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Legal Sports Betting in Rhode Island
For all Rhode Island residents, we have created a comprehensive guide to help you understand fully the relevant Rhode Island gambling laws and regulations. As of 2018, the state passed into law that Rhode Island sports betting would be regulated. This was a huge step for the state and has since given rise to a bubbling state betting industry.
For those wondering “Is sports betting legal in Rhode Island and how do I bet?” Well, those residing in the Ocean State, can access online gambling via two active casinos and one sports betting app, as well as a wealth of offshore bookies offering some of the most competitive odds online.
| Sportsbook | Available in Rhode Island |
| FanDuel | ❌ |
| DraftKings | ❌ |
| Caesars | ❌ |
| FoxBet | ❌ |
| BetRivers | ❌ |
| BetMGM | ❌ |
| PointsBet | ❌ |
| Unibet | ❌ |
We would strongly advise any Rhode Island bettors to take a look through our complete list of sports betting providers. We’ll dig deep into the various providers and offer some clarity as to the best ways to take advantage of the various bonuses, odds markets, and competitions at these great oddsmakers.
Anyone who’s landed here and lives in another state, we should point you in the direction of our page explaining all the details of US betting laws, state-by-state. Also, be sure to check out our recommendations for the best RI sports betting apps.
Key Dates For Rhode Island Sports Betting
- February 3, 2024 – There are hopes that a mobile betting is being developed by state pro betting lobbyists.
- June 28, 2023 – Gov. McKee signs law to start online casino gaming in Rhode Island by March 2024.
- June 17, 2023 – Rhode Island committee approves bill for internet gaming; awaits House’s final vote.
- May 31, 2023 – Sports betting dips, but revenue grows compared to last year.
- April 15, 2023 – Rhode Island Lottery extends deal with IGT to power Sportsbook RI through 2026.
Top 5 Rhode Island Sportsbooks
Now that sports betting in the state are regulated, we’re seeing an increasing number of bettors swarming to the state to enjoy the various sports betting facilities. If you’re wondering how old you need to be to gamble in Rhode Island state, it’s the same as it is across the US, which is 21 years old.
Our team of in-house betting experts have reviewed all the available sports betting platforms in Rhode Island state. In order to ensure this process is seamless for our readers, we’ve put together a list of the top five bookmakers for gambling in Rhode Island.
Six Reasons to Bet on These Rhode Island Betting Sites
In terms of selecting the right sportsbook for you, this can be a difficult task. With so many options available to bettors, it’s no surprise that many of our readers are telling us of their difficulties when selecting a bookmaker. The team here is made up of experienced bettors and sports enthusiasts, with a wealth of online wagering experience.
In order to make this process more streamlined and easier to handle for our users, we’ve put together a complete list of the six features all bettors should look out for. These features represent the industry standard in terms of what oddsmakers should provide.
List Of Casinos In Rhode Island
With betting regulated in the Ocean State, many bettors are now taking advantage of land-based betting facilities to place their sports wagers. Rhode Island’s regulation of sports betting means that bettors from surrounding states are flocking to bet in the casinos. So, for any bettors that want to access the odds and betting markets in person, we have put together a complete list of casinos right here.
- Bally’s Twin River Lincoln
- Newport Casino
Rhode Island Sports Betting Timeline
Fortunately, Rhode Island state law regulates sports betting, meaning progress in gambling laws in the state has mostly come to a stop. However, there are always small alterations and lobbyists looking to expand the sports betting markets in the Ocean State.
In order to keep track of the progress of the gambling industry, we’ve put together a timeline at the top of this page where we’ll register any changes made. But, for those that want to follow the progress of sports betting in Rhode Island up to the point when sports betting became regulated, check our timeline below.
2023
Impact of Massachusetts Sports Betting on Rhode Island’s Market
With the recent legalization of sports betting in Massachusetts, Rhode Island’s sports betting industry is experiencing a decline in both handle and revenue. In March 2023, Rhode Island’s handle drops by 3.7% compared to February 2023 and 9.4% from March 2022, potentially indicating the influence of Massachusetts’ entry into the market.
For the fiscal year 2023, Rhode Island’s lottery contributes $435.7 million to the General Fund, with $25.5 million (5.7%) coming from sports betting revenue. Looking ahead, legislators plan to introduce new legislation in 2024 aiming to prohibit smoking in all Rhode Island casinos, a move expected to face opposition.
2019
Senators introduce the S37 bill that they want to pass to the Senate
Rhode Island sports revenue hasn’t been fully realised in the state, as mobile sports wagering isn’t offered. A group of Senators introduced the S37 bill. The bill passed the Senate in February and the House in March, with Governor Gina Raimondo signing the bill into law at the end of March 2019.
2018
A standalone sports betting bill S 2045 appears in front of Senators
A standalone sports betting bill (S 2045) came to light in January, which was backed by various state senators. The bill would allow sports betting at the two Twin River casinos. The projection for sports betting legalisation is an estimated $23.5 million in revenue from the activity. House lawmakers later contested the numbers. The state legislature passed Raimondo’s budget including sports betting in mid-June, with the bill signed on June 22.
