Rhode Island Gambling Laws Online
On June 22, 2023, Governor Dan McKee signed Senate Bill 948 in Rhode Island. This Bill, among other things, allowed the state’s only casino giant, Bally’s, to now take over the iGaming industry. If you want to play table games from home, you now can with a mobile app run by Bally’s.
It’s important to note that, while state laws now allow players to place wagers and win real money with online table games, they can only do so within the state’s borders. This means that players will need to use geolocation to ensure they’re placing bets within state lines.
The law also states that players might, in the future, be able to place bets outside of the state if the RI Division of the Lottery enters into a reciprocal agreement with another state regulator. To date, however, this has not occurred.
If you’re tempted to partake in illegal gambling, it’s important to know that this state has some of the harshest punishments for illegal betting. The potential jail sentence for violating gambling laws is up to 10 years, with a potential fine of up to $100,000.
How does Rhode Island Regulate Gambling?
Both Rhode Island online casinos (run by Bally’s) and the Rhode Island lottery are regulated by the Division of the Lottery. The Division itself is part of the state’s Department of Revenue. Because the change in allowing online gambling is fairly new, it’s tough to foresee how exactly the Division of the Lottery will impose punishments based on gambling violations.
In addition, it’s also difficult to know how online gambling through real money online casinos will be regulated in the state. Nevertheless, the state gives the Division power to develop “reasonable” rules to regulate iGaming. They also provide resources for problem gambling.
The Division is also responsible for regulating Rhode Island’s two in-person casinos. These are Bally’s Twin River and Bally’s Tiverton locations. As for the state’s lottery, the Division of the Lottery has two goals – maximizing the revenues from the lottery and ensuring its integrity for the state’s residents. It has the responsibility of transferring profits from the lottery to the State’s General Fund.
Lastly, the Gaming and Athletics section of the Department of Business Regulation is responsible for overseeing various types of sports games, including pari-mutuel horse and greyhound racing. However, online sports betting is currently still regulated by the Division of the Lottery.
