Twin River is planning to offer full casino table games beginning next Wednesday. Photo by Steve Klamkin WPRO News
By Steve Klamkin WPRO News
Twin River is preparing to offer full table games beginning next Wednesday, provided state leaders approve last minute changes to state gambling regulations.
"We are excited to open," said Twin River Chief Executive Officer and General Manager Craig Sculos.
"After six months of renovation and construction, we're getting very close to showtime. Staff is in place, the facility is looking good. We're ready to come out of the gate and open up the new era of Twin River," Sculos said.
With a ribbon-cutting ceremony and charity gambling tournament to include state and local leaders set to launch the start of table games at the one-time dog track and Lincoln slots parlor on Wednesday, casino executives are hoping the Rhode Island General Assembly will pass, and Governor Lincoln Chafee will sign proposed changes into law that provide for stiffened penalties for casino related criminal activity.
On Thursday, newly hired casino regulators toured the floor containing the 66 new table games. On Friday and Monday, the casino plans test runs of the table games with a limited number of invited guests.
"You have your most common and popular game is blackjack, so we have 42 blackjack tables," said Kevin Brown, Twin River's Director of Table Games.
"Our second most popular game is roulette, so we have six roulette tables. We have four craps tables for the person that enjoys throwing the dice. We also have three card poker, let it ride, Spanish 21, mini baccarat and of course, the ever famous "Big Six Wheel."
Twin River is licensed by the state of Rhode Island to operate up to 4,752 slot machines, 214 have been moved to make room for the table games.
Sculos said the addition of table games and Twin River's focus on customer service will help the casino differentiate itself from the existing Connecticut casinos, Foxwoods and Mohegan Sun, and help get a leg up on the three casinos planned for and currently undergoing discussions in neighboring Massachusetts.
"Slots tend to attract female players, table games tend to attract the male demo. We now have a facility where both – men, women, the guys hanging out, the women looking for a night out, it's now here under one roof. Combined with our restaurants, which will be rolling out some new menus, the entertainment that we have, we are now the type of property that shares the landscape with the Connecticut casinos," Sculos said.
Twin River is preparing to begin table games next Wednesday
Photos by Steve Klamkin WPRO News
