Blackjack Not Yet Coming to Rhode Island, Could Be in Kansas Soon
Quarter Blackjack
With states like Pennsylvania recently seeing success with the legalization of table gaming in their land-based casinos, dozens of other state governments are exploring the possibility of following suit. While Rhode Island won’t be holding a referendum on installing blackjack tables in 2010, the Kansas government seems quite enthused about supply its casino-goers with blackjack, roulette and poker.
In Rhode Island, a proposal to bring live blackjack and other casino games other than slots to a pair of casinos there will not appear on state ballots in the November election. Earlier this year, governor Don Carcieri vetoed a bill which would allow voters to decide the fate of table gaming. Unfortunately for backers of the bill, like the owners of the bankrupt Twin River Casino, could not convince legislators to reconvene to override the veto.
State House spokesman Larry Berman said “we are keeping a constant eye on Massachusetts,” meaning that the should the neighboring state introduce blackjack, Rhode Island would put the issue back on the table. So to speak.
Meanwhile, in Kansas, three casino developers are wooing lawmakers in Sumner County to allow the building of a new full-service casino there. A county law was passed in 2007 to legalize gambling, but attempts to get things started in 2008 and 2009 fell through. One of the companies that tried with Kansas previous is Las Vegas-based Harrah’s Entertainment.
The proposals each call for 1,300-2,000 slot games, 40-50 table games, poker rooms, and a new hotel with 80-300 rooms. Oklahoma-based Global Gaming Solutions suggests 40 tables devoted solely to blackjack and a 1,400-seat live theater in its proposal.