Court Allows Casino Referendum to Continue

Federal court nods casinos referendum to continue on the proposed Narragansett Indian Tribe casino in West Warwick.

Johnston town along with its prospective partnernership with Ajax Gaming Ventures LLC filed a legal case last July 21, asking the U.S. district court to stop the R.I secretary of state in allowing the statewide balloting.

R.I. General Assembly have recently passed a resolution that allows Narragansett Indian Tribe and its possible partner to build a casino in the town.

Meanwhile, Judge William E. Smith of the district court has allowed this week the November casino referendum to proceed.

According to Judge Smith the complainants, Ajax Gaming Ventures and Johnston Town, were not able to show irrevocable harm if any of the ballots would proceed.

Ajax Gaming Ventures LLC and Johnston had filed the complaint alleging that allowing the amendment of the state constitution on the casino and awarding the casino rights to Narragansett Indian Tribe would mean giving the casino rights on the basis of race.

Ajax Gaming had formed a partnership with Trump Entertainment for the Johnston casino project but Tom Hickey, the spokesperson for Trump, said that Trump had droped the partnership last June due to the unfair process of bidding.

David Nunes is the owner of Ajax Gaming and has no connection with the Trump organization.