Legal Rhode Island Casino Sites

21+ and present in Rhode Island. T&Cs apply. Gambling problem? Call 1-877-9GAMBLE, sponsored by the Rhode Island Lottery. Available 24 hours a day to listen, to help, and provide information. Please gamble responsibly and only bet what you can afford. For gambling addiction help and support, please contact the National Council on Problem Gambling at 1-800-522-4700 or visit https://www.ncpgambling.org/.

Bally’s Corporation operates Bally Online Casino, the only gambling site authorized by the state lottery. State law restricts Bally Casino RI to online slots and live dealer table games.

Sweepstakes casinos remain accessible in Rhode Island as well and feature significantly expanded game catalogs. However, sweepstakes gambling sites are unregulated and face increased legal scrutiny now that the state collects tax revenue from its monopoly provider, Bally Casino RI.

Some of the key points from Rhode Island’s online gambling law:

• Players must be 21 or older to gamble online in Rhode Island
• Players must be physically located within state lines
• Bally Casino RI may only offer slots and live dealer table games
• Bally Online Casino must comply with consumer protection regulations and support responsible gambling
• State law authorizes a single online casino for now; additional legislation would be needed to launch additional online casinos in Rhode Island

Rhode Island Casino Bonuses

Bally Casino’s monopoly over online gambling in Rhode Island disincentivizes it from offering high-value promotions and casino bonuses.

Since its launch in early 2024, Bally Casino RI has not announced any welcome bonuses or promotions.

Bally Casino may eventually announce modest promotions or launch a loyalty program, but players should not anticipate a promo-heavy experience.

Additionally, Bally’s Casino RI operates under tighter margins than operators in other states due to a hefty revenue-sharing requirement. Bally Casino must share the following percentages of its revenue with the state:

• 61% of slots revenue
• 15.5% of table games revenue

That said, Bally’s Rhode Island still competes with sweepstakes casinos and illegal offshore operators for new customers. A modest promotional lineup remains a realistic possibility going forward.

Rhode Island Live Dealer Casinos

Live dealer casino games play a prominent role in Rhode Island’s online gambling market.

Unlike most states, Rhode Island law includes an unusual provision regarding online table games: they must all be live dealer table games.

Bally’s Twin River Lincoln built a live dealer studio specifically for its online gambling operations and employs human dealers to manage games streamed straight to customers’ desktops and mobile devices.

The current lineup of live dealer table games in Rhode Island consists of several blackjack tables and one roulette game. Additional live dealer tables may open if customer demand justifies expanding the studio.

Why Did Rhode Island Legalize Live Dealer Games Only?

The Rhode Island legislature explained it this way in a press release:

“This legislation provides an added convenience to Rhode Islanders who would like to play the existing table games offered at Twin River via their mobile devices,” said President Ruggerio. “It helps ensure the continued strength of the state facilities in the competitive regional gaming market, and in so doing protects an important revenue stream that provides funding for vital state programs and investments.”

Addressing concerns raised during the committee hearing process regarding Bally’s initial proposal, the amended legislation requires a live dealer be in place. A similar approach has been taken in many places around the country, including in New Jersey, where their law requires bets to be wagered in Atlantic City. A miniature casino is constructed, much like a television studio, and the games are simulcast to people playing through their mobile devices.”

Legislators included the provision to address a constitutionality concern raised by the Rhode Island Lottery during the legislative process. During legislative deliberations, the State Lottery contended that authorizing online table games would qualify as a gambling expansion, which would require a constitutional amendment and voter approval in a statewide referendum.

Rhode Island law requires online gambling servers to be located at casinos to avoid another referendum since voters have already approved slots and table games at casinos. However, the State Lottery contended that the definition of “table games” approved by voters requires at least one live dealer.

Lawmakers addressed the concern by authorizing live dealer table games exclusively. As a result, Rhode Island casino sites may offer online slots and live dealer table games but not purely digital table games.

Rhode Island Online Gambling Law

Rhode Island legalized online slots, table games, and poker via S0948 in June 2023. The law grants regulatory oversight powers to the State Lottery Division and orders the Division to adopt additional regulations as needed.

Authorized Online Casino Games in Rhode Island

The Rhode Island online gambling law authorizes two categories of casino games:

• Online slots: Bally’s Rhode Island may offer all types of online slots, including video slots, traditional reel games, and slots with auto-play features, bonus rounds, and more
• Live dealer table games: Rhode Island law authorizes all types of live dealer casino table games, including blackjack, roulette, baccarat, etc.

Lottery Revenue and Problem Gambling Concerns

The law bumped Bally’s annual $200,000 problem gambling contribution by $50,000 to support problem gambling and prevention programs.

The law also addresses concerns that legal online gambling in Rhode Island could negatively impact lottery sales and tax revenue to the state. If state lottery tax revenues decline in any given fiscal year compared to the fiscal year before Rhode Island’s online gambling launch date, Bally’s must cover the shortfall as follows:

• 100% of the first $1 million of any shortfall
• 50% of any shortfall between $1 million and $2 million

Consumer Protection Regulations

The law directs the State Lottery Division to adopt additional consumer protection regulations to address the following topics:

• Investigating and responding to customer complaints
• Internal controls for system integrity and security, operations, accounting, and identifying problem gamblers
• Prominently displaying information to customers regarding terms and conditions, maximum winnings, deposits, and withdrawals

Rhode Island Online Gambling Taxes and Revenue Sharing

Revenue generated by Rhode Island online slots is allocated as follows:

• 61% to the state
• 37.55% to Bally’s and its Rhode Island affiliates
• 1.45% to the towns of Lincoln and Tiverton collectively

Revenue generated by online table games is allocated as follows:

• 15.5% to the state
• 83.5% to Bally’s and its Rhode Island affiliates
• 1% to the towns of Lincoln and Tiverton collectively

Rhode Island Online Casino FAQ