State won’t interfere with plan for more slots

Wednesday, Dec. 19, 2001 | 10:08 a.m.

PROVIDENCE, R.I. -- No statewide vote is needed for the state's two gambling operations to add more video slot machines, Attorney General Sheldon Whitehouse said.

Whitehouse said he will not try to prevent the state Lottery Commission from ruling on the expansion proposals of Lincoln Greyhound Park and Newport Grand Jai Alai.

Rep. Bruce Long, R-Middletown, asked the attorney general to pursue a court injunction blocking the commission's approval of the expansions. Long and others have argued that a referendum is needed for any expansion of gambling in Rhode Island.

Whitehouse said he doesn't have the legal authority to pursue an injunction because state constitution requires a statewide vote only when there is a request to bring new kinds of gambling into the state or to expand gaming into communities that don't yet have it.

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