Question one on the November ballot

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WPRI) - There are seven ballot questions Rhode Islanders will face this election day.

Question one asks should Twin River in Lincoln be authorized to add state-operated casino gaming, such as table games to the types of gambling it offers?

Newport Grand and Twin River slot machine parlors are one of the state’s top revenue generators and some fear that much needed cash flow could take a major hit if Rhode Island doesn’t keep up with the upcoming casino expansion in neighboring Massachusetts.

During the last fiscal year The Rhode Island Lottery contributed 377 million dollars to the state’s general fund. A large majority of that money came from video slot revenue.

According to a study by the Rhode Island Department of Revenue one hundred million dollars a year or more could be cut from the video slot revenue if Massachusetts follows through with its plans to open three new casinos and one video slot parlor.

However, the president of the group Citizens Concerned about Casino Abuse tells Eyewitness News he is concerned about where the money is coming from to pay for the news jobs that are expected to be created if table games are approved at Twin River.

Rhode Island is in line to receive about 18% of all table game revenue from Twin River is the casino expansion is approved, and the state will continue to get 61% of the money from the video slots.

Newport grand is also seeking to add table games.

That issue will be question number two on the November ballot.