Last Updated May 24, 2022, 03:47 PM ET
The smallest state in the U.S. by area, Rhode Island was the 8th jurisdiction to legalize sports betting. The Rhode Island Lottery operates one online sportsbook and a retail location at each of its two casinos.
Our guide to Rhode Island sports betting will keep you updated on all legal wagering taking place in the Ocean State.
Yes, sports betting is legal in Rhode Island. After a retail-only launch late in 2018, lawmakers passed a bill (SB37) to legalize mobile wagering on March 12, 2019. On July 16, 2020, the Ocean State legalized remote registration, allowing sports bettors to create a sportsbook account without visiting a casino.
Rhode Island lawmakers have put pen to paper and upgraded the state's sports betting legislation on several occasions. From the initial launch of sports wagering just weeks after the fall of PASPA to the arrival of remote registration two years later, legal betting has been a hot item on Rhode Island's agenda.
Here's a recap of Rhode Island's road to legal sports betting.
July 28, 2020: Remote registration is available in Rhode Island. Sports bettors no longer need to visit a retail sportsbook to verify their identity and create a sportsbook account.
July 22, 2020: Gov. Raimondo signs H8097 and S2919 into law.
July 16, 2020: The Rhode Island General Assembly passes H8097 and S2919. With Gov. Raimondo's signature, remote registration will be live in Rhode Island.
March 25, 2019: Gov. Raimondo signs Rhode Island SB37, officially legalizing statewide mobile wagering. Notably, sports bettors are required to visit a RI casino to register.
March 12, 2019: The House passes SB37, sending the mobile sports betting bill to Gov. Raimondo.
Sept. 4, 2019: The Rhode Island Lottery launches mobile betting via Sportsbook Rhode Island. Sports bettors must visit a retail location to register with the platform.
Nov. 26, 2018: Rhode Island's first legal sports bet is placed at Twin River Casino.
June 22, 2018: Gov. Gina Raimondo signs Rhode Island's 2019 state budget into law. With sports betting included in the document, legal wagering is on the way in RI.
May 14, 2018: The Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act (PASPA) is struck down by SCOTUS. Each U.S. state can now legalize retail and online sports betting.
Anyone 18 and older can bet on sports in Rhode Island. Two retail sportsbooks take in-person wagers, while the Rhode Island Lottery offers fully mobile sports betting.
Here's everything you need to know about sports betting in Rhode Island:
Legal ageYou must be at least 18 years old to place a legal sports bet in Rhode Island.
Mobile bettingRhode Islanders benefit from fully mobile sports betting via the lottery-run Sportsbook Rhode Island mobile app. The Rhode Island Lottery regulates all sports betting in the state.
Remote registrationAs of July 28, 2020, Rhode Island bettors can complete the registration process from anywhere in the state. Previously, gamblers had been required to visit a retail sportsbook to create a sportsbook account.
Within state bordersAll RI sports bettors must confirm their picks from within state borders. The state lottery uses geofencing software to pinpoint the location of its users and will not allow out-of-state bettors to place wagers online.
Retail sportsbooksBettors can visit Sportsbook Rhode Island locations to make physical wagers. Bally’s Twin River Lincoln Casino Resort and Bally’s Tiverton Casino & Hotel house the state’s two brick-and-mortar sportsbooks.
Taxable winningsThe Rhode Island Lottery takes 5.99% of all gambling winnings. Expect to pay another 24% in federal taxes as well.
Sports betting became much more convenient when Rhode Island approved remote registration in July 2020. Rhode Islanders can now sign up and place wagers from anywhere in the state.
The downside? Sportsbook Rhode Island remains the only option for mobile wagering. Bettors are also limited to just two retail locations bearing the same name.
Rhode Island Lottery monopoly on all sports bettingNo sign-up bonuses or promotionsNo esports or in-state college bettingWith the arrival of remote registration, it’s easier than ever to get started with sports betting in Rhode Island. RI residents and visitors can place wagers with a few taps of their mobile devices or visit a retail location to make a physical wager.
