After three months in operation the Plainridge Park Casino in Plainville has bitten into Twin River Casino’s revenues by about 9 percent, just slightly less than what Twin River’s Chairman John E. Taylor Jr. predicted: 10 percent.
Gaming is the third largest source of revenue for state government. Last year Twin River contributed $300 million to the state.
Plainridge General Manager Lance George says he is not focusing on the competition. He told NBC 10 News: “We share some customers and we hear their complaints. I’m sure they hear ours. With the proliferation of casinos, competition is pretty standard.”
Twin River’s strategy is not so much to target Plainridge as to keep existing customers. A spokesman for the casino said it is actively reaching out to customers to find out what they want. For example, when customers asked for more gaming tables in the non-smoking section, it moved tables. Customers asked for poker, and in December poker tables will be introduced.
But playing defense is not what Rhode Island’s other casino, also operated by Twin River plans. Recently Taylor unveiled plans for the casino that his company would like to move from its current location in Newport to Tiverton, right on the state line with Massachusetts, in fact just a few hundred feet away.
The town of 8,000 residents could see a casino that will resemble a suburban shopping center rather than a glitzy Las Vegas imitation. Taylor told the town council that the proposed casino could generate nearly $75 million in state and local taxes.
His company plans to spend $75 million on the wood frame structure, which will have 1,000 slot and 32 gaming tables, plus a small 84-room hotel whose buildings would resemble townhouses. The coastal New England design is intended to do the opposite of generating a “wow factor.” It is intended to sooth possible fears.
Twin River believes that a border casino will keep many Ocean State residents from crossing the line. Before it can become a reality, however, it must be approved by a statewide referendum AND get approval by the voters of Tiverton.
Rhode Island legislative leaders, including the speaker of the house and senate president, support the plan and argue that the state needs to do something to compete with the Bay State.
House Speaker Nicholas A. Mattiello said last week “The proposed location and legislative plan gives us the best opportunity to remain competitive in that region of the state and marketplace, with minimal impact on the host community of Tiverton.” He added, “Last, this approach reflects the important partnership the state has with Twin River and will aid considerably in protecting the state’s third largest source of revenue.”
About 200 residents at the unveiling held at a high school gym appeared supportive. “Tiverton is an ideal location,” a local resident told the Boston Globe. “This is going to help the town and help the state. Let’s take advantage of it.”
“It’s good for the taxpayer,” said another attendee. “The town and the state have a lot of needs.”
The town council will have one other public meeting before voting on the proposal.
Twin River has been preparing the ground for this vote carefully, first by making a low-key proposal several months ago, and then adding details as more public meetings were held. The most recent presentation included video and computer generated renderings.
“This is the proposal that’s based on 40-odd meetings around town,” said John Taylor, at the meeting.
The casino on 45 acres would have 85,000 square feet with a 38,000 SF gaming floor and would be hidden from the road by trees. It would have 15,500 SF of food and beverage, including a sit down restaurant.
It would pay a minimum of $3 million annually to the town. It would employ as many as 600, many of them local residents.
Some residents were concerned about the facility’s taking too much water. Twin River says it will have an onsite water 450,000-gallon storage tank for firefighters and domestic use.
