Rhode Island Sports Betting Laws
Rhode Island operates the most centralized sports betting market in the United States. Here is the full legal framework — who regulates, who profits, and what you can and cannot bet on.
The enabling legislation
Governor Gina Raimondo signed Rhode Island’s sports betting law on June 22, 2018, just five weeks after the US Supreme Court struck down the federal Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act (PASPA) in Murphy v. NCAA. RI was one of the first eight states to legalize.
Unlike most states that licensed private operators, the law made the Rhode Island Lottery both regulator and operator. The Lottery contracted IGT for technology and Bally’s Corporation (then Twin River Worldwide Holdings) for hosting.
Who regulates
The Rhode Island Lottery, a division of the RI Department of Revenue, sits at the top. It controls licensing, technical standards, audit, and integrity monitoring. The Department of Business Regulation (DBR) handles certain casino-floor matters at the Bally’s properties.
The 51% tax structure
Rhode Island ties with New Hampshire, New York, and Oregon for the highest sports betting tax rate in the United States: 51% of gross gaming revenue (GGR). Bally’s Corporation receives an additional 17% as the host facility. That leaves just 32% with the sportsbook operator (IGT). This is one of the most operator-unfriendly splits anywhere in legal US sports betting.
Tax revenue flows to the RI general fund, education programs, and problem gambling support services. See the full sportsbook tax deep-dive.
Age requirements (the dual rule)
- Retail betting at Bally’s Twin River or Tiverton: 18+
- Mobile betting through the Sportsbook RI app: 21+
This split is unusual — most states use a single age threshold. The retail-vs-mobile gap exists because the mobile platform was added later under different statutory authority.
The in-state college ban
You cannot bet on the URI Rams or the Providence Friars in any market, including March Madness, regular season, and player props. Out-of-state college betting is fully allowed. See the college betting ban guide for the full rule.
iGaming since 2024
In June 2023, Governor Dan McKee signed SB 948 authorizing online casino games. iGaming launched March 5, 2024 with Bally’s as the exclusive vendor. Slots are taxed at 61% and table games at 15%. iGaming generated $14.4M in tax revenue in its first 11 months.
The 2026 market expansion
In June 2025, the Senate passed amended SB 748, which directs the RI Lottery to end the IGT exclusive contract and open the market to 3–5 competing operators. Applications were due February 19, 2026 and the first new license is targeted for November 2026. Read the full SB 748 expansion guide.