Defeated Rhode Island online gaming bill up for reconsideration
A casino gaming bill that sought to criminalize bettors younger than 21 for online gambling has been scheduled for reconsideration after being defeated.
House Bill 5643, introduced by sponsors Rep. Gregory Costantino, Rep. John Edwards, Rep. Mia Ackerman, and Rep. Maryann Shallcross-Smith on 26 February, aims to amend crimes related to igaming.
Despite progressing through the House Judiciary Committee, it was defeated on 22 April by a 7-5 vote, over the concern that adults older than 18 who can gamble at retail locations should not be given a criminal record for assuming that it was also lawful to gamble online.
“Rather than criminalizing digital gambling for individuals aged 18 to 20, we suggest considering alternative measures that focus on education and harm reduction, such as punishing such conduct as a civil offense with a required education component on problem gambling,” Megan Jackson, liaison for the Public Defender’s Office, told The Providence Journal.
The bill is up for reconsideration after House Judiciary Committee Chairman Robert Craven told The Providence Journal that the revote was to allow the Rhode Island State Police Col. Darnell Weaver to make a second case for the bill after the State Police sought a revote.
The revote is set for 29 April, with some members of the House Judiciary Committee, including House Minority Whip David Place, questioning the decision.
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Charlotte Capewell brings her passion for storytelling and expertise in writing, researching, and the gambling industry to every article she writes. Her specialties include the US gambling industry, regulator legislation, igaming, and more.
