Raimondo OK’s Tiverton casino

Voters will decide in November referendum


Following the governor’s signature Friday, the fate of a Tiverton casino now lies in the hands of the voters.

Gov. Gina Raimondo’s endorsement allows for a referendum to be placed on November’s statewide ballot asking whether voters support the casino. Also, the question will be posed to voters locally in Tiverton. Both have to pass.

“We took action focused on keeping economic development and jobs here in Rhode Island,” Raimondo said.

Twin River, which operates the Lincoln casino, purchased Newport Grand in July and announced plans to transfer the gaming licenses to Tiverton. Despite statewide approval to allow table games at the Admiral Kalbfus Road slots parlor, Newport taxpayers rejected the expansion.

A Tiverton casino, said Senate spokesperson Greg Pare, would better position Twin River to keep gaming dollars in Rhode Island. The proposed casino would be located less than one-quarter mile from the Massachusetts border.

If passed, the state would get 15.5 percent of table games and 61 percent of revenues from video lottery terminals at both locations. It also establishes the host communities of both facilities — Lincoln and Tiverton — keep 1 percent from table games and 1.45 percent from the terminals. The bill guarantees the towns at least $3 million annually, with any shortfalls being made up out of the state’s share.

Both legislative chambers approved the measure March 3. Jamestown’s state delegation of Senate President Teresa Paiva Weed and Rep. Deb Ruggeiro support the bill.