Andrew O'Malley 13. December 2019 | UPDATED ON: 19. December 2022 Are you in Rhode Island and looking for a place where you can legally place sports bets? Thankfully, there is now legal online sports betting available to those who are in the state, which means that you can get your fix from the comfort of your own home. Is Online Sports Betting in Rhode Island Legal? Yes! Rhode Island was the eighth state in the US to legalize sports betting. The piece of legislation that was signed by the Rhode Island Governor Gina Raimondo was optimistic as to how much money the activity could generate for the state. Along with Pennsylvania, Mississippi, West Virginia, New Mexico, New Jersey and Delaware, Rhode Island was a state that opened its first legal sportsbook in 2018. The exact date was November 26, 2018, at the Twin River Casino in Lincoln. The Twin River Tiverton Casino is the other retail sportsbook that opened shortly after. Initially, it was only retail sportsbooks that were allowable in the state. It was also the first and only New England state to date to have open sportsbooks. Mobile sports betting badly needed After a number of months, the results from sports betting in Rhode Island were largely underwhelming. Nowhere near the forecasted tax revenues were reached. This led to a movement to have mobile sports betting legalized and rolled out quickly in Rhode Island. The legislation to legalize online sports betting was signed into law during March 2019, with the launch of the first platform coming in September 2019. Currently, there is only a single online sportsbook platform open, being dubbed as the Sportsbook Rhode Island. This is under the control of the Rhode Island Lottery. A monopoly in place As the Twin River Casinos have a monopoly over sports betting in the state, as well as having deals in place with IGT and William Hill for the technology and operation of these platforms, it seems unlikely that any other competitors will be able to enter into space anytime soon. Therefore, Rhode Islanders will have to make do with just the one online sportsbook for the time being. This guide will look into the single online sportsbook in the state, showcasing what areas it shines and where it can be improved. While you do not currently have a choice of online sportsbooks, it is still a good idea to be aware of the various aspects of the given offering Note: At least there is online sports betting now available in Rhode Island. This means you no longer have to travel to one of the two casino facilities to place a sports bet. You can also receive different bonuses to give your betting power a boost and choose from a variety of payment methods. How is this Rhode Island Online Sportsbook Ranked? Usually, when it comes to comparing various online sportsbooks with one another, there will be certain aspects to watch out for. When you have no choice of platform, some of these variables become a bit redundant as you do not have any alternative options. However, this review still looks at the different parts of the Rhode Island online sportsbook offering. Some of the key areas looked at are: Quantity of sports to bet on Range of markets for each sport Ease of use for the platform Quality of the mobile platform Variety of payment options Live betting interface Site’s reputation and licensing Availability of customer support Welcome packages and regular promotions The Only Rhode Island Online Sportsbook Legal in 2022: 1. Sportsbook Rhode Island - The only option in the state As you have seen, there is only one online sportsbook currently available for those in Rhode Island. This is also a relatively new offering, so some teething problems are to be expected. In order to get started with the Sportsbook Rhode Island, you need to signup for an account through the website. You will then need to confirm this new account by clicking on the link that you have been sent through an email. The downside to the registration process is that you will have to go in person to either the Tiverton Players Club or to the Twin River Players Club in order to present a valid form of photo ID. You will not be able to place bets online until you have done so. In other states, IDs can just be scanned and sent through to the customer support team online rather than having to visit a physical facility. When you have finished the signup process and confirmed your identity, you will then be able to use the site that is powered by William Hill. The European bookmaker has many years of experience in the online sports betting space and is able to bring this experience to bear for the Sportsbook Rhode Island. The site uses the traditional navy and white color scheme of William Hill, making it very easy to read the text. Everything is nicely laid out and easy to find, so you will not be wasting time when trying to find what you are looking for. One of the other standout aspects is the responsiveness and speed of the platform. It is one of the fastest online sportsbooks you will find across the entire US market. For beginner sports bettors, there are some useful guides that walk you through the different types of markets and bet types you can choose from. Currently, there are ten sports catered for through this