For now, Rhode Islanders can skip this step, as Sportsbook Rhode Island is the only option. We recommend checking out reviews, promotions, betting lines, and banking options before selecting a sportsbook in states with an open and competitive market.
Bettors can create a sportsbook account by visiting the Sportsbook Rhode Island website or downloading the mobile app. The Rhode Island Lottery also requires gamblers to download a geo-location plugin to verify their locations when using a desktop computer.
Unfortunately, Sportsbook Rhode Island does not currently offer a welcome bonus to new bettors.
Typical bonuses in other states include risk-free bets, deposit matches, and no-deposit bonuses.
Rhode Island bettors can fund their accounts via bank transfers only. Deposits should be processed immediately.
Sportsbook Rhode Island offers all the popular bet types. Expect to find moneylines, Over/Unders (totals), point spreads, props, futures, live betting, and more.
Be sure to review the sportsbook’s terms and conditions before confirming your bets. Should additional licensed sportsbooks launch in the Ocean State, we recommend line shopping to uncover the best odds possible.
You can withdraw funds from inside and outside of Rhode Island. For now, Sportsbook RI limits bettors to just one withdrawal option — bank transfers to the same account you used to deposit funds initially.
Sportsbook Rhode Island uses American Odds when displaying betting odds. American odds indicate favorites with a minus sign (-) and underdogs with a plus (+) sign. The number you see next to a favorite represents the total amount you're expected to bet if you want to win $100. For example, -450 odds tell you a $450 winning wager would earn you $100 in cash.
The number that follows an underdog is the amount you could win if you place a successful $100 wager. For example, +130 odds represent the $130 you could take home after placing a $100 stake.
To view odds as decimals or fractions, head on over to our odds converter. There, you can easily switch between American, decimal, and fractional odds.
Rhode Island has taken in nearly three-quarters of a billion dollars in total handle since legalizing sports betting in 2018. The Ocean State hasn't seen its monthly handle dip below $22 million since allowing bettors to register remotely, but untapped revenue could be realized by allowing third-party operators to enter the market.
| Year | Total handle | Revenue | Hold percentage | Tax revenue |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | $454.4M | $39.3M | 8.6% | $20M |
| 2020 | $221.9M | $24M | 10.8% | $12.2M |
| 2019 | $245.8M | 17.8M | 7.2% | $9M |
| 2018 | $13.6M | $1M | 7.5% | $525K |
| Year | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Total |
| 2022 | $58.6M | $42.1M | $45.7M | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | $146.5M |
| 2021 | $39.8M | $34.1M | $38.5M | $29M | $28.2M | $29.4M | $22M | $24M | $41.2M | $60.1M | $52.7M | $54.9M | $454.4M |
| 2020 | $26.9M | $28.1M | $8.9M | $591K | $1.5M | $2M | $6.7M | $23.1M | $31.2M | $34.7M | $35M | $22.7M | $221.9M |
| 2019 | $19M | $20.6M | $23.5M | $16.8M | $18.9M | $14.7M | $8.3M | $10M | $22.1M | $28.2M | $31.4M | $31.6M | $245.8M |
| 2018 | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | $682K | $13M | $13.6M |
Sportsbook RI primarily offers betting lines on major North American sports but also sprinkles in some international action. This offering is sufficient for most beginner and intermediate sports bettors. There are, however, a few types of wagers you won't be able to make in Rhode Island.
Wagers on political events are off-limits in the Ocean State.
This type of novelty bet is not offered by Sportsbook Rhode Island.
Esports betting is not available on the Sportsbook Rhode Island website or mobile app.
Bettors cannot wager on any college event taking place in Rhode Island or any college game involving a Rhode Island-based team.
