Rhode Island voters to decide on new casino

New England residents will be asked whether to approve a casino in Tiverton.

US.- New England voters will decide whether to expand the gambling options in the state and allow a new casino in Tiverton, Rhode Island. The Rhode Island General Assembly discussed and decided in March that the option would be send to the November ballot.

If the ballot gets passed, Twin River Management Group would open the Tiverton casino in mid 2018 and close its Newport grand slots parlor. A gambling facility would guarantee at least US$4 million annually to Tiverton, a town under 16,000 people. The state would make up the difference if gambling gains from the video lottery machines and table games fall short.

Proponents of the casino said that the US$75 million facility would boost the economy and would benefit the town with property taxes and fees, representing almost 10 percent of Tiverton’s current budget. The casino would also create more than 600 jobs and another 300 during the construction period.

Tiverton casino would also compete against the Massachusetts casinos, since it’s located near the neighboring state, which plans to open a new MGM Resorts casino in Springfield.