Casinos (H 6221, S 979)

With table games legalized in Rhode Island, the General Assembly fast-tracked legislation overhauling the casino gaming statute and adding a number of new crimes, penalties, and regulations.  In June, the ACLU testified that the bill carried a number of provisions seriously impacting the due process rights of patrons, including a provision that allowed casino employees to forcibly detain and question patrons suspected of violating gaming laws – essentially granting the employees police powers with immunity for their actions. That provision was stricken from the bill in acknowledgement of the ACLU’s concerns. Despite objections from the ACLU and many legislators, however, the bill was not amended to revise provisions imposing penalties of up to 10 years in prison and fines of up to $100,000 for violating any broadly-worded gambling prohibitions, including one barring the possession of tape, dental floss or other items that could be used for cheating.