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Court says plan for R.I. casino is unconstitutional

Thursday, Aug. 12, 2004 | 11:06 a.m.

PROVIDENCE, R.I. -- The state Supreme Court said today that a referendum on whether Harrah's Entertainment can build a resort-style casino in West Warwick is unconstitutional.

The justices also said the General Assembly's establishment of the proposed casino violates the state constitution.

The nonbinding ruling comes after Gov. Don Carcieri asked the high court for an advisory opinion on the legislation's constitutionality. Carcieri hopes to keep the issue off the ballot.

Harrah's Entertainment and the Narragansett Indian Tribe have partnered to build a casino in West Warwick. Under the state constitution, voters must approve any expansion of gambling in the state.

The General Assembly voted last month, in an override of the governor's veto, to place the referendum on the ballot.

The deadline for removing items from the ballot is Aug. 19. It wasn't immediately clear how the Supreme Court's advisory opinion would affect the question's placement on the ballot.

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