offering. All of the main US sports will have a nice range of different markets, with the more obscure sports markets being a bit scarcer. There is a dedicated section for live betting, with everything updating in real-time. While this is a basic live offering, it does the job. Currently, there are no promotions or welcome offers available through the Sportsbook Rhode Island. This may be something that changes in the future or perhaps because there is no other competition in the state that it doesn’t feel the need to attract new users by running exciting promotions and welcome offers. If you have an issue when using the site, you can give the support team a phone call. These phone lines are monitored 24/7, so you can always get your question answered. Overall, there is a solid selection of sports and markets, which is mostly what a person wants in a sportsbook. The site is fast and easy to use, with the major downside being the lack of a welcome offer or regular promotions for existing players. Pros Very fast site Strong mobile offering Solid selection of popular sports and markets Strong mobile offering Cons No promotions or welcome offers You have to register in-person Visit Sportsbook Rhode Island Online Sportsbook Now Bottom Line With only a single online sportsbook in operation, Rhode Island residents are limited in terms of choice. As time goes on, the Sportsbook Rhode Island will likely grow and improve. It has a reputable operator at the helm, which ensures that a solid offering is always going to be guaranteed. The big downside naturally is the lack of a welcome bonus package or even promotions for the loyal player base. This is something that should be addressed or players may end up being driven back to black-market alternatives. At least there is a solid foundation in place and bets can be placed once people have finished the registration process in person. Key Aspects of Online Sportsbooks in Rhode Island There are countless sports betting fans across the United States. With Rhode Island being part of New England, most residents are massive fans of the New England Patriots. Thanks to the fact that the team being so successful, the locals like betting on their favorite team and getting used to winning more than they lose. With the retail sportsbooks and the mobile sportsbook, there is a bit of choice on offer for these residents. With the regulatory framework, they can safely place their bets and know that they are going to be paid out exactly what they are owed. There is an age limit in place if you want to place sports bets in Rhode Island. You have to be at least 18 years old. There is also a need for you to be physically inside of the Rhode Island state lines when using the online sportsbook to place a bet. While you can sign up for an account out of state, you still need to verify your identity in person in the state. The verification process is a key step to all reputable online sportsbooks these days. However, most of these platforms with verification requests will allow you to do so online and not have to visit a facility in order to present your ID and sometimes proof of address. It is an unavoidable step in Rhode Island, but it may change in the future as the sector matures and develops. Where Else is Online Gambling Legal in the US? AL AK AZ AR CA CO CT DE FL GA HI ID IL IN IA KS KY LA ME MD MA MI MN MS MO MT NE NV NH NJ NM NY NC ND OH OK OR PA RI SC SD TN TX UT VT VA WA WV WI WY DC FAQ Will there be more online sportsbooks hitting the Rhode Island market? For now, there is a monopoly on the online sports betting and retail sportsbooks space in the state. There is a multi-year deal in place between the license holders and the main operator of the sportsbooks - William Hill. Therefore, it would be surprising to see any more online sportsbooks to hit the market until this multi-year partnership comes to an end. What other types of gambling are available in Rhode Island? What is the age requirement for sports betting in Rhode Island? In order to open up an online sports betting account and to then place sports bets, you have to be at least 18 years old. This is why there is a requirement to have your government-issued ID verified in-person, as they want to make sure that you are the age you claim to be. Will Rhode Island remain as the only state in New England with legal sports betting? No, New Hampshire is set to have open sportsbooks in 2020, making them the second state in New England with open sportsbooks. As times goes on, it appears likely that other New England states will follow suit. What people can place sports bets in Rhode Island? Once you are at least 18 years old and provide a valid form of ID, you can register for an account with the Rhode Island Sportsbook. Another key requirement is that you have not been banned from one of the casinos in the state. Otherwise, you cannot set up an online sports betting account. About Andrew O'Malley Alex has been writing about the gambling industry for more than five years, covering everything from sports betting to casinos and poker. With the sector constantly evolving, he loves nothing better than staying up to date with the latest movers and shakers in the space. View all posts by Andrew O'Malley →
