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State police back making under-21 online gaming a misdemeanor; civil-liberties group opposes
Summary
The committee heard conflicting testimony on a bill to align iGaming age rules with existing statutes; the ACLU urged fines rather than criminal penalties, while Rhode Island State Police supported misdemeanor penalties to close enforcement gaps; the committee voted to hold the bill.
Legislation to make participation by under-21 players in iGaming a misdemeanor drew opposition from the ACLU and support from the Rhode Island State Police during a Senate Labor and Gaming Committee hearing.
The bill, introduced to align casino-crime statutes with the state’s iGaming law, would make it a misdemeanor for anyone under 21 to play iGaming and would create a misdemeanor for anyone who allows or attempts to allow another person under 21 to participate. Stephen Brown of the ACLU of Rhode Island opposed criminal penalties for 18-to-21-year-olds, saying the existing casino age framework permits play at 18 in some contexts and that, if the age should rise, a civil penalty would be more appropriate.
Ernest “Ernie” Adams, a detective sergeant with the Rhode Island State Police assigned to the gaming enforcement unit, testified in support. Adams said the gaming enforcement unit, Rhode Island Lottery and the Department of Business Regulation work together to maintain gaming integrity and that the statute creating casino‑gaming crimes (42-61.3-2) is the tool state police rely on. He said the bill would close a loophole and give enforcement officers authority to charge criminally for under‑21 participation in iGaming; the proposed penalty would be a misdemeanor punishable by up to one year in jail, a fine up to $1,000, or both.
After testimony the committee moved to hold the bill for further review. The motion to hold passed by voice vote.
