States / Rhode Island
Rhode Island
- Rhode Island's entire commercial gambling market is state-run through the Division of Lottery with two licensed facilities, Bally's Twin River and Bally's Tiverton.
- Retail sports betting began in November 2018 and mobile in July 2019, and online casino gaming launched March 1, 2024.
- There are no tribal casinos and no commercial casino licensing outside the two state-run facilities.
More detail
- Legal framework. The entire commercial gambling market is state-run through the Division of Lottery. It works in partnership with exactly two licensed facilities, Bally's Twin River (Lincoln) and Bally's Tiverton. Revenue is split by statute rather than taxed in the conventional sense.
- Sports betting. Retail sports betting began in November 2018 and mobile in July 2019, through William Hill/Bally Bet. The sports wagering revenue split is 51% state, 32% vendor and 17% host facility.
- Online casinos. Online casino gaming (iGaming, including online poker and table games) launched March 1, 2024 via Bally Interactive. It is codified in detailed revenue-split statutes.
- Tribal gaming. Rhode Island has no tribal casinos. Voters rejected a Narragansett Indian Tribe casino proposal in 2006.
- Casinos. There is no commercial casino licensing outside the two state-run facilities.
Reviewed Oct 11, 2026 · 39 sources
Legal status
LiveLegal, not launchedLimitedContestedProhibitedNot authorizedRepealedNA
| Vertical | Status | Launched | Model | Details |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sports (online) | Live | Jul 1, 2019 | Monopoly State | Gov. Raimondo signed companion bills S 0037 Sub A and H 5241 Sub A (enacted March 25, 2019, as P.L. 2019 ch. 7 and ch. 8) authorizing mobile sports betting, effective July 1, 2019. Revenue is split by statute 51% to the state, 32% to the state's authorized sports-wagering vendor, and 17% to the host facilities (Twin River and Twin River-Tiverton). R.I. Gen. Laws § 42-61.2-5, § 42-61.2-16 (P.L. 2019, ch. 7 and ch. 8) [1],[2],[3] |
| Sports (retail) | Live | Nov 2018 | Monopoly State | Rhode Island's first sportsbook opened at Twin River (Lincoln) in November 2018, shortly after the legislature authorized sports wagering following Murphy v. NCAA; Gov. Gina Raimondo signed the enabling legislation in June 2018. Operated via the state's sports-wagering vendor (William Hill, later Bally Bet). R.I. Gen. Laws § 42-61.2-2.4, § 42-61.2-3.3 [1],[4] |
| Online casino | Live | Mar 1, 2024 | Monopoly State | Gov. McKee signed the companion iGaming bills H 6348 Sub A (ch. 135) and S 0948 Sub B (ch. 158) on June 20, 2023; both take their iGaming sections (§ 42-61.2-17 etc.) effective March 1, 2024. Online slot and table gaming ("iGaming") launched that date through Bally Interactive, the only operator; players must be 21+ and physically located in Rhode Island, verified by the server-based system. Online slot revenue splits 61% state / 22.55% platform vendor / 15% game vendor / 1.45% to the Towns of Lincoln and Tiverton; online table gaming splits 15.5% state / 35% platform vendor / 48.5% game vendor / 1% to Lincoln and Tiverton (80%/20%). R.I. Gen. Laws § 42-61.2-1(12), § 42-61.2-3.4, § 42-61.2-5.1, § 42-61.2-5.2, § 42-61.2-17 (P.L. 2023, ch. 135 and ch. 158) [5],[6],[7],[8],[1],[9] |
| Online poker | Live | Mar 1, 2024 | Monopoly State | Poker is enumerated within the statutory definition of "casino gaming" (alongside roulette, blackjack, craps, baccarat, pai gow) and is offered online as part of the iGaming online table-gaming product launched March 1, 2024, under the same bills (H 6348 Sub A / S 0948 Sub B, signed June 20, 2023) that authorized iGaming generally. R.I. Gen. Laws § 42-61.2-1(3) (casino gaming definition includes poker), § 42-61.2-17 (P.L. 2023, ch. 135 and ch. 158) [6],[9] |
| Commercial casinos | Live | Sep 1992 | Monopoly State | Exactly two licensed facilities, both state-run "racino" style operations via the Division of Lottery: Bally's Twin River Lincoln (VLTs since September 1992; voters approved live table games in a November 2012 referendum, which began June 2013; renamed from Twin River Casino in November 2021) and Bally's Tiverton (opened 2018, replacing Newport Grand, which Twin River had acquired in 2015). Table-game revenue at Tiverton splits 1% to the Town of Tiverton, 15.5% to the state lottery fund, and the remainder (about 83.5%) to Twin River-Tiverton; video lottery technology-provider revenue is 7% of net terminal income outside a 2023-2043 exclusive VLT agreement period. R.I. Gen. Laws § 42-61.2-2, § 42-61.2-2.1, § 42-61.2-2.3, § 42-61.2-3.1 [1],[10] |
| Tribal casinos | Not authorized | The Narragansett Indian Tribe sought to build a casino (with Harrah's as a partner), requiring a state constitutional amendment since RI law bars non-state-run gambling; Rhode Island voters rejected that amendment in November 2006, and the 2009 Carcieri v. Salazar Supreme Court ruling further complicated any federal trust-land path. No tribal casino operates in Rhode Island.[11] | ||
| Lottery | Live | 1974 | Monopoly State | The modern Rhode Island Lottery was inaugurated in 1974 following a 1973 constitutional amendment; colonial-era lotteries had run until an 1842 ban. RI was a charter (1987) member of the Multi-State Lottery Association; it joined Mega Millions Jan. 31, 2010, and offers Powerball and (since Feb. 22, 2026) Millionaire for Life, which replaced Lucky for Life (offered since Jan. 27, 2015) nationwide. Former multistate games included Lotto America, Daily Millions, Cashola, and MegaHits (a VLT progressive jackpot game that ran 2011 to July 31, 2018). R.I. Gen. Laws Title 42, Ch. 61 (State Lottery), orig. P.L. 1974, ch. 20; R.I. Const. (1973 amendment authorizing a state-run lottery) [12],[13] |
