While Rhode Island’s exclusive casino operator dangled a potential $210 million in new revenue before legislators’ eyes this week, others raised warning flags about the “cannibalization” of gambling dollars from other games that are more lucrative for the state — and the potential expansion of alleged teen-run gambling rings in high school.
While 18-year-olds are banned by law from smoking and drinking in Rhode Island, they can place online sports wagers, which has made them kingpins of sorts in high school gambling operations, former Sen. John Tassoni, speaking as a board member of the Rhode Island Council on Problem Gambling, told a Senate committee on Wednesday night.
