Path: utzoo!utgpu!watserv1!maytag!looking!clarinews From: clarinews@clarinet.com (KEN ROSS) Newsgroups: clari.sports.misc Subject: Rhode Island considers sports betting Keywords: boxing, obituary Message-ID: <1Rsportsbet_94@clarinet.com> Date: 12 Jan 90 03:24:31 GMT Lines: 30 Approved: clarinews@clarinet.com ACategory: sports Slugword: sportsbet Priority: daily Format: regular X-Supersedes: ANPA: Wc: 334; Id: s2956; Sel: ns--s; Adate: 1-11-940pes Codes: ysxdrxx. PROVIDENCE, R.I. (UPI) -- Gov. Edward D. DiPrete swallowed his distaste for legalized sports betting Thursday and proposed sanctioning it to offset a budget deficit that could reach $100 million or more this fiscal year. DiPrete, outlining a $20 million package of savings and fees, said he was reluctant to turn to sports betting as a revenue source but felt it was ``less onerous'' than raising taxes, something he swore he would not do in his State of the State address last week. The Republican governor called on the Democratically-controlled Legislature to act quickly on the betting proposal along with others that require their approval. ``In Massachusetts, they waited too long for things to happen and, in my opinion, that's how they got into trouble there,'' DiPrete said. Majority Leader Thomas Lamb, D-West Warwick, said he was unsure how the House would react to the sports betting proposal, but guessed many past opponents might favor it because of the budget problem. A bill similar to what DiPrete is proposing has already been introduced in the House, along with a bill that would allow Rhode Islanders to bet on out-of-state horse and dog races. Senate Majority Leader David Carlin, D-Newport, said he does not want to see sports betting legalized. ``It's too late to undo the lottery, but I don't think the state should be in the business of encouraging people to gamble,'' he said. Sports betting could raise $500,000 this fiscal year and $5 to $7 million annually, DiPrete aides said. It is legal in Nevada and Oregon, though the National Basketball Association has sued Oregon over its program. A proposal in Massachusetts to run a football betting card died in talks between the House and Senate at the end of last year.