| iLottery | Live | May 2020 | Monopoly State | Launched May 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic; offers eInstant games and iKeno to devices verified as physically located in Rhode Island.[12] |
| Daily fantasy | Live | Rhode Island has no dedicated DFS-licensing statute; DFS is treated as legal under a February 2016 Attorney General (Peter Kilmartin) opinion applying the state Supreme Court's "dominant factor" test (chance is not the dominant element in DFS), while urging the legislature to regulate it. Classic DFS operators (DraftKings, FanDuel and others) operate and accept Rhode Island players under that opinion without any licensing statute. A 2025 bill, H 6076 ("Fantasy Sports Consumer Protection Act"), would create licensing, consumer-protection requirements, a 10% tax on fantasy contests, and a self-exclusion program.[14],[15]? | ||
| VGTs / VLTs | Limited | Monopoly State | Video lottery terminals are confined by statute to the two licensed Division of Lottery facilities (Twin River, Tiverton); no VLTs are authorized in bars, truck stops, or other non-casino locations.[16] | |
| Historical horse racing | Not authorized | No Rhode Island statute authorizes historical horse racing (HHR) terminals. Rhode Island's video lottery terminals (VLTs) at the Lincoln and Tiverton casinos are a separate, Lottery-operated category with centrally determined outcomes, distinct from HHR's use of historical race-result data.[17] | ||
| Sweepstakes casinos | Not authorized | Rhode Island has no statute, bill, or AG/Lottery Division enforcement action specific to sweepstakes-style online casinos, unlike neighboring Connecticut's statutory ban. It is not named among 2026 roundups of states that have enacted or are actively considering a ban (Indiana, Maryland, Maine, DC, California, New York, Louisiana, Tennessee).[18],[19] | ||
| Prediction markets | Contested | Attorney General Peter Neronha filed suit against Kalshi and Polymarket on May 21, 2026 in Providence County Superior Court, alleging their sports-related "event contracts" constitute unlicensed "casino gaming" and "online sports wagering" under RI law, seeking a permanent injunction; the complaint also alleges RI's licensed sports-wagering handle fell 8% from 2024 to 2025, partly attributed to the platforms. Kalshi filed a competing federal suit against Rhode Island asserting exclusive CFTC/federal jurisdiction over its contracts, citing preliminary injunctions it won against New Jersey and against Tennessee officials. Rhode Island sits in the 1st Circuit (with Maine, New Hampshire and Massachusetts), which has not ruled on prediction-market preemption; the 3rd Circuit's ruling for Kalshi (in the New Jersey case) and the 6th and 9th Circuit rulings against Kalshi elsewhere do not bind Rhode Island.[20]? | ||
| Skill games | Prohibited | No Rhode Island statute, regulation, or bill authorizes unregulated "skill game"/"grey machine" cash-payout terminals (the Pennsylvania/Georgia-style Pace-O-Matic category) in bars or convenience stores. R.I. Gen. Laws §11-19-1 ("Forms of gambling prohibited") makes it a felony (up to 2 years' imprisonment and a $2,000 fine) to "directly or indirectly, set up, put forth, carry on, promote, or draw, publicly or privately," any "lottery, chance, game, or device of any nature or kind whatsoever," with exceptions only for activities authorized elsewhere in the gambling chapter and the state lottery/pari-mutuel/casino-gaming titles. Rhode Island State Police have enforced this statute against unlicensed cash-payout machines of exactly this type in convenience stores: a 2012 State Police Intelligence Unit investigation (with the Division of Taxation) executed search and arrest warrants at three northern Rhode Island convenience stores (Columbus Mini-Mart, Pawtucket; International Market, Woonsocket; DB Mart, Smithfield) for operating unlicensed cash-payout gambling machines, stating "these forms of gambling machines are illegal in the State of Rhode Island." Separately, the Rhode Island Constitution requires approval by statewide and local referendum before any law expanding the types of gambling takes effect, a further barrier to any future skill-game legalization. R.I. Gen. Laws §11-19-1 [21],[22]? | ||
| Card rooms | Not authorized | Casino-style table gaming (including poker) is confined by statute to the two state-licensed facilities (Twin River, Tiverton); no standalone card rooms are authorized.[23] | ||
| Lottery couriers | Not authorized | Jackpocket's own list of states it serves (AZ, AR, CO, DC, ID, ME, MA, MN, MT, NE, NH, NJ, NY, OH, OR, PR, WV) does not include Rhode Island, and no courier presence, authorization, or ban has been identified there. A 2025-2026 regulatory review states roughly 40 states have no law expressly permitting or prohibiting couriers, with couriers formally regulated only in New York and New Jersey.[24],[25] | ||
| Pick'em fantasy | Live | Pick'em/player-vs-house operators (PrizePicks, Underdog Fantasy) are available to Rhode Island players, operating under the same 2016 Attorney General "dominant factor" opinion as classic daily fantasy sports, since Rhode Island has no statute that distinguishes pick'em formats from classic fantasy contests.[14]? | ||
| Pari-mutuel | Limited | 1977 | Monopoly State | Live greyhound racing operated at Lincoln Greyhound Park (later Twin River) from 1977 until the track's closure in 2009; Rhode Island has no live horse racing. Simulcast wagering on out-of-state racing reportedly continues in person at Twin River/Tiverton.[17]? |
