Casino news source: Providence Business News - http://www.pbn.com/
The casino wars
Narragansett Chief Sachem Matthew Thomas is interviewed as results trickle in at the West Valley Inn in West Warwick on election night.After years of lobbying the legislature and the general public, and fighting in the courts, the Narragansett Indian Tribe and partner Harrah’s Entertainment finally got their chance this year to let voters decide whether they want a resort casino in the state.
It was a polarizing debate, and business leaders were prominent on both sides.
Restaurateur Gianfranco Marrocco, for example, strongly supported the pro-casino “Keep it in Rhode Island” campaign, while the Rhode Island Hospitality and Tourism Association, Chamber leaders and the Rhode Island Public Expenditure Council campaigned to “Save our State.”
Tens of millions of dollars were spent on advertising and public relations, but when the dust settled, voters overwhelmingly chose not to bet on a gambling facility in West Warwick – by a two-to-one margin.
Immediately after Election Day, Harrah’s announced it would not try to put the casino before voters again. However, the tribe has said it will seek a repeal of the so-called Chafee rider, legislation sponsored by the late Sen. John H. Chafee that prohibited the tribe from building a casino on its own land in Charlestown.
Should that rule be repealed by Congress, the tribe would have a freer hand to build the facility on its own property. However, members of Rhode Island’s congressional delegation have been reluctant to tackle the issue.
— Justin Sayles
|
|
World Casino Directory 
Gambling Forums 
