A week after the House Committee on Judiciary struck down a proposal by the Rhode Island State Police to make it a misdemeanor for anyone under the age of 21 to gamble online, that very legislation is now headed to the chamber’s floor.
Without any debate, the committee on Tuesday reconsidered the bill to amend the state’s 2023 iGaming law and advanced it with a 10-5 vote. The legislation sponsored by Rep. Gregory Costantino, a Lincoln Democrat, would impose up to one year in prison and a $1,000 fine if anyone ages 18 to 20 bets or plays in the virtual casino.
Bally’s Corp., which runs Rhode Island’s two casinos, manages the only iGaming app available in the state.
Fears that high-school-aged kids would get hooked on iGaming led lawmakers to restrict access to anyone under 21 when state officials legalized online gaming in 2023.
Costantino’s proposal had been rejected by the committee 7-5 during its April 22 meeting amid concerns that it would criminalize an act that 18-year-olds are allowed to do in person or online when betting on sports. But under House rules, committee members can move to reconsider a vote as long as the bill is still in the legislative panel’s possession and the motion is made by someone who voted with the majority.
In this case, the motion was made by Rep. Jason Knight, a Barrington Democrat who initially voted against the bill.
“Although it’s unusual for a bill to go up and down then come back, it’s not unheard of,” Knight told Rhode Island Current after the vote.
House committees reconsidered three bills in 2024, chamber spokesperson Larry Berman said in an email Tuesday. This year, five bills have been reconsidered among the 114 advanced to the House floor.
Berman said reconsiderations occur when new information emerges or if further clarification on a bill is needed. He added that at least two of the three committee members who missed the vote have indicated they would like the opportunity to participate.
Democrats David Bennet of Warwick and Matthew Dawson of East Providence voted in favor of Costantino’s bill. Rep. José Batista, a Providence Democrat, voted against the measure.
Asked why he made the motion and changed his vote, Knight said it was done to pass a piece of legislation “that would make everyone happy.” Also changing their votes were Reps. Julie Casimiro, a North Kingstown Democrat, and Rep. Marie Hopkins, a Warwick Republican.
“We’re looking for a way to get to a bill that wants to accomplish what it wants to policy-wise while addressing some of the objections,” Knight said. “All I can say is the bill is alive, it’s the subject of a lot of conversations and we’ll see what happens.”
Rep. Cherie Cruz, a Pawtucket Democrat, is certainly not happy that the bill is advancing to the floor without additional debate.
“I just wanted to ask a question,” she said in an interview. “And we usually can always ask a question on a bill.”
But the committee’s chairman, Robert Craven, a North Kingstown Democrat who voted in favor of the bill, told Rhode Island Current that House rules prohibit testimony and debate on bills up for reconsideration.
Committee members can question witnesses who are there to provide clarification on the proposal. Craven indicated ahead of the meeting that a representative from the Rhode Island State Police may have wanted to have an additional chance to make the case for the legislation they are pushing.
A state trooper was present at Tuesday’s committee meeting, but did not speak.
Sgt. Ernest Adams, a detective for the State Police’s Gaming Enforcement Unit, testified at the bill’s initial hearing on March 25, where he called the proposal “essential” for officers to enforce the mandated age of the iGaming law.
But Cruz told Rhode Island Current that gamers under 21 who are allowed to bet in person may not know they are breaking the law should they do it on their phones.
“You could even be inside the casino and you’re violating the law,” Cruz said.
Joining Cruz against the proposal were Democrats Edith Ajello of Providence, Leonela Felix of Pawtucket and David Place, a Foster Republican. Cruz said the state should instead penalize minors with civil fines, much like it does for underage drinking and smoking.
Knight disagreed.
“We’re not talking about cannabis, alcohol or tobacco,” he said. “We’re talking about gambling — it’s a different public policy question.”
An official floor vote has not been scheduled as of Tuesday evening.
Companion legislation is sponsored in the Senate by Frank Ciccone, a Providence Democrat. The Senate Committee on Gaming and Labor, which Ciccone chairs, held the bill for further study on March 26, as is standard procedure when legislation is first considered by a legislative panel.
This story was originally published by the Rhode Island Current.