| Advance deposit wagering | Not authorized | No Rhode Island statute or Lottery Division source authorizes advance-deposit wagering (ADW) operators. Rhode Island has had no live horse racing since Lincoln Greyhound Park closed in 2009; simulcast wagering on out-of-state racing reportedly continues in person at Twin River/Bally's Tiverton, but that is on-premises simulcast parlor wagering, not a state-licensed online/ADW platform.[17] | ||
| Charitable gaming | Live | Monopoly State | Charitable/nonprofit organizations may conduct "Bingo" or "Beano," or a raffle or lottery, only after filing a registration statement with the state; the statute does not extend to DFS or other contest-based games. R.I. Gen. Laws § 11-19-31 (Permitted games of chance) [26]? | |
| Esports betting | Not authorized | Rhode Island's sportsbook does not currently offer esports betting. Coverage of Bally's securing the state's second online sports-wagering license (2026) says esports "could appear on the app when it launches" once Bally Bet goes live in Rhode Island, but that is a forward-looking plan rather than a current offering.[27],[28] | ||
| Social casino | Live | Competitive | No Rhode Island statute, Lottery Division rule, or AG action restricts free-to-play social casino apps with no cash-redeemable prize; such apps fall outside the state's gambling definition because no prize of monetary value is at stake.[26] |
Sports betting in Rhode Island: status, tax rate, sportsbooks and bills →
Tax rates
| Vertical | Channel | Rate | Base | Tier | Promos deductible | Since | Statute |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Commercial casinos | retail | 15.5% | OTHER | Jun 2013 | R.I. Gen. Laws § 42-61.2-7(g) State's share of net table-game revenue at Tiverton (1% to the Town of Tiverton, remainder ~83.5% to Twin River-Tiverton); figures specific to the Tiverton facility. [10] | ||
| Daily fantasy | online | No Rhode Island tax currently applies to DFS. DFS operates under a February 2016 Attorney General opinion (not a licensing statute) with no fee or tax obligation. A 2025 bill, H 6076 (Fantasy Sports Consumer Protection Act), would impose a 10% tax on fantasy-contest adjusted revenue along with licensing and consumer-protection requirements. | OTHER | No | Feb 2016 | No current statute; cf. 2025 H 6076 (not confirmed enacted)[14],[15]? | |
| Pick'em fantasy | online | Same as classic DFS: no Rhode Island-specific tax or fee; pick'em-format operators (PrizePicks, Underdog) operate under the same 2016 AG opinion as classic DFS. | OTHER | No | Feb 2016 | No current statute[14]? | |
| Online casino | online | 61% | GGR | Mar 1, 2024 | R.I. Gen. Laws § 42-61.2-5.1(b) State's share of online slot gaming revenue; platform vendor gets 22.55%, game vendor 15%, Towns of Lincoln/Tiverton 1.45%. [7] | ||
| Online casino | online | 15.5% | GGR | Mar 1, 2024 | R.I. Gen. Laws § 42-61.2-5.2(b) State's share of online table gaming revenue (includes online poker); platform vendor gets 35%, game vendor 48.5%, Lincoln/Tiverton 1%. [8] | ||
| Online poker | online | 15.5% | GGR | Mar 1, 2024 | R.I. Gen. Laws § 42-61.2-5.2(b) Online poker is taxed under the same online table-gaming category as other iGaming table games (no separate poker-specific rate): state's share is 15.5% of online table-gaming revenue; platform vendor gets 35%, game vendor 48.5%, Lincoln/Tiverton 1% -- mirrors the igaming row above. [8] | ||
| Sports (online) | online | 51% | GGR | Jul 1, 2019 | R.I. Gen. Laws § 42-61.2-5(a)(1) State's share only; statute: "To the state, fifty-one percent (51%)" of sports-wagering and online sports-wagering revenue. [2] | ||
| Sports (retail) | retail | 51% | GGR | Nov 2018 | R.I. Gen. Laws § 42-61.2-5(a)(1) Same statutory split applies to retail and online sports wagering. [2] | ||
| VGTs / VLTs | retail | VLT net terminal income (NTI) at the two licensed facilities is not divided by a single stated 'state share' percentage; R.I. Gen. Laws § 42-61.2-7(a) instead lists specific statutory carve-outs from NTI (a technology-provider share of 7% outside the 2023-2043 exclusive VLT agreement period; fixed retailer percentages per facility; small set-asides such as 0.19%, capped at $20M, to distressed communities), with the General Fund and State Lottery Division Fund receiving the NTI remaining after all enumerated carve-outs. | OTHER | No | Sep 1992 | R.I. Gen. Laws § 42-61.2-7(a)[10]? |
Historical rates
| Vertical | Rate | Base | Period | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Commercial casinos · retail | 7% | OTHER | Sep 1992 – Jan 1, 2023 | Technology provider's share of net terminal income (video lottery) outside the 2023-2043 exclusive VLT agreement period.[10] |
Rules and requirements
Casinos
Online casino
- Number of online casino operators live as of as_of date
- 1Bally Interactive is the sole iGaming operator.[1]
Minimum age
Notes
- Free-text notes that fit no other field
- Rhode Island's gaming law is unusual in expressing most "tax" rates as fixed statutory revenue splits among the state, the state's technology/game vendor(s), and the two host facilities/towns, rather than a single GGR tax rate on a licensed private operator.[2],[7],[8],[10]
Sports betting rules
- Wagering on college sports allowed at all
- YesCollegiate sporting events are included in the statutory definition of a wagerable "sporting event."[6]
- Wagering on in-state college teams allowed
- YesGeneral wagering on Rhode Island college teams is not excluded by statute.[6]?
