The original 2014 report
Original reporting follows. Offers, event dates, product details and opinions are historical. Old outbound links are shown as text.
Over a dozen lawmakers of the state of Rhode Island took part in a charity blackjack event organized by Twin River Casino. The champion of this event, which happened to be the first of its kind at the casino, was Representative Scott Slater, who won a prize of $10k for his achievements. The entire amount was directed to the Assumption Church Food Pantry, a charity he wanted to donate to.
The charity blackjack event comprised six round tables at which the participants played blackjack till a winner emerged for each table. The six winners were then given an opportunity to take part in the final championship event, where they played another game of blackjack to determine the overall winner of the event.
Twin River Casino distributed $60,000 among 36 charities, including the Rhode Island Brain and Spine Tumor Foundation, the Rhode Island Community Food Bank, the Rhode Island Academic Decathlon, the Hearthside House in Lincoln, the Kent County YMCA, the Big Brothers and Big Sisters of Rhode Island, Crossroads, Inspiring Minds, St. Mary’s Feast Society, and Woodlawn Catholic Regional School.
Among the participants were 16 general assembly members, including Dominick J. Ruggerio, the leader of the senate majority, and Gordon Fox, the speaker of the house.
Read a little deeper
Keep the event and its purpose together
A casino night can combine games, entertainment and fundraising. Its admission price, play-money arrangements and beneficiary are separate details. This report belongs to the event date shown above; it is not an invitation to an upcoming fundraiser or a statement about the organizer today.
- Organizer
- Identify the group hosting the event and the purpose described.
- Participation
- Separate admission, game credits, entertainment and any prizes.
- Outcome
- An announced target is different from a reported donation or result.
Does the presence of blackjack mean every event used cash wagers?
No. Read the event-specific description. Casino nights may use different entry, play-credit and prize arrangements; the word blackjack alone does not establish those terms.
More from this era
Archive presentation refreshed 26 October 2026. The original report and publication date are retained; this is not a new offer, event listing or product review.