Lottery Showdown: Meet the Lobbyists, Executives and Bureaucrats Battling Over the Mega-Contract
GoLocalProv News Team
Lottery Showdown: Meet the Lobbyists, Executives and Bureaucrats Battling Over the Mega-Contract
IGT employs nearly 1,100 in RI with an average compensation of $100,000 per person.
On the other hand, is Twin River — the casino company who runs both of RI’s licensed casino venues Lincoln and Tiverton. Twin River is looking to get into the lottery business and says they can operate the state’s lottery business at a lower cost.
GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE -- SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLASTTwin River is facing a slew of challenges to its core business. Recently, the company laid-off about 100 employees as the newly opened Encore Casino in Boston has taken significant business away.
In addition, Twin River Lincoln was raided by the Rhode Island State Police and representatives of the RI Attorney General’s office in June tied to an investigation. And, in July the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) charged Twin River with illegally withholding records of crimes committed against patrons, vendors and other guests at the Lincoln casino, according to the Service Employees International Union, Local 334 on Wednesday.
The two companies have gobbled up lobbyists like Pac-Man. Twin River has shuffled its management deck in Rhode Island, and now even behind-the-scenes bureaucrats like the Rhode Island Lottery head are being called out -- most recently Speaker of the House Nick Mattiello criticized Gerry Aubin.
HERE ARE THE PLAYERS
Here Are the Players in the Lottery Contract Extension - September 2019
Governor Gina Raimondo
Governor Raimondo is a deal-maker. While she made her name with pension-reform as General Treasurer, her legacy as governor is growing more and more as a deal-maker.
Like Governor Don Carcieri and then-Providence Mayor David Cicilline before her, Raimondo negotiated a comprehensive deal to extend the IGT (formerly GTECH) — a deal that requires IGT to 1,100 jobs in Rhode Island for an additional 20 years.
There is no private company that has agreed to keep any significant number of jobs in Rhode Island as the Rhode Island-IGT deal does.
Raimondo’s situation has added complexity as the Rhode Island Ethics Commission is investigating the deal.
She is scheduled to testify on Tuesday at 3:30 PM before House Finance.
George Papanier, President and Chief Executive Officer, Twin River
The former Trump casino executive has more than 30 years of experience in the business.
Papanier has also had stints at Mohegan Sun and Resorts Casino to name a few.
Papanier is trying to diversify the company from being a small market casino company to a diversified gambling concern.
Speaker of the House Nick Mattiello
When the IGT deal was first announced, Speaker of the House Nick Mattiello announced his support. “IGT is one of Rhode Island’s most valued corporate partners, and I want them to continue to call Rhode Island home for decades to come. This new agreement increases the company’s investment and guarantees great jobs stay in our state. I am committed to a full public vetting of this proposal and the House will hold hearings in the fall,” said Mattiello.
Since then, you need a scorecard to track Mattiello’s comments on the battle between IGT and Twin River.
He has said the relationship between the Lottery Commission and IGT was "incestuous."
He has also said the complexity of the deal between IGT and the state would be difficult to "bid."
Now, the House will hear from Governor Raimondo -- and more -- on Tuesday.
Robert Vincent, Chairperson of IGT Global Solutions Corporation
Vincent has been a top business and government strategist in Rhode Island for decades.
Vincent helps drive the IGT strategy in RI and beyond.
Over the years, he has served as a senior partner at RDW Group, a regional advertising and public relations company in Rhode Island.
He has served as a senior policy and administrative positions with the greatest range of Rhode Island government positions, including the Governor’s Office, Secretary of State’s Office, and the Providence Mayor’s Office.
Marc Crisafulli, Executive Vice President of Twin River Worldwide Holdings, Inc. and President of Twin River Rhode Island
Crisafulli, a former GTECH executive, has had a range of stops as a lobbyist, working in Boston for construction giant Suffolk and then at Brightstar -- a Softbank company (presently, the owners of the Providence Journal through a series of financial structures).
Now, he's playing for Twin River -- whose core business of running Rhode Island's two casinos have been under siege. The entrance of Encore Casino in Boston has taken a big bite out of Twin River's revenues and led to two rounds of layoffs in Rhode Island.
Gerry Aubin, Executive Director of the RI Lottery Commission
The former Providence police officer has been running the RI Lottery for decades. He recently came under criticism from Mattiello for being too lax in changing out under-performing machines at the two casinos.
Aubin, a lottery industry Hall-of-Famer has had a reputation as honest and hardworking, but the Lottery’s marketing and implementation of sports betting have been less than stellar.
He is a member of MUSL's (Multi-State Lottery Association) Development Committee and the PowerBall and MegaHits Groups. Previously, Aubin has served as President of NASPL, as well as President of MUSL and Chairman of the PowerBall Committee.
Twin River Lobbyists
TWIN RIVER MANAGEMENT GROUP, INC.
Twin River's Craig Eaton $500 Monthly
Twin River President John Taylor $500 Monthly
Twin River CEO George Papanier $500 Monthly
Dan Ryan $5,000 Monthly
Former House Majority Leader George Caruolo $5,000 Monthly
Former House Whip Chris Boyle $2,000 Monthly
Former Top Raimondo aide David Cruise $5,000 Monthly
Former Speaker of the House Bill Murphy/DOME CONSULTANTS, LLC $5,000 Monthly
Twin River RI's Marc Crisafulli $5,000 Monthly
Former Top Projo Executive Mark Ryan $5,000 Monthly
Bill Farrell of WILLIAM A. FARRELL & ASSOCIATES LLC $5,000 Monthly
IGT's Lobbyists
IGT AND ITS AFFILIATES
Former Top IGT Executive Don Sweitzer $1,000 Monthly
IGT’s Joseph Gendron $1,000 Monthly
IGT’s Michael Mello $1,000 Monthly
Former Senate Minority Leader Bob Goldberg $7,500 Monthly
Former Prov City Councilman Andrew Annaldo $5,000 Monthly
Kevin Horan $5,000 Monthly
Peter Baptista PB STRATEGIC CONSULTING $5,000 Monthly
Former Democratic Party Chairman Bill Lynch COMPASS ADVISORS $5,000 Monthly
Erich Haslehurst $5,000 Monthly
Joe Walsh and Gayle Wolf/GOVERNMENT STRATEGIES, INC. $5,000 Monthly
Stephanie Federico $3,000 Monthly
IGT’s Robert Vincent $1,000 Monthly