- Individual college player prop bets allowed
- YesBets on an individual college athlete's performance statistics are generally allowed.[6]?
- Esports wagering allowed
- NoEsports is not included in the statutory definition of a wagerable "sporting event," though the division could authorize it under the definition's general catch-all for events it approves; it has not done so.[6]
- Online sports wagering available statewide (not tethered to premises)
- YesThe single state-contracted vendor's mobile app is available anywhere in Rhode Island, not limited to on-premises play at the two facilities.[32]
- Number of online sportsbooks live as of as_of date
- 1Rhode Island uses a single state-contracted sports-wagering vendor (originally William Hill, now operating as Bally Bet), unlike competitive multi-operator states.[1]
- Summary of prop-bet restrictions (e.g. no in-game player props)
- Wagers on an individual athlete's performance statistics in a collegiate game are barred only when that game is part of a collegiate tournament held in Rhode Island, or a tournament a Rhode Island college team plays in; the division may also designate other prohibited events.[6]
Tax revenue
- Uses that commercial-casino and iGaming tax revenue is directed to by law, largest share first where the law sets shares
- general_fund, local_governmentCovers both land-based casino/VLT revenue and iGaming revenue; the state's share flows to the state lottery fund and general revenue fund, while fixed percentages go to the Towns of Lincoln and Tiverton.[10],[7],[8]
- Where gaming tax revenue goes (education fund
- Sports wagering revenue splits by statute 51% state / 32% sports-wagering vendor / 17% host facilities (plus $200,000/year flat host-community fees to Lincoln and Tiverton); state shares of lottery, VLT, table-game, and iGaming revenue flow to the state lottery fund and general revenue fund.[2],[10]
- Uses that sports-wagering tax revenue is directed to by law, largest share first where the law sets shares
- general_fundThe state's 51% share of sports-wagering revenue is not earmarked to a dedicated program; it flows to the state's general revenue fund alongside the vendor's and host facilities' shares.[2]
Revenue
Calendar-year totals from available reports; incomplete years are partial totals.
| Vertical | Measure | 2026 | 2025 | 2024 | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sports (online) | GGR | $20.7M | $32.3M | $12.0M | $15.4M | $28.8M | $20.3M | $10.3M | $2.1M |
| Sports (online) | Handle | $220M | $354M | $166M | $163M | $324M | $241M | $102M | $26.3M |
| Sports (retail) | GGR | $2.8M | $5.5M | $1.0M | $6.0M | $20.5M | $18.5M | $13.7M | $15.8M |
| Sports (retail) | Handle | $35.6M | $55.0M | $37.3M | $75.8M | $208M | $213M | $120M | $220M |
Sports (online)Monthly GGR
Monthly3-month average
$2.0M$4.0M$6.0M2020202220242026Nov 2025 $4.9M$2.1M
Sports (retail)Monthly GGR
Monthly3-month average
$0$2.0M$4.0M2020202220242026Nov 2020 $3.7M$291K
Sports (online) by operator, latest reported 12-month window
Available reports only; missing months may make totals incomplete. License-holder totals may include partner-operated brands; rows are not necessarily additive.
| Operator | Channel | Reported period | Handle | GGR |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bally's Corporation | online | Sep 1, 2025 – Aug 31, 2026 | $365M | $34.6M |
Sports (retail) by operator, latest reported 12-month window
Available reports only; missing months may make totals incomplete. License-holder totals may include partner-operated brands; rows are not necessarily additive.
| Operator | Channel | Reported period | Handle | GGR |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bally's Corporation | retail | Sep 1, 2025 – Aug 31, 2026 | $58.9M | $5.4M |
What these figures mean
- Sports (online): GGR is the Lottery's printed book revenue (write minus payouts), before commissions or expenses. The Lottery runs sports betting; the state's share is not printed in this report.
- Sports (retail): GGR is the Lottery's printed book revenue (write minus payouts) at the two casino sportsbooks, before commissions or expenses. The Lottery runs sports betting; the state's share is not printed in this report.
