- The Rhode Island House approved a pair of bills to double the credit limit in the state’s two casinos.
- Bally’s Twin River Lincoln and Bally’s Tiverton would offer a $100,000 credit limit instead of their current $50,000 limit if the bill passes in the Senate once again.
- Some lawmakers discussed problem gambling in the state and the impact of these bills.
TIVERTON, R.I. – Two bills to double the credit limit at Rhode Island casinos were approved by the Rhode Island House on Tuesday. The bills would allow for Rhode Island blackjack players to have a credit limit of $100,000, twice as much as the current $50,000 limit.
Rep. Gregory Constantion’s amended bill passed by a 57-11 vote in the House of Representatives, while an identical bill sponsored by Sen. Frank Ciccone III passed by a similar vote of 55-11. Ciccone’s bill passed in the Rhode Island Sente back on June 6, but now needs support from Governor Daniel McKee.
Is Rhode Island Credit Limit Increase A Good Or Bad Thing?
There was plenty of discussion over the credit increase on the House floor, including confusion about the provision of Bally’s new debt ratio negotiation with the Division of Lottery and Division of Business Regulation not being underlined as it was an amendment to a contract. Other lawmakers centered in on the repercussions of increasing a credit line for blackjack and other forms of casino gambling in a state that already has issues with problem gambling.
“People do still lose their homes, people do still have an addiction to gambling and $100,000 would be an awful amount of debt for some people,” said Rep. Patricia Morgan during the House discussion. “There should be an accreditation.”
Lawmakers have been discussing doubling the credit line for months to increase competition with Connecticut and Massachusetts. Governor Daniel McKee hasn’t stated whether he’s in support of the credit limit increase or not.