Real Push Behind Casino Fight

Las November, the people of Rhode Island voted to not allow Harrah’s Entertainment to bring in a casino. The Narragansett Indian Tribe had teamed with Harrah’s to bring in a resort casino into the town of West Warwick. However, the people decided that they didn’t want that in their state, and so they voted against the casino.

They were swayed by local politicians and civic groups who said that the worst thing that could happen to Rhode Islanders would be to allow Harrah’s and the Narragansett Tribe to bring in the social evils that would come from slot machines. They were led by the Rhode Island Hospitality Association, The Greater Providence Chamber of Commerce, Governor Carcieri and former Governor Lincoln Almond – all of whom told them that they needed to vote against the casino.

What the people of Rhode Island were not aware of however was who was funding the above groups. It turns out that is was none other than the same people who bring you the Mohegan Sun Casino. The Mohegan Sun channeled funds through BLB Associates, and funded the opposition to the casino, so that they could keep getting the money they currently bring in instead of another tribe. They did a great job considering almost two to one voted against the casino.

The only problem is now Rhode Islanders are without the casino, which means the state is also without the slot machine revenue that it would have brought in, and Connecticut is still raking in the millions and millions of dollars that Rhode Islanders and other states play in their casinos. Perhaps it would have behooved them to see who was really behind the mask before they voted against it.



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