Indian Gaming > Editorial: Vote for Narragansett Tribe's casino

October 23, 2006

Editorial: Vote for Narragansett Tribe's casino

• Narragansett chief a 'rock star' on campaign trail (The Providence Journal 10/21)
• Harrah's taps into big Northeast market (The Providence Journal 10/22)

"We endorse the proposed Narragansett Indian Tribe destination-resort casino to be run by Harrah's in West Warwick. So we recommend voting yes on referendum Question 1 on the Nov. 7 ballot.

The project would produce many new jobs -- first, several thousand construction jobs and then several thousand permanent positions. It would also provide substantial property-tax relief: Some of the revenue from the project would be dedicated to such relief, much needed in a state with among the country's highest such levies. And the casino would increase state income- and sales-tax revenue, thus reducing pressure for rises in those taxes for Rhode Islanders. That, in turn, could make it easier to draw other business to the Ocean State.

The project would return to the economy of Rhode Island hundreds of millions a year in dollars now going every year to the huge Foxwoods and Mohegan Sun casinos, in eastern Connecticut. There would be that much more money spent in stores and other businesses in Rhode Island rather than there.

Many people assert that Rhode Island must not have "a casino." Too late! The proposed project would be the third casino in the state. The casinos in Lincoln and Newport are big and well established, although, it is true, they function mostly as slot-machine palaces, without the (far-more-social) card and other gambling games that the West Warwick project would have.

It's time to let the Narragansetts build their casino."

Get the Story:
Allow a third casino (The Providence Journal 10/22)
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