AN ACT RELATING TO SPORTS, RACING, AND ATHLETICS -- DOG RACING IN BURRILLVILLE, LINCOLN, AND WEST GREENWICH (Prevents anyone from wagering money or any other thing of value on the outcome of a greyhound race or other dog race, or accept or facilitate such wagering, regardless of the location at which the race takes place.)

S3048

2026 -- S 3048
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LC006049
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STATE OF RHODE ISLAND
IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY
JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2026
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A N A C T
RELATING TO SPORTS, RACING, AND ATHLETICS -- DOG RACING IN
BURRILLVILLE, LINCOLN, AND WEST GREENWICH

Introduced By:
Senator Mark P. McKenney

Date Introduced:
March 05, 2026

Referred To:
Senate Labor & Gaming
It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:
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SECTION 1. Section 41-3.1-3 of the General Laws in Chapter 41-3.1 entitled "Dog Racing
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in Burrillville, Lincoln, and West Greenwich" is hereby amended to read as follows:
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41-3.1-3. Regulation of operations.
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(a) The division of gaming and athletics licensing is hereby authorized to license dog racing
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in the towns of Burrillville, Lincoln, and West Greenwich. The operation of a dog track shall be
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under the division’s supervision. The division is hereby authorized to issue rules and regulations
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for the supervision of the operations, and the regulations are to be issued prior to commencement
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of licensing hearings.
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(b) Any license granted under the provisions of this chapter shall be subject to the rules
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and regulations promulgated by the division and shall be subject to suspension or revocation for
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any cause that the division shall deem sufficient after giving the licensee a reasonable opportunity
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for a hearing at which he or she shall have the right to be represented by counsel. If any license is
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suspended or revoked, the division shall state the reasons for the suspension or revocation and cause
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an entry of the reasons to be made on the record books of the division.
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(c) The division of gaming and athletics licensing in the department of business regulation
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shall be prohibited from licensing dog racing and/or the operation of a dog track upon which dog
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racing occurs in the town of Lincoln. Any license having been issued and in effect as of the effective
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date of this section shall be null and void and any licensee shall be prohibited from operating

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thereunder; provided, however, that the following entities shall be deemed pari-mutuel licensees as
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defined in § 42-61.2-1 et seq. and licensees as defined in § 41-11-1 et seq.: (1) Any entity having
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been issued a license to operate a dog track prior to December 31, 2008; and (2) Any entity having
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been issued a license to operate a dog track prior to December 31, 2008, that after that date is
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reorganized under a confirmed plan of reorganization pursuant to chapter 11 of title 11 of the United
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States Bankruptcy Code (11 U.S.C. §§ 101 — 1532); and provided, further, that in the case of a
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reorganized licensee under clause (2), its application for a facility permit license is approved and
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issued by the department of business regulation in the event of a proposed change in control of the
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entity. Nothing herein shall limit the ability of the department of business regulation, in connection
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with a proposed change in control, to investigate and subject to the regulatory due diligence process,
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any holder of an ownership interest regardless of percentage of ownership held.
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(d) Notwithstanding any provision of the general laws to the contrary, effective January 1,
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2027, no person may wager money or any other thing of value on the outcome of a greyhound race
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or other dog race, or accept or facilitate such wagering, regardless of the location at which the race
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takes place.
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SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.
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EXPLANATION
BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL
OF
A N A C T
RELATING TO SPORTS, RACING, AND ATHLETICS -- DOG RACING IN
BURRILLVILLE, LINCOLN, AND WEST GREENWICH
***
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This act would prevent anyone from wagering money or any other thing of value on the
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outcome of a greyhound race or other dog race, or accept or facilitate such wagering, regardless of
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the location at which the race takes place, effective January 1, 2027.
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This act would take effect upon passage.
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