Rhode Island Wants Ban on Sports Betting Lifted

Rhode Island wants a Federal ban on sports betting lifted and has joined in the resolution to do so.

This past week, Senators Senators Tassoni, McBurney, and Doyle introduced a bill to do just that, following the lead of New Jersey.

2010 -- S 2028

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LC00175

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STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2010

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J O I N T R E S O L U T I O N

URGING THE UNITED STATES CONGRESS TO LIFT THE FEDERAL BAN ON SPORTS

WAGERING

     Introduced By: Senators Tassoni, McBurney, and Doyle

     Date Introduced: January 13, 2010

     Referred To: Senate Constitutional & Regulatory Issues

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    &nbspWHEREAS, Since January 1, 1993, the federal "Professional and Amateur Sports

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Protection Act," 28 U.S.C ss.3701 et seq., prohibits states and local governments from

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authorizing sports wagering; and

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      WHEREAS, Under the terms of the federal law, Nevada is the only state where sports

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wagering is legally permitted, and this activity has resulted in substantial direct and indirect

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revenues to that state's economy; and

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      WHEREAS, According to the Nevada Gaming Control Board, about $81.5 million was

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legally wagered in Nevada on the 2009 Super Bowl game alone, and the 2009 Super Bowl

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weekend generated an approximate $109.5 million non-gaming economic impact, as the game

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attracted 287,000 visitors to Las Vegas; and

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    &nbspWHEREAS, It is estimated that Nevada's legal sports wagering represents less than 1%

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of all sports wagering nationwide; and

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      WHEREAS, In fact, according to the National Gambling Impact Study Commission,

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illegal sports wagering amounts to about $380 billion each year; and

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    &nbspWHEREAS, The federal sports wagering ban is not effective in curbing illegal sport

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gambling, so that lifting the ban on sports wagering would allow state gaming enforcement

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agencies to properly regulate and police this activity; and

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      WHEREAS, An end to the federal ban and the legalization of sports wagering would

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significantly benefit the State of Rhode Island by generating additional income and by enhancing

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tourism; now, therefore be it

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      RESOLVED, That this General Assembly of the State of Rhode Island and Providence

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Plantations hereby respectfully urges the United States Congress to remove the federal ban on

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sports wagering; and be it further

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      RESOLVED, That the Secretary of State be and he hereby is authorized and directed to

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transmit duly certified copies of this resolution to the majority and minority leaders of the United

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States Congress, and to each member of the Rhode Island Congressional Delegation.