The Narragansett Tribe is questioning a bill that would turn Twin River Casino, a slot machine facility, into a full-fledged casino.
Chief Sachem Matthew Thomas said any expansion of gaming must go on the state ballot. He cited a 2005 Rhode Island Supreme Court decision that forced the tribe to seek voter approval for a casino. Twin River houses about 4,750 electronic gambling machines. The Rhode Island Lottery gets 61 cents for every dollar gambled there. A small portion of the state's share goes to the tribe. This year's payment is expected to be $721,854 out of $261.4 million projected for the state. Get the Story: