Is Sports Betting Legal in Rhode Island?
Sooner rather than later, operations are going to start in Rhode Island for legalized sports betting. No sense in burying the lede here, as the smallest state in the nation is going to move forward and get a piece of that all important sports betting pie. As one of the earliest adopters of legalized sports betting, they’ll get a nice, big piece, too.
One of the most fascinating angles of the quest for legalized sports betting in each state is the way that it will operate. Some states are going with third party operators like William Hill, Penn National Gaming, or MGM. Others are going to see how the Indian tribes want to do it. Others are using the lottery and it looks like that will be the preferred method in Rhode Island.
Back in May, a week after the US Supreme Court ruling that struck down PASPA, IGT, the virtual gaming company that runs the electronic lottery systems in Rhode Island, became the front-runner for operating the state’s betting infrastructure. The Providence Journal talked more about the process and about what the vision is for both operator and state. There are two casinos in the state.
Another fascinating angle in the push for legalization is to see how the elected officials in each state are embracing sports betting. Governor Gina Raimondo in Rhode Island? Her state budget included sports betting profits, so she was fully on board from the jump.
Recent News Stories About Sports Betting
That budget proposed by Governor Raimondo passed the Rhode Island House and has moved on to the Senate. The Providence Journal had more of the details and the ramifications of what the vote means for legalized sports betting.
After the Rhode Island House of Representatives had its say, the Senate Finance Committee looked it over and also approved it, so a full Senate vote is likely to be a non-issue.
Forecast
There isn’t much more to say. Sports betting should be up and running in the very near future at the casinos in Lincoln, Rhode Island and Tiverton, Rhode Island. We’ll see how quickly the state moves to adopt mobile wagering in bars and restaurants, but, for right now, those are the two places you can place bets in The Ocean State.
Update: Rhode Island is officially ready to go. Sports betting has been approved and a target date of October 1 is now the countdown date.
Neighboring States
