House GOP Seeks Supreme Court Advisory on Online Sports Betting
Tuesday, March 12, 2019
The House Republican Caucus is seeking a Supreme Court advisory opinion regarding the legality of two bills that would authorize online sports betting without getting voter approval.
The now pending legislation would allow mobile bets to be placed statewide as long as the customer first registers on-site at Twin River’s Lincoln or Tiverton locations.
“If the Supreme Court approves of the measures, we can quickly move this legislative session to then authorize mobile gaming. If the Court disapproves, we can amend the bills to include the required voter-approval or seek to amend our state constitution to authorize statewide online sports betting and avoid the required local approval from each municipality where an online bet may be placed from,” said Representative George Nardone.
GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE -- SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLASTThe House Republican Caucus will file amendments during floor debate that ask for an advisory opinion.
In the absence of House action, House Republicans urge the Senate and Governor Raimondo to seek guidance from our Supreme Court.
Supreme Court Advisory
The Rhode Island Constitution requires local and statewide approval for any act that expands the types or location of gambling in the state.
In 2012, voters approved of casino gaming at Twin River’s Lincoln facility.
In 2016, voters approved of casino gaming at Twin River’s Tiverton facility.
“An open question remains whether these prior voter approvals authorize online gaming anywhere in the state, or, confine it wagers placed while physically located at Twin River’s Lincoln or Tiverton facilities,” said Representative John Lyle.
The constitution authorizes either the House of Representatives, the Senate or the Governor to request an advisory opinion from our Supreme Court.
Mobile Sports betting in RI
Senate President Dominick Ruggerio first pushed for mobile sports betting back in January.
As GoLocalProv reported, Ruggerio’s legislation would enable the creation of an app consumers could use to access the sports gaming offerings at Twin River from anyplace within the parameters of the state of Rhode Island. Consumers must initially set up their accounts in person at Twin River, and thereafter could place a wager from anywhere in the state. They must be physically in the state of Rhode Island in order to wager. The system would utilize technology to determine the location of any person placing a wager, and would not accept wagers from outside of the state’s boundaries.
This comes after Vendors IGT and Twin River were months late in starting Rhode Island's sports betting program and the budgeted revenue of $23.5 million has been downgraded already once to just $11.5 million and the numbers look like they will continue to fall.
Related Slideshow: PHOTOS: General Assembly Opening Session - January 1, 2019
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