd Has Advantage in Rhode Island Casino Fight25 March 2002WEST WARWICK, Rhode Island – As reported by the Associated Press: "Town officials are preparing to give Boyd Gaming Corp. of Las Vegas and the Narragansett Indian Tribe exclusive rights to a casino in West Warwick, even though state leaders are still debating whether to put a casino referendum to a statewide vote. "The proposed exclusivity agreement is already being challenged by Harrah's Entertainment Inc. of Las Vegas, which recently emerged as Boyd's rival in the bid to build a commercial casino in Rhode Island. "Geoffrey Rousselle, West Warwick Town Council president, said the town is ready to commit to working exclusively with Boyd and the Narragansetts. "…As part of the agreement, the tribe and Boyd would give the town $25,000 per quarter to cover costs related to casino research. "…David Satz, an attorney for Harrah's, said the exclusivity clause is highly unusual. "He said in most states where gambling is legalized, it is the state's responsibility to choose which gambling corporation will build a casino. But Rhode Island law is silent on the issue. "…As long as a casino is a possibility, town officials said, landlords in the industrial park continue to charge steep prices for land, and businesses are wary of settling there…" |