We recently reported that a multi-year lawsuit against IGT has come to an end. They illegally used other people's games to create online slots. Now there is talk about this company again. Rhode Island Gov. Gina Raimondo is under investigation by the ethics committee after she gave them a lottery contract.
The Governor stopped other companies from bidding for the contract and extended her $1 billion deal with IGT for 20 years. It is reported that the developer has been providing constant support in the political advancements of Gina Raimondo for the past five years.
The special relationship shown by the governor to IGT is allegedly through Donald Schweitzer, who is the company's lobbyist, was chairman of one of its offshoots, and is also a member of the Democratic Governors Association. And this association is headed by Gina Raimondo.
This was the reason for the Republicans to request an investigation. In their opinion, the behavior of the governor does not comply with the rules, since Raimondo and Schweitzer are in the same organization, as chairman and treasurer. This falls under the definition of business partners. And the code of ethics prohibits the use of an official position for financial gain for one's business partners.
IGT is expected to pay the state $25 million. One competitor, Twin River, said it would pay at least $25 million. And that under all other conditions they could compete. Among those wishing to sign the contract were also Scientific Games.
