RI General Assembly Votes to Allow Mobile Sports Betting

RI General Assembly Votes to Allow Mobile Sports Betting

The Rhode Island General Assembly voted to allow mobile sports betting through the Twin River casinos in Lincoln and Tiverton. 

The news comes several hours after the House Republican Party called for a Supreme Court advisory opinion regarding the bills, as GoLocalProv reported. 

“The new in-person sportsbook that opened in November has been very popular, with lines sometimes stretching out the doors. It is an entertainment option that many Rhode Islanders enjoy, and visitors from outside the state are also flocking to our gaming facilities to place their wagers on sporting events. Expanding to mobile gaming would provide a convenient option for those wishing to enjoy this form of entertainment, and open up the economic benefits beyond the walls of Twin River," said Senate President Dominick Ruggerio, who introduced the legislation. 

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The legislation now moves to the governor’s office.

Mobile Sports Wagering 

The legislation would enable the creation of an app consumers could use to access the sports gaming offerings at Twin River from anyplace within the parameters of the state of Rhode Island. 

Consumers must initially set up their accounts in person at Twin River, and thereafter could place a wager from anywhere in the state. 

They must be physically in the state of Rhode Island in order to wager. 

The system would utilize technology to determine the location of any person placing a wager, and would not accept wagers from outside of the state’s boundaries.

Sports Betting in RI 

Vendors IGT and Twin River were months late in starting Rhode Island's sports betting program and the budgeted revenue of $23.5 million has been downgraded already once to just $11.5 million and the numbers look like they will continue to fall.