Keeping RI In The Game
Friend,
Keeping Rhode Island competitive with our neighboring states is essential to our economic future. Fostering investment and job growth in our state helps create the stable, diversified revenue streams necessary to address so many areas of need, from education and infrastructure to housing and climate action.
This week, we’re celebrating steps that will keep Rhode Island on the leading edge of a critical industry: gaming.
On Tuesday, Senate Labor Committee Chairman Frank A. Ciccone III, who also chairs the Permanent Joint Committee on State Lottery, represented the Senate as Bally’s Twin River Resort Casino celebrated the grand opening of 40,000 square feet of new gaming space and other amenities.
The expansion – which allows for an additional 355 slot machines, 55 table games, and 27 Stadium-style games, along with new dining spaces and numerous features celebrating Asian culture – represents a fulfillment of a key element of the Marc A. Crisafulli Economic Development Act signed into law last year.
Each day, Bally’s Twin River draws thousands of visitors from across Rhode Island and the rest of our region. It is a driver of our recreation and tourism industries, a major employer, and a pillar of our economy – especially in Northern Rhode Island. Now, it will be an even more appealing destination for gaming, dining, and entertainment. We want to recognize and thank Bally’s, the building trades, casino workers, and our partners in government for making this exciting project a reality.
Our work on this front is far from finished. On Thursday, we introduced legislation that would permit online casino gaming, or iGaming, in Rhode Island, which could generate more than $200 million in revenue over a five-year period.
iGaming has gone live in Connecticut and is on the way in Massachusetts. Enactment of this legislation would help keep Rhode Island on a competitive footing with our neighbors in the years ahead.
The bill introduced yesterday, which was submitted at the request of Bally’s, is just the first step in a thorough, rigorous and public review process to make sure we do this right.
We’re working on other important measures, too. Earlier this year, the Senate passed legislation to allow Rhode Islanders to place wagers on in-state collegiate athletic teams during highly anticipated tournaments like the NCAA’s March Madness.
This will help build on the popularity that sports wagering, both in-person and online, has seen since being enabled just a few years ago.
Rhode Island has been a leader among its neighbors when it comes to sports betting and the expansion of mobile gaming options that meet today’s consumers where they are. We’ve seen significant success already, with more to come.
Let’s stay in the game. Making sure Rhode Island keeps and attracts every possible dollar helps us invest back into our communities – and build a brighter future for all of us.
Sincerely,
Donny and Ryan