Projo 7 to 7 News Blog

The owners announced through a spokeswoman a week ago that the dire circumstances that led it to miss loans payments in March 2008 were just as dire now, but the governor's office had "broken off all discussions with the owners of Twin River - BLB Investors, LLC. - regarding the possible state takeover or purchase of the gaming venue.''

It remains unclear why the talks broke down, after months of negotiations between Twin River, its lenders, and the state's financial advisers.

But Governor Carcieri's office issued this statement at the time: "After lengthy discussions, the State has decided that given the State's current fiscal situation, it is not prudent to enter into a transaction that would add hundreds of millions of dollars of debt to the State's balance sheet."

Twin River spokeswoman Patti Doyle would not say what options Twin River's owners were exploring. But given the slot parlor's year-long struggle to keep its lenders and contractors at bay, this latest development, at the very least, raised the possibility they would seek protection from their creditors with a filing in U.S. Bankruptcy Court.

Wednesday's hearing begins at the end of the regular 4 p.m. Senate session.

A second bill on the Senate committee's agenda would lift the exemption the two slot parlors have from the statewide workplace smoking ban. A third, drafted by members of the Rhode Island Council on Problem Gambling, would extend to Twin River and Newport Grand the same problem-gambling aversion requirements that state lawmakers adopted in 2004 for the proposed West Warwick casino.

At its most basic, it would require the slot parlors to submit to the state Lottery a written plan which, at minimum, provides an opportunity for compulsive gamblers to voluntarily - and permanently - exile themselves from the premises, with the knowledge they will have to forfeit their winnings if they get caught sneaking back in.

The gambling houses would also be required to adopt procedures "to prevent employees from willfully permitting" self-excluded gamblers to return; deny them access to credit, check-cashing and other complimentary services; make sure they are not on mailing lists for promotions and "prevent serving alcohol to individuals who appear to be intoxicated."

One of the points of contention when matching legislation was considered earlier this year in the House, was a provision allowing the Rhode Island Council on Problem Gambling to forge an agreement with the state Lottery on the framework for employee training on the "diagnostic signs ... identification of vulnerable populations, including youth, women, low-income patrons, the elderly and persons who abuse drugs and alcohol," and "the impact of problem gambling on finances, emotional, marital, interpersonal, occupation and legal problems."

The slot-parlor employees would not be required to identify compulsive gamblers, "which is an activity that requires medical and clinical expertise," but their employers would face $1,000 per-incident fines and license suspension if they "willfully" disregarded self-exclusion statements.