NEWPORT – Twenty four hour gaming will be able to take place at Newport Grand after all. Over the span of ten days, legislation that would allow 24-hour gambling at the state's two slot parlors was passed by the General Assembly, vetoed by Governor Donald Carcieri, and over-ridden by the Democratic-controlled legislature less than 48 hours later.

The political back-and-forth came expectedly, pitting a majority of the state's lawmakers in favor of expanded gaming hours against Republican Governor Donald Carcieri, who has established himself as state's leading anti-gambling voice over the last seven years.

The separate but identical bills passed by the General Assembly would permit, but do not require, round-the-clock gambling at Newport Grand and Lincoln's Twin River slot parlors on weekends and the nights before federal and state recognized holidays.

The so-called "24/3" gambling bills would also allow the two venues to remain open until 3 a.m. on all other days of operation; currently, Newport Grand operates from 10 a.m. to 1 a.m. daily, while Twin River is open from 9 a.m. to 2 a.m. daily.

The legislation, which would come up for renewal after one year, was a compromise from plans that would have allowed the twin facilities to remain open 24 hours per day, seven days a week.

In a statement that accompanied his veto, Gov. Carcieri argued on the side of the host communities.

"As I have said repeatedly since debate over this legislation started last year, the host communities should have some say when it comes to deciding the hours of operation for these two facilities," he said.

On the Senate side, Senate bill 2009Aaa, sponsored by Sen. Paul E. Moura (D–East Providence), passed easily on a vote of 27 to 6. In the House, H-7040Aaa, sponsored by Rep. William San Bento Jr. (D–North Providence), also passed with a vote of 51 to 19.

Representative Steven Coaty (R–Newport) received a call from the governor's office shortly before news broke that he was going to follow through on his veto pledge.

"My next step is to contact seven or eight legislators," Mr. Coaty said, in order to prevent house leaders from securing the three-fifths majority, or 45 votes, needed for an over-ride.

Responding to the governor's veto, House Speaker William Murphy (D–West Warwick) and House Majority Leader Gordon Fox (D–Providence) said they were "disappointed and confused."

Gov. Carcieri's "argument that the host communities should approve of the extended hours is inconsistent with his past support of the largest expansion of gambling in state history without local approval," they wrote referring to the governor's approval of the installation of additional slot machines at the facilities.

"Contrary to the governor's comparison of these facilities to a local bar, grocery or convenience store, the state has a significantly greater interest in the operation of Twin River and Newport Grand," they continued.

"While we appreciate the importance of local input, we don't believe it can be the deciding factor when state interests are at stake."

In January, the House Finance Committee traveled to Newport's Old Colony House seeking local input for a special hearing on the bill, which faced considerable opposition from Aquidneck Island residents.

Proponents project that expanded gaming hours could generate up to $14.8 million annually for the state, the majority of which would be designated for school funding.

Newport would also see an increase in revenue from the legislation should the expanded hours yield its projected results. Currently, the city receives 1.07 percent of slot revenue from Newport Grand, or an estimated $738,310 for 2008. Should the recently-passed legislation be signed into law, that number would increase to 1.2 percent.

However, while state leaders are relying on round-the-clock gaming to cover the state's mounting deficit, Gov. Carcieri brought the issue down to the local level.

"It is generally the prerogative of cities and towns to set the hours of operations for restaurants, bars grocery and convenient stores and other businesses," he said. "Under the scheme passed by the General Assembly, the people of Lincoln and Newport are at the mercy of large-scale gambling facilities, with no recourse."

With the General Assembly's successfully override, the two gambling establishments are now allowed to put their new operating hours into effect, if they so choose, upon enactment.

By Tom Shevlin

news@newportthisweek.net