In a vote of 14 to 1, the Rhode Island House Finance Committee has approved a bill to give voters a chance to turn the Twin River and Newport Grand into privately owned, but “state-operated” casinos.

The plan was approved despite heavy opposition from Senate President M. Teresa Paiva Weed.

According to Weed, Newport does want a casino and has a serious objection to forcing a casino on a community that does not wish to have it around.

House Speaker Gordon D. Fox had acknowledged the possibility of removing Newport Grand from the package, but in the end the Newport Grand was left in.

Now that the house has spoken, there is no word on its chances in the Senate, but it is certain that Weed will be on the front line of the opposition.

Related posts:

1. Rhode Island Governor Questions Casino Bill
2. Rhode Island Gambling Bill Discussed In Committee
3. Rhode Island Governor Vetoes Casino Bill
4. Rhode Island Casinos Keeping An Eye On Massachusetts
5. Rhode Island Next In Line For Casino Expansion

This entry was posted on Wednesday, June 9th, 2010 at 11:45 pm and is filed under Casino Business News, Legal Casino News. Both comments and pings are currently closed.