Re(6): Goiko timeline progress report Posted on July 20, 2023 at 04:18:32 PM by Mike Warner
Timeline of events leading to elimination of Jai alai at Newport:
1992: Installation of Video Lottery Terminals approved for Newport Jai alai and Lincoln Greyhound Park. VLT's to be operated though the existing Jai alai and greyhound racing license with the stipulation that Newport and Lincoln are obligated to host live Jai alai and greyhound seasons in order to have the VLT's
1992:
Greyhound kennel owners cut a profit sharing deal with the State of RI, a deal that will ultimately generate millions of dollars yearly, enabling the kennel owners to hire a very powerful lobbyist.
1992-2003:
Over the next 10 years or so, Diane Hurley makes attempts to eliminate Jai alai but her overtures are rebuffed by state lawmakers.
2002:
As Rhode Island incurs a budget shortfall, lawmakers seek to increase their share of VLT revenue. Diane Hurley tells lawmakers that she cannot afford lose a percentage of VLT revenue and still be obligated to host Jai alai.
Because the operation of Jai alai and greyhound racing were protected under the same statute, lawmakers were in a quandary as to how to eliminate Jai alai while keeping Lincoln obligated to host the greyhound races. This was a problem because as stated earlier, the kennel owners had put together a very powerful lobby which had several key lawmakers in it's corner.
But there was one possible way to accomplish their goal:
June 27th. 2003:
(At approximately 10:30 p.m.,
during a budget finalization session at the RI State House, Rep. Steven M. Constantino proposes an amendment to 10 (Article relating to the operation of Video Lottery Terminals) in the 2003 state budget.
The amendment reads as follows:
(c) Commencing July 1, 2003, the division of racing and athletics shall be prohibited to
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license jai alai in the city of Newport. Any license having been issued and in effect as of that date
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shall be null and void and any licensee shall be prohibited from operating thereunder; provided,
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however, that any entity having been issued a license to operate a jai alai fronton prior to July 1,
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2003, and any successor in interest to such entity by reason of acquiring the stock or substantially
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all of the assets of such entity, shall be deemed a pari-mutuel licensee as defined in § 42-61.2-1 et
