PROVIDENCE — As discussions over the future of Twin River intensify here and in New York, House Speaker William J. Murphy says he remains “willing to discuss ways” to help the Lincoln greyhound track and slot parlor “if the threat of bankruptcy is very imminent.”

In an impromptu interview this week, Murphy, D-West Warwick, said he had no information that would lead him to believe a bankruptcy — forced, voluntary or structured — is any more imminent now than it was last fall when Moody’s Investors Service cited the high likelihood of one after the owners defaulted on $565 million in loans to a consortium of lenders led by Merrill Lynch and then sought one extension after another on making the payments.

But Murphy said he came away from an update by Governor Carcieri two weeks ago with the impression that “we are coming to the crossroads.”

“We are at a point where if the situation isn’t going to improve internally … and we are going to require some state action, we want to be in a position where we are prepared,” he said.

Senate leaders, briefed the same day by Carcieri and his advisers, have declined comment over the last week and a half. Murphy was also unwilling to discuss all of the possible options and scenarios — ranging from a relatively simple restructuring of the debt, to a forced bankruptcy in which the lenders possibly try to bring in a new operator, to a state takeover with the current owners still in charge but under a management contract.

“I gave my two cents which was that, obviously, the first concern that I have is that the State of Rhode Island be protected as best it can be financially.”

To date, he said, “nobody has talked about legislation but at the end of the day I am sure it is going to require some type of action from the House.”

Murphy said only one option is closed, in his mind, to consideration: a reduction in the state’s anticipated $246.8-million share of the video-slot revenue.

The state keeps close to 60 cents of every dollar lost in the 4,752 video-slot machines placed at Twin River by the Providence-based GTECH, and the other game manufacturers under contract over time with the state Lottery.

But Murphy said he remains open to a potential state buyout, if that proves necessary, as he stated in January after the idea was floated by General Treasurer Frank T. Caprio.

“When we look at how effective Twin River has been for the Rhode Island economy and for our overall state budget … I would be willing in my position in the House to discuss ways that maybe — [if] there’s a situation on Wall Street — we could save [Twin River] if the threat of bankruptcy is very imminent … My main purpose obviously is to protect the financial health of the State of Rhode Island.”

Twin River is run by a subsidiary of BLB Investors, a holding company composed of Kerzner International, Starwood Capital Group and Waterford Group LLC

Asked the status of the talks, Gary Sasse, director of the Department of Administration, said, as he has before: “The administration is working to resolve the matter in what we believe will be the best interest of the taxpayer. We have been meeting or our representatives have been meetings both with BLB and the lenders … and our hope is that there will be a consensual agreement that will be in everybody’s best interest.”

Twin River spokeswoman Patti Doyle had no comment.

kgregg@projo.com