Revenue report sources (15)
- RI Lottery Sports Book Revenue by Facility (Unaudited and Unadjusted)
- RI Lottery Sports Book Revenue by Facility (Unaudited and Unadjusted)
- RI Lottery Sports Book Revenue by Facility (Unaudited and Unadjusted)
- RI Lottery Sports Book Revenue by Facility (Unaudited and Unadjusted)
- RI Lottery Sports Book Revenue by Facility (Unaudited and Unadjusted)
- RI Lottery Sports Book Revenue by Facility (Unaudited and Unadjusted)
- RI Lottery Sports Book Revenue by Facility (Unaudited and Unadjusted)
- RI Lottery Sports Book Revenue by Facility (Unaudited and Unadjusted)
- RI Lottery Sports Book Revenue by Facility (Unaudited and Unadjusted)
- RI Lottery Sports Book Revenue by Facility (Unaudited and Unadjusted)
- RI Lottery Sports Book Revenue by Facility (Unaudited and Unadjusted)
- RI Lottery Sports Book Revenue by Facility (Unaudited and Unadjusted)
- RI Lottery Sports Book Revenue by Facility (Unaudited and Unadjusted)
- RI Lottery Sports Book Revenue by Facility (Unaudited and Unadjusted)
- RI Lottery Sports Book Revenue by Facility (Unaudited and Unadjusted)
Lottery
- Status
- Live · Monopoly State[12],[13]
Notes
The modern Rhode Island Lottery was inaugurated in 1974 following a 1973 constitutional amendment; colonial-era lotteries had run until an 1842 ban. RI was a charter (1987) member of the Multi-State Lottery Association; it joined Mega Millions Jan. 31, 2010, and offers Powerball and (since Feb. 22, 2026) Millionaire for Life, which replaced Lucky for Life (offered since Jan. 27, 2015) nationwide. Former multistate games included Lotto America, Daily Millions, Cashola, and MegaHits (a VLT progressive jackpot game that ran 2011 to July 31, 2018). - Authorized
- 1973R.I. Gen. Laws Title 42, Ch. 61 (State Lottery), orig. P.L. 1974, ch. 20; R.I. Const. (1973 amendment authorizing a state-run lottery)
- First tickets sold
- 1974
- Run by
- Rhode Island Division of Lottery
- Minimum age
- 18[31]
- Multistate games
- Powerball, Mega Millions, Millionaire for Life[29]
- Where the money goes
- Unlike most states, Rhode Island does not earmark lottery proceeds to education or another dedicated program: R.I. Gen. Laws § 42-61-15 creates the state lottery fund, pays prizes and operating expenses first, and then transfers "all revenues remaining in the state lottery fund" to the state's general revenue fund on an estimated quarterly basis.[30]
- Online sales (iLottery)
- Live · since May 2020Launched May 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic; offers eInstant games and iKeno to devices verified as physically located in Rhode Island.[12]
- Courier services
- Not authorized[24],[25]
Notes
Jackpocket's own list of states it serves (AZ, AR, CO, DC, ID, ME, MA, MN, MT, NE, NH, NJ, NY, OH, OR, PR, WV) does not include Rhode Island, and no courier presence, authorization, or ban has been identified there. A 2025-2026 regulatory review states roughly 40 states have no law expressly permitting or prohibiting couriers, with couriers formally regulated only in New York and New Jersey.
Lottery sales and money kept by the stateState fiscal years
SalesKept by the stateOnline gambling legalized
$200M$400M$600MFY2012FY2015FY2018FY2021FY202412$599M$374M
- 1Mar 25, 2019: online sports betting legalized · launched Jul 1, 2019
- 2Jun 20, 2023: online casino and online poker legalized · launched Mar 1, 2024
Prizes are under half of sales here. The Census Bureau notes that some states, such as West Virginia and Delaware, count state-run video lottery revenue in their lottery figures.
Yearly figures
| Fiscal year | Sales | Prizes | Administration | Kept by the state | Prize share |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY2024 | $599M | $205M | $19.1M | $374M | 34% |
| FY2023 | $600M | $201M | $17.2M | $382M | 33% |
| FY2022 | $558M | $196M | $16.9M | $345M | 35% |
| FY2021 | $471M | $189M | $17.6M | $280M | 40% |
| FY2020 | $429M | $157M | $16.7M | $256M | 36% |
| FY2019 | $546M | $165M | $15.3M | $365M | 30% |
| FY2018 | $515M | $162M | $15.0M | $338M | 31% |
| FY2017 | $508M | $157M | $14.4M | $337M | 31% |
| FY2016 | $542M | $162M | $11.1M | $369M | 30% |
| FY2015 | $543M | $150M | $10.1M | $383M | 28% |
| FY2014 | $535M | $149M | $10.0M | $377M | 28% |
| FY2013 | $539M | $153M | $6.2M | $380M | 28% |
| FY2012 | $540M | $155M | $6.3M | $378M | 29% |
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Annual Survey of State Government Finances
Lottery timeline
Licensed operators
| Operator | Brand | Vertical | License | Status | Launched | Partner / venue |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bally's Corporation | Bally's Tiverton Casino & Hotel | Commercial casinos | active | 2018 | Tiverton, RI[33] | |
| Bally's Corporation | Bally's Twin River Lincoln Casino Resort | Commercial casinos | active | Sep 1992 | Lincoln, RI[33] | |
| Bally's Corporation | Bally Casino (Bally Interactive) | Online casino | Sole iGaming operator (tied to Bally's land-based license) | active | Mar 5, 2024 | Rhode Island Lottery[34],[35] |
| Bally's Corporation | Bally Casino Poker (Bally Interactive) | Online poker | active | Mar 1, 2024 | Rhode Island Lottery[36] | |
| Bally's Corporation | Bally Bet (Rhode Island, online) | Sports (online) | Second online sports-wagering license (5-year deal) | pending | Rhode Island Lottery[37],[38] | |
| IGT | Sportsbook RI / Sportsbook Rhode Island (online) | Sports (online) | State sports-wagering vendor (PlaySports technology) | active | Jul 1, 2019 | Rhode Island Lottery[33],[37] |
| IGT | Sportsbook RI / Sportsbook Rhode Island | Sports (retail) | State sports-wagering vendor (PlaySports technology) | active | Nov 2018 | Rhode Island Lottery · Bally's Twin River Lincoln; Bally's Tiverton[33],[37] |
Casinos
2 properties open.
