NO CASINO - Newport Voters Reject Question 1

Once again, Newport voters have said no.

By a margin of just 990 votes, Newporters voted to reject Question 1, which would have allowed table games at Newport Grand and paved the way for a sale and major expansion of the slot parlor into a casino and entertainment complex.

Poll runners for Citizens Concerned About Casino Gambling reported a total of 3,039 Newporters voted to approve Question 1 and 4,029 opposed.

More than 600 mail ballots have yet to be counted, which isn’t enough to change the results. As a result, supporters of the anti-casino movement celebrated soon after polls closed at 8 p.m.. Watch the video below.

Since a majority of Newport voters chose to reject Question 1, the measure fails, even if a majority of Rhode Islanders vote to approve. As of 8:56 p.m., 56.7 percent of statewide voters supported Question 1, according to the state Board of Elections.

CCACG released the following statement after the votes were reported:

Today Newporters had an opportunity to weigh in on an issue that remains critical to the future of our city. The voices of Newport once again loudly declared their interest in a brighter economic future rather then depending on an outdated and failing state-run gambling model. This vote reminds Rhode Islanders that State can do better than stand on the shoulders of countless gamblers, who waste millions in economic potential on the gambling each year.

This David and Goliath battle proves that Newport’s tight-knit community trumps special interest money. Jobs for Newport poured around $116 per vote to influence this election and mislead Newport voters at every turn. We are disappointed at the malicious intent that lobbied against the economy of our small island economy. However despite their large war chest, the community proved its resiliency and refusal to be deceived by large dollar promises. Newport is not for sale to gambling interests.

However this remains a sobering experience for Newport. While we were successful in this year’s election, our 37 years fighting the casino industry in Newport reminds us that we need to remain active and vigilant. We will continue to educate voters and our elected officials about the harms of casino gambling while working to diversify away from short-term solutions and build our local economy.

This story will be updated.