The nation's smallest state has one of the shorter lists of available sportsbooks. Sportsbook Rhode Island stands as the only online sportsbook available in the Ocean State. You can find retail locations at Rhode Island's two Bally's casinos.
| Online sportsbook | Mobile app | Odds provider | Online casino | Partner | Retail venue |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sportsbook Rhode Island (William Hill) | Yes | IGT | No | N/A | Bally’s Twin River Lincoln Casino Resort/Bally’s Tiverton Casino & Hotel |
| Sportsbook | Venue | Address | Phone number | Odds provider |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sportsbook Bar & Grill (William Hill) | Bally’s Twin River Lincoln Casino Resort | 100 Twin River Rd, Lincoln, RI 02865 | 401-723-3200 | IGT |
| Sportsbook Rhode Island (William Hill) | Bally’s Tiverton Casino & Hotel | 777 Tiverton Casino Blvd, Tiverton, RI 02878 | 401-816-6000 | IGT |
Rhode Islanders cheer on New England squads with a passion few can rival. If you plan to show your support by betting on your hometown team, be sure to do your due diligence and research your bet thoroughly before locking in your picks. Check out our how to bet guides for basic tips and advanced strategies.
Rhode Island is home to two full-service casinos — and not much else. The state lottery stands as Rhode Island’s other source of gambling revenue. Pari-mutuel horse race betting is legal, but the Ocean State’s last race track closed in the 1970s.
CasinoRhode Island’s two Bally’s casinos account for all of the brick-and-mortar gambling in the state. The Twin River location is in the process of adding 40,000 square feet of floor space as part of a $100 million expansion plan.
Rhode Island is home to two full-service casinos — Bally’s Twin River Lincoln Casino Resort and Bally’s Tiverton Casino & Hotel. Each location offers slots, table games, and retail sportsbooks, and entertainment.
Online casinos are illegal in Rhode Island.
PokerBally’s Twin River Lincoln’s 23-table poker room stands as the go-to destination for poker players in Rhode Island.
Online poker is illegal in the Ocean State.
Horse racingThere is no horse racing in Rhode Island, but pari-mutuel wagering has been legal since 1934. Narragansett Park, in Pawtucket, was the home of thoroughbred racing until it closed in 1978.
Today, Rhode Islanders are limited to simulcast wagering at a casino or online horse race betting at the best horse racing betting sites in the U.S.
Daily fantasy sportsThere is no law prohibiting DFS contests in Rhode Island. DraftKings, FanDuel, and other daily fantasy websites operate legally in the state.
Any problem gamblers seeking help should turn to the Rhode Island Council on Problem Gambling (RICPG). RICPG provides information and self-assessments and can point you in the right direction as you begin on the road to recovery. Bettors interested in voluntarily banning themselves from gambling facilities can be placed on a self-exclusion list.
Visit Rhode Island Council on Problem GamblingThe following states also offer regulated online and/or in-person sports wagering:
These are the states moving toward legal sports betting that may potentially be getting close to creating their own markets:
Rhode Island sports bettors should avoid all offshore sportsbooks. These websites may offer better odds and promotions than Sportsbook Rhode Island, but they operate illegally in the Ocean State. We recommend betting with regulated sportsbooks only.
Yes, sports betting is legal in Rhode Island. The Rhode Island Lottery regulates all online and retail wagering in the state.
You can gamble on sports from anywhere in the state when betting online with Sportsbook Rhode Island. Two retail sportsbooks serve as alternatives for those looking to wager in person.
All of the popular types of bets are available both online and at Rhode Island casinos.
Sportsbook RI is the only online option for Rhode Island bettors. Rhode Island Lottery runs the platform.
Yes, you can place bets on Sportsbook Rhode Island using a computer or mobile device.
Yes, Rhode Island sportsbooks are powered by IGT — a popular odds provider in Las Vegas.
Bettors must be 18 to place a legal sports wager in Rhode Island.
No, it is not legal to wager on sports with bet365 in Rhode Island.
You can place a legal sports wager online anywhere in Rhode Island. Visit a Rhode Island casino to place a physical wager at a Sportsbook Rhode Island retail location.
No. However, you will have to be physically located in the state to bet online with Sportsbook RI.
In 2022, Rhode Island has generated $146.5 million in betting handle so far.
Jeff Watters is a content editor at Covers. Before he began supporting Covers experts in making smarter sports bettors in 2021, the well-traveled Nova Scotian and Atlanta Braves fanatic spent time writing about education, software, and NHL prospects.
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