| Property | Type | City | Operator | Opened | Sportsbook | Hotel |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bally's Tiverton Casino & Hotel Opened in 2018, replacing the former Newport Grand slots parlor in Newport. [39] | Commercial casino | Tiverton | Bally's Corporation | 2018 | Yes | Yes |
| Bally's Twin River Lincoln Casino Resort[39] | Commercial casino | Lincoln | Bally's Corporation | Yes | Yes |
Problem gambling
- State problem-gambling helpline number/name
- Rhode Island Problem Gambling Hotline 1-877-9GAMBLE (1-877-942-6253, sponsored by the RI Lottery); Problem Gambling Services appointments 1-401-499-2472; RI Council on Problem Gambling 1-401-354-2877[31]
Economy
- Adults 21 and over
- 855K (2024; 1.1M residents)
- Gambling taxes collected
- $445M in FY2025 · 8.13% of all state taxes
- Gambling jobs
- 199 in 2025 · $143,824 average annual payUndercount: the Bureau of Labor Statistics withholds some figures to protect individual employers.
Gambling taxes collectedState fiscal years
Gambling taxesLottery proceeds
$200M$400M$600MFY2013FY2016FY2019FY2022FY2025$445M$374M
Census Bureau tax collections on amusements and pari-mutuel wagering. Most states book casino, sports betting and video gaming taxes here; amusement taxes can also include admissions taxes unrelated to gambling. Lottery proceeds are what the lottery transfers to the state after prizes and costs.
Gambling jobsAnnual average
10020020212022202320242025199
Casinos, casino hotels, card rooms, bingo halls, off-track betting and slot-route operators, from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Racetracks are not included. Jobs at tribal casinos are counted as government jobs.
Gambling jobs by industry, 2025
| Industry | Ownership | Employers | Jobs | Average pay |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gambling industries | privately owned | 12 | 199 | $144,065 |
| Casino hotels | privately owned | withheld |
Taxes by fiscal year
| Fiscal year | Amusement taxes | Pari-mutuel taxes | Share of state taxes | Lottery proceeds |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| FY2025 | $423M | $21.5M | 8.13% | — |
| FY2024 | $408M | $20.6M | 8.10% | $374M |
| FY2023 | $407M | $26.4M | 8.16% | $382M |
| FY2022 | $20.6M | $515K | 0.44% | $345M |
| FY2021 | $16.8M | $393K | 0.39% | $280M |
| FY2020 | $189K | $845K | 0.03% | $256M |
| FY2019 | $196K | $1.1M | 0.04% | $365M |
| FY2018 | $202K | $1.1M | 0.04% | $338M |
| FY2017 | $222K | $1.1M | 0.04% | $337M |
| FY2016 | $197K | $1.1M | 0.04% | $369M |
Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, Vintage 2025 Population Estimates: Annual Estimates of the Resident Population for the United States, States (NST-EST2025-ALLDATA); U.S. Census Bureau, Annual Survey of State Government Tax Collections (STC): Historical Dataset; U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Quarterly Census of Employment and Wages, 2025 annual averages, NAICS 7132 (Gambling industries)
Timeline
- May 21, 2026 · Other · Prediction marketsAG Neronha sues Kalshi and Polymarket in Providence County Superior Court over sports-related event contracts[20]
- May 13, 2025 · Other · Daily fantasyHouse Bill H 6076, the Fantasy Sports Consumer Protection Act (licensing, 10% tax, self-exclusion), receives House Finance Committee testimony[15]?
