Funds restored for gambling treatment

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WPRI) - The Rhode Island General Assembly is restoring funding for the state's problem gambling program.

House Speaker Gordon Fox and Senate President Teresa Paiva Weed announced Thursday that lawmakers will allocate $50,000 for gambling addiction treatment from the General Assembly's Legislative Grant Program. 

The owners of the state's two slot parlors -- Twin River and Newport Grand -- have pledged to match the $50,000, bringing the program's funding level to $100,000 this fiscal year.

According to a news release, Senate President Paiva Weed says the funding had been cut from the state budget "inadvertently" when the General Assembly eliminated community service grants given to hospitals.  One of those grants, according to the Senate President, was meant to pay for a problem gambling program at Rhode Island Hospital.

If Rhode Island lawmakers approve a pair of ballot questions this November allowing full casino gambling at both Twin River and Newport Grand, the two casinos would fully fund the state's gambling addiction program.