Rhode Island casino question to be put off at least a year

Richard C. Lewis

Friday, June 24, 2005 | 9:20 a.m.

PROVIDENCE, R.I. -- A public vote on a proposed casino in West Warwick has been delayed until November 2006 at the earliest.

Rep. Timothy Williamson, the casino's principal legislative backer, said on Thursday there won't be enough time for casino supporters to campaign for a referendum this November.

Williamson said he doesn't expect the state Supreme Court to decide on the casino question's constitutionality until at least August. That would leave little time for the legislature to call for a referendum or for advocates to mount a campaign to persuade voters to approve the project, he said.

The casino would be a partnership of the Narragansett Indian Tribe and Las Vegas-based Harrah's Entertainment. Williamson said the parties have agreed to the delay and remain committed to the project.

Narragansett Indian Chief Sachem Matthew Thomas said the tribe was disappointed with the delay, but emphasized it has been waiting for years for a public vote.

"Who knows, it may work out for the best," he said. "Let's hope that it does."

Jan Jones, senior vice president of government relations at Harrah's, said the delay could benefit the pro-casino effort.

"It's more difficult to move voters in non-general elections," she said, "and generally the people who vote are the ones most likely to oppose it."

Casino supporters argue the state is losing money to casinos in Connecticut and lottery revenues could be threatened if new casinos were built in Massachusetts.

Gov. Don Carcieri is opposed to the project. His spokesman said the governor believes the proposed casino would undercut revenues from existing gambling facilities in the state, hurt restaurant, hotel and entertainment business in Providence and invite social ills, such as gambling addiction.

Last year, after Carcieri requested an opinion, the Supreme Court ruled language in the casino bill violated a constitutional prohibition against any lottery not operated by the state.

The new bill amends the language to allow the state to operate the proposed casino, Williamson said, putting it in the same category as other gambling facilities in Rhode Island, such as Lincoln Park.