- Mar 1, 2024 · Launched · Online casinoBally Interactive launches Rhode Island's online casino (iGaming)[1],[5]
- 2023 · Legalized · Online casinoLegislature authorizes iGaming (online slot and table gaming, including online poker)[5]P.L. 2023, ch. 135 and ch. 158
- Nov 2021 · Other · Commercial casinosTwin River Casino renamed Bally's Twin River Lincoln[1]
- May 2020 · Launched · iLotteryRI Lottery launches iLottery (eInstants, iKeno) during the COVID-19 pandemic[12]
- Jul 1, 2019 · Launched · Sports (online)Mobile sports wagering becomes effective/launches[1]
- Mar 2019 · Legalized · Sports (online)Gov. Raimondo signs mobile sports betting legislation[1]
- Nov 2018 · Launched · Sports (retail)First Rhode Island sportsbook opens at Twin River[1]
- Jun 2018 · Legalized · Sports (retail)Gov. Raimondo signs legislation authorizing sports wagering[1]
- 2018 · Launched · Commercial casinosTiverton casino opens, replacing Newport Grand[1]
- Feb 2016 · Other · Daily fantasyAttorney General Kilmartin opines that daily fantasy sports are legal under RI's "dominant factor" test, urges legislative regulation[14]
- Mar 2015 · Other · Commercial casinosTwin River agrees to acquire Newport Grand[1]
- Jun 2013 · Launched · Commercial casinosLive table games begin at Twin River[1]
- Nov 2012 · Expanded · Commercial casinosVoters approve live table games at Twin River[1]
- 2009 · Other · Pari-mutuelLincoln Greyhound Park live racing ends[17]
- Nov 2006 · Other · Tribal casinosVoters reject constitutional amendment allowing a Narragansett Indian Tribe casino[11]
- Sep 1992 · Launched · Commercial casinosVideo lottery terminals begin operating at Lincoln (later Twin River)[1]
- 1977 · Launched · Pari-mutuelLincoln Greyhound Park begins live greyhound racing[17]
- 1974 · Launched · LotteryRhode Island Lottery begins sales[12]
- 1973 · Legalized · LotteryRhode Island constitutional amendment authorizes a state lottery[12]
Regulators
- Rhode Island Division of Lottery — Sports (retail), Sports (online), Online casino, Online poker, Commercial casinos, VGTs / VLTs, Lottery, iLottery
- Rhode Island Department of Business Regulation, Gaming and Athletics Licensing — Sports (online), Sports (retail), Online casino
Sources
- Bally's Twin River Lincoln Casino Resort · Wikipedia · secondary · retrieved Oct 10, 2026
secondary source only
“In March 2019, Governor Gina Raimondo signed a bill allowing mobile sports betting, effective July 1, 2019.”
- R.I. Gen. Laws § 42-61.2-5 — Allocation of sports-wagering and online sports-wagering revenue · Rhode Island General Assembly · statute · retrieved Oct 10, 2026
“To the state, fifty-one percent (51%)”
- P.L. 2019, ch. 7 (S 0037 Substitute A) — Video-Lottery Games, Table Games and Sports Wagering · Rhode Island General Assembly · statute · retrieved Oct 11, 2026
“Enacted 03/25/2019”
- R.I. Gen. Laws § 42-61.2-2.4 — State to conduct sports wagering hosted by Twin River and the Tiverton gaming facility · Rhode Island General Assembly · statute · retrieved Oct 10, 2026
- R.I. Gen. Laws § 42-61.2-17 — General requirements for iGaming · Rhode Island General Assembly · statute · retrieved Oct 10, 2026
“affirmatively located as being physically present in the State of Rhode Island”
- R.I. Gen. Laws § 42-61.2-1 — Definitions · Rhode Island General Assembly · statute · retrieved Oct 10, 2026
“roulette, blackjack, big six, craps, poker, baccarat, paigow”
- R.I. Gen. Laws § 42-61.2-5.1 — Allocation of online slot gaming revenue · Rhode Island General Assembly · statute · retrieved Oct 10, 2026
“To the state, sixty-one percent (61%) of online slot gaming revenue”
- R.I. Gen. Laws § 42-61.2-5.2 — Allocation of online table gaming revenue · Rhode Island General Assembly · statute · retrieved Oct 10, 2026
“To the state, fifteen and one-half percent (15.5%) of online table gaming revenue”
- P.L. 2023, ch. 135 (H 6348 Substitute A) — Video Lottery Games, Table Games and Sports Wagering (iGaming) · Rhode Island General Assembly · statute · retrieved Oct 11, 2026
“Enacted 06/20/2023”
- R.I. Gen. Laws § 42-61.2-7 — Division of revenue · Rhode Island General Assembly · statute · retrieved Oct 10, 2026
“One percent (1%) of net table-game revenue shall be allocated to the town of Tiverton”
- Narragansett Indian Tribe · Wikipedia · secondary · retrieved Oct 10, 2026
secondary source only
- Rhode Island Lottery · Wikipedia · secondary · retrieved Oct 10, 2026
secondary source only
“inaugurated in 1974, following a constitutional amendment passed in 1973”
- R.I. Gen. Laws § 42-61-1 — Division of state lottery established · Rhode Island General Assembly · statute · retrieved Oct 11, 2026
History note cites "P.L. 1974, ch. 20, § 1" as the original enactment; 1974 public-law text was not found digitized at this site to confirm an exact signing date.
“There is established a state lottery division within the department of revenue.”
- RI Attorney General Says DFS Is Legal · Fantasy Sports & Gaming Association · secondary · retrieved Oct 10, 2026
secondary source only; summarizes the 2016 Kilmartin AG opinion
- R Street Testimony in Support of RI H 6076, Fantasy Sports Consumer Protection Act · R Street Institute · secondary · retrieved Oct 10, 2026
secondary source only; think-tank testimony describing H 6076's licensing/tax/self-exclusion provisions; enactment status not independently confirmed
- R.I. Gen. Laws Chapter 42-61.2 — Index (Video Lottery, Casino Gaming, Sports Wagering, iGaming) · Rhode Island General Assembly · statute · retrieved Oct 10, 2026
- Greyhound racing in the United States · Wikipedia · secondary · retrieved Oct 10, 2026
secondary source only
- Sweepstakes Casino Legal Status by State · Lines.com · secondary · retrieved Oct 10, 2026
secondary source only; state-by-state sweepstakes-casino legality tracker; Rhode Island not listed among banning or actively-restricting states
- States Banning Sweepstakes Casinos in 2026 · BrightSide Legal (secondary roundup) · secondary · retrieved Oct 10, 2026
secondary source only; roundup of states enacting or considering sweepstakes-casino bans in 2026 (Indiana, Maryland, Maine, DC, California, New York, Louisiana, Tennessee); Rhode Island not named
- Rhode Island AG sues Kalshi, Polymarket after preemptive suit · SBC Americas · press · retrieved Oct 10, 2026
secondary source only; reports the May 21, 2026 Neronha lawsuit and Kalshi's competing federal suit
- Rhode Island General Laws §11-19-1 — Forms of gambling prohibited · Rhode Island General Assembly · statute · retrieved Oct 11, 2026
Directly fetched 2026-10-11 (official rilegislature.gov statute page). Also confirmed via fetch: "directly or indirectly, set up, put forth, carry on, promote, or draw, publicly or privately" and penalty "not exceeding two (2) years or be fined not exceeding two thousand dollars ($2,000)"; exceptions limited to activities "authorized in this chapter and in title 41 and chapters 61 and 61.2 of title 42." Refers to games of "chance" but does not separately address games of skill.
