Lawsuit filed to halt sports gambling in R.I.

A LAWSUIT WAS filed Wednesday seeking to halt sports betting in Rhode Island, arguing that it was not voter-approved. / BLOOMBERG NEWS FILE PHOTO/ JUSTIN CHIN
A LAWSUIT WAS filed Wednesday seeking to halt sports betting in Rhode Island, arguing that it was not voter-approved. / BLOOMBERG NEWS FILE PHOTO/ JUSTIN CHIN

PROVIDENCE – A lawsuit has been filed in state Superior Court by former R.I. GOP Chairman Brandon S. Bell and Joseph S. Larisa Jr. on behalf of Dr. Daniel Harrop, alleging that the launch of sports gambling and the planned launch of mobile sports gambling in Rhode Island was unconstitutional.

The lawsuit, filed Wednesday morning, claims that sports wagering and mobile sports betting must be approved by voters, arguing that the betting constitutes a new form of gambling separate from the voter-approved table games and video lotteries in Lincoln and  Tiverton.

The governor’s office disagreed with the basis of the lawsuit.

“Multiple legal opinions have affirmed that sports betting was already approved by the voters. The revenue from sports betting supports investments in education, health care, infrastructure and more, and we remain confident that it will be upheld in court,” Josh Block, press secretary for Gov. Gina M. Raimondo, told PBN Thursday.

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The lawsuit argues that voters who approved referendums related to gambling in 2012 and 2016 could not have known they approved sports gambling. The lawsuit also says if the mobile-betting expansion is implemented in Rhode Island (the measure has been approved by the General Assembly), then such a decision would allow a virtual casino to “include all casino gambling open for play anywhere at anytime everywhere” in Rhode Island without a public vote.

The lawsuit seeks to halt sports gambling unless it is approved by voters.

The suit identified the R.I. Division of Lottery, named former R.I. Department of Revenue Director Robert S. Hull and the R.I. Department of Administration as defendants. Hull was erroneously identified as the director of the Department of Administration. That position is currently held by Michael DiBiase.

Bell said Wednesday the suit will be amended to name Mark A. Furcolo, current director of the DOR, in place of Hull.

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