Chief Thomas calls for "gaming summit"

Fresh from an appearance yesterday with Bill Rappleye on 10 News Conference, Narragansett Chief Sachem Matthew Thomas this morning released a statement, asserting that it is time "for the governor to stop his schizophrenic posturing on the issue of full-scale casino gaming and bring together the various gaming interests to design a comprehensive strategy for the State of Rhode Island."

Thomas calls Governor Carcieri's expression of support for 24-hour gambling at Lincoln and Newport, as well as backing for letting voters decide the subject, "astounding!"

"The governor did not want the people to have the right to vote on the Narragansett Indian casino and totally ignored the vote of the people of West Warwick. Now he is willfully ignoring the recent vote of the people of Lincoln against 24-hour gaming and expansion of the Twin River facility. Does the Governor really think we are that dumb?"

Thomas also described AG Patrick Lynch's ruling that virtual blackjack machines do not represent an expansion of gambling "a farce."