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Gambling in Rhode Island: Bally’s Twin River Casino Announces Gaming Floor Expansion

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Slot machines with every other machine ready to play and receive guests in a casino in the United States. David Becker/Getty Images/AFP.

Bally’s Corp. announced a 40,000-square-foot expansion of its Twin River Lincoln Casino Resort gaming floor and a substantial investment into the property that is expected to yield bigger dividends for the company, and ultimately Little Rhody state.

It’s worth noting that Bally’s Corp. has also made significant strides in the realm of sports betting in Rhode Island. The company operates both the sportsbook at the Twin River Lincoln and the Tiverton Casino Hotel and has recently announced partnerships with major sports leagues and media companies to expand its sports betting offerings.

Going Big in Little Rhody

Bally’s Twin River and Bally’s Tiverton are located about 40 minutes away from each other in the nation’s smallest state. Twin River opened in 2007 and began offering table games in 2013. It has approximately 700 employees and reported revenues of $52 million in 2022.

It is also the beneficiary of Bally’s big investment dump, reportedly around $100 million, intended to generate more business and compete more favorably with the two behemoths in Connecticut, Foxwoods, and Mohegan Sun, as well as the MGM Springfield and Wynn’s Encore Boston Harbor Hotel & Casino located in Massachusetts.

The expansion includes 355 slot machines, 57 table games, 27 stadium-style games, and a high-limit gaming area for the VIPs. The additional gaming space is designed to accommodate more customers, boost profits, and bring attention to a big fish in the small pond that is Rhode Island.

Spa Light – International Spa was opened earlier this year and is purported to be the largest Korean-inspired spa in the area with a floor plan of 14,000 square of luxurious relaxation. There is also a dining room adjacent to the spa serving Korean cuisine.

In addition, a 16-seat casino bar is situated in close proximity to a newly-constructed cigar lounge called “Plume and Proof” with an accompanying outdoor patio for those who want to light up and breathe the fresh air. Lastly, an eating section for 150 guests, including a private dining area, completes the focal points of the expansion.

Dignitaries Celebrate Opening

A bevy of politicians, corporate flacks, and union members were on hand to celebrate the grand opening including Rhode Island Governor Daniel McKee along with Craig Eaton, Head of Bally’s Rhode Island Operations; Paul Juliano, Senior Vice President; Craig Sculos, Senior Vice President of Regulatory Affairs, and Tony Rohrer, Regional Vice President & General Manager.

Also in attendance were Speaker of the House K. Joseph Shekarchi; Senator Frank Ciccone, who serves as Chair of Joint Committee on State Lottery; Lincoln Town Administrator Philip Gould; and George Nee, President, AFL-CIO, who saw his union members working on the expansion through the general contractor, Suffolk Construction.

Bally’s Craig Eaton said: “Our expanded gaming floor, combined with other property improvements, represents a $100 million investment in Rhode Island to generate much-needed revenue for our home state.”

Governor McKee remarked, “This expansion marks another important milestone for not only Bally’s Lincoln but for Rhode Island itself. We are grateful to Bally’s for its ongoing partnership that contributes to our workforce, our economy, and our State as a whole. I also want to congratulate Bally’s on the successful completion of this crucial expansion and continued investment in Rhode Island’s future.”