“any lottery, chance, game, or device of any nature or kind whatsoever”
- Rhode Island State Police press release on illegal gambling machine seizures at three convenience stores · Rhode Island State Police · regulator page · retrieved Oct 11, 2026
Directly fetched 2026-10-11. Release dated 2012-05-18. Describes a joint State Police Intelligence Unit/Division of Taxation investigation; search and arrest warrants executed at Columbus Mini-Mart (Pawtucket), International Market (Woonsocket), and DB Mart (Smithfield); charges included "Forms of Gambling Prohibited"; two illegal gambling machines seized. No more recent Rhode Island skill-game-specific enforcement action was found this session.
“These forms of gambling machines are illegal in the State of Rhode Island.”
- R.I. Gen. Laws § 42-61.2-2.1 — State authorized to operate casino gaming (index listing) · Rhode Island General Assembly · statute · retrieved Oct 10, 2026
- Jackpocket · Wikipedia · secondary · retrieved Oct 10, 2026
secondary source only; lists states where Jackpocket operates (Rhode Island not included)
- Lottery courier regulation tracker · Vixio Regulatory Intelligence · secondary · retrieved Oct 10, 2026
secondary source only; 2025-2026 overview of state-by-state courier regulation status, describing most states as having no law expressly permitting or prohibiting couriers
- R.I. Gen. Laws § 11-19-31 — Permitted games of chance · FindLaw (RI General Laws) · statute · retrieved Oct 10, 2026
“no charitable or non-profit organization which intends to conduct a permitted game of chance”
- Rhode Island Awards Second Online Sportsbook License to Bally Bet · Esports.net · secondary · retrieved Oct 10, 2026
secondary source only; reports IGT's existing RI sportsbook does not currently offer esports betting
- Rhode Island Esports Betting · Esports.net · secondary · retrieved Oct 10, 2026
secondary source only; notes esports "could appear on the app" once Bally Bet launches in Rhode Island, described as prospective and unconfirmed
- Millionaire for Life · Wikipedia · secondary · retrieved Oct 11, 2026
Participating-lotteries table row for Rhode Island reads "Rhode Island / 2026 / LFL" ("LFL" = Lucky for Life); game offered in 30 states plus D.C. since Feb. 22, 2026.
“Rhode Island ... 2026 ... LFL”
- R.I. Gen. Laws § 42-61-15 — State lottery fund · Rhode Island General Assembly · statute · retrieved Oct 11, 2026
“Payment into the general revenue fund of all revenues remaining in the state lottery fund after the payments specified in subsections (a)(1) -- (a)(2) of this section.”
- Responsible Gambling · Rhode Island Division of Lottery · regulator page · retrieved Oct 10, 2026
“It is UNLAWFUL for anyone under the age of 18 to play the Lottery.”
- R.I. Gen. Laws § 42-61.2-16 — General requirements for online sports wagering · Rhode Island General Assembly · statute · retrieved Oct 11, 2026
“Online sports wagering shall only occur within the state of Rhode Island.”
- Bally's Twin River Lincoln Casino Resort · Wikipedia · secondary · retrieved Oct 10, 2026
secondary source only
“Twin River opened the first sportsbook in Rhode Island ... In March 2019, Governor Gina Raimondo signed a bill allowing mobile sports betting, effective July 1, 2019.”
- Rhode Island makes debut as iGaming market with Bally's Casino · SBC Americas · secondary · retrieved Oct 10, 2026
secondary source only; confirmed via search-result text on the March 5, 2024 noon public launch following a March 1 technical trial, and the ~170-slot-game/live-dealer lineup.
- R.I. Gen. Laws § 42-61.2-17 — General requirements for iGaming · Rhode Island General Assembly · statute · retrieved Oct 10, 2026
- R.I. Gen. Laws § 42-61.2-1 — Definitions · Rhode Island General Assembly · statute · retrieved Oct 10, 2026
“roulette, blackjack, big six, craps, poker, baccarat, paigow”
- Rhode Island expands sports betting market with Bally's license · SBC Americas · secondary · retrieved Oct 10, 2026
secondary source only; confirmed via search-result text on the May 2026 tentative award, the Nov. 26, 2026 earliest go-live date, and IGT's continued PlaySports contract through 2028.
- Bally's Becomes Rhode Island's 2nd Approved Online Sports Betting Operator · Covers.com · secondary · retrieved Oct 10, 2026
secondary source only; confirmed via search-result text.
- List of casinos in Rhode Island · Wikipedia · secondary · retrieved Oct 11, 2026