Rhode Island Finds Instate Casinos Keeping Revenue at Home
Rhode Island, like many states, has watched as casino-rich states like Connecticut pull citizens over the border to wager, causing the home state to lose revenue streams. Now, as casinos become more common and laws relax to allow gamblers to enjoy their hobby nearer home, Rhode Island has found its people staying instate to gamble.
Foxwoods and Mohegan Sun Casinos have long drawn crowds from throughout New England. But Rhode Island first licensed slot casinos at Twin River and Newport, and then recently expanded operating hours and made the casinos more accessible.
Now a study by the University of Massachusetts at Dartmouth has found that, for the first time, more money was wagered by Rhode Islanders at their home state casinos than at the mighty Connecticut Indian empires. About $271million was bet at the two Rhode Island locations in 2007; $261 million found its way across the border to the Indian casinos.
The state garnered $148 million in revenue from its gambling licensees.
Business remains stable at destination spots like Mohegan Sun, indicating that overall wagering has increased. Players have found the accessiblity to be to their liking, and the state treasury is a majot beneficiary.
Worries about saturation so far seem unfounded, and now Rhode Island and other states may find their new revenue sources to be answers to prayers.
