The Rhode Island Senate approved Legal iGaming legislation Thursday, June 8, in a swift 30-4 vote. The approval adds momentum to the bill that unanimously cleared the Senate Special Legislation and Veterans Affairs Committee Tuesday after making changes forced by the state’s constitution.
The amended bill removed digital table games and now requires all online table games to be live-dealer offerings.
Greg Pare, Director of Communications for Senate President Dominick Ruggerio (D-Providence), said the change addressed concerns about the bill’s constitutionality expressed by the Rhode Island Lottery.
The concern was that the definition of table games that voters approved required at least one live person. Although there was disagreement on that point, we accepted the Lottery’s position and asked our partners about live person simulcast gaming,” said Pare.
Simulcast gaming, says Pare, is an accepted practice in states including New Jersey, where a miniature casino is constructed, much like a TV studio, and the games are simulcast to those people playing through their mobile devices.
The amended bill removed digital table games and now requires all online table games to be live-dealer offerings.
Greg Pare, Director of Communications for Senate President Dominick Ruggerio (D-Providence), said the change addressed concerns about the bill’s constitutionality expressed by the Rhode Island Lottery.
The concern was that the definition of table games that voters approved required at least one live person. Although there was disagreement on that point, we accepted the Lottery’s position and asked our partners about live person simulcast gaming,” said Pare.
Simulcast gaming, says Pare, is an accepted practice in states including New Jersey, where a miniature casino is constructed, much like a TV studio, and the games are simulcast to those people playing through their mobile devices.