Rhode Island already poised to legalize sports gambling
LINCOLN – Twin River Casino and the state of Rhode Island are now poised to rake in millions in sports betting for the first time after the U.S. Supreme Court legalized the practice Monday in a landmark ruling that grew out of a New Jersey case.
Gov. Gina Raimondo had literally been banking on a decision in New Jersey’s favor to help balance the fiscal 2019 budget, projecting $23.5 million in anticipated revenues during the first year of sports wagering, forecast to begin by Oct.1.
Not surprisingly, state officials hailed the ruling, which sets the stage for bringing the lucrative world of sports betting out of the shadows and into the glitz of the casino parlors.
“Enabling legal sports wagering in Rhode Island would provide revenue for critical state services while providing a new entertainment option for Rhode Island,” said Senate President Dominic Ruggerio. “The state now has an opportunity to offer a legal means for Rhode Islanders to enjoy a form of entertainment in which many already engage.”
In anticipation of the high court’s decision, Ruggerio introduced legislation earlier this year to allow sports betting at the facilities where gaming has been approved by voters already – Twin River in Lincoln and the new venue being constructed in Tiverton.
That legislation hasn’t passed yet, but the measure and a related budget article are both scheduled for a hearing today in the Senate Lounge at a joint session of the Senate Finance Committee and Senate Special Legislation and Veterans Affairs Committee, which reviews gaming matters.
Ruggerio said the underground sports betting economy is the U.S. is worth about $150 billion a year, but until now Rhode Islanders had to play out of state or break the law to get in on the action.
With House Speaker Nicholas Mattiello on board, legislation to bring sports betting to Twin River and Tiverton seems like a slam dunk.
“I am pleased that the U.S. Supreme Court has made this ruling in time for us to consider sports betting in our state’s budget deliberations,” Mattiello said in a statement yesterday. “I’ve been on record as supporting sports betting should it be ruled legal, and that day has now come. I look forward to finalizing the details.”
Twin River issued a rather subdued statement in response to the decision in the New Jersey case, saying it was “currently reviewing” the U.S. Supreme Court ruling and its implications for the state.
“That said,” said Patty Doyle, spokeswoman for Twin River Casino, “during the last couple of months we began to consider how our two Rhode Island venues – Twin River Casino in Lincoln and the soon to open Tiverton Casino and Hotel – could possibly accommodate the addition of sports betting should the ruling prove favorable to Rhode Island.”
The review included considerations of setting aside space within the facilities and hiring the necessary staff to run sports betting operations, according to Doyle.
“We will continue that review and planning process,” she said. “We look forward to learning more about the state’s approach to sports betting.”
In a 6-3 decision, the high court ruled Monday that states may permit sports betting within their borders, handing down a victory for the state of New Jersey in a case that had been closely watched throughout the nation. The court’s five Republican-appointed justices joined Elena Kagan, an Obama appointee, in the majority opinion.
The decision in the case of Murphy versus the National Collegiate Athletic Association struck down the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act of 1992, paving the way for states to authorize sports wagering on their own terms.
The plaintiff is New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy. “Americans have never been of one mind about gambling and attitudes have swung back and forth,” Justice Samuel Alito said, writing for the majority. “Opponents argue that it is particularly addictive and especially attractive to young people with a strong interest in sports and the past gamblers corrupted and seriously damaged the reputation of professional and amateur sports.”
Ultimately, however, the majority decided that the states may permit sports betting if they want to.
“The legalization of sports gambling requires an important policy choice,” Alito said in the ruling. “Congress can regulate sports gambling directly, but if it elects not to do so, each state is free to act on its own.”