The Rhode Island Senate has once again passed a bill to expand the state’s sports betting market, just as it did last year. Senate Majority Leader Frank Ciccone’s proposal, SB 3118, cleared the Senate on Thursday and now moves to the House. The legislative session concludes on June 30, adding urgency to the proceedings. Ciccone is optimistic about introducing more competition, but Rhode Island Lottery Director Mark Furcolo argues it might breach the state constitution. The state’s sports betting ecosystem is currently run by the lottery, with IGT powering Sportsbook Rhode Island. Earlier this year, Bally’s, based in Providence, received a second license.
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Details of the Proposed Legislation
The bill aims to introduce four to six new online gambling operators. If approved, the lottery will start accepting applications for sports betting contracts starting January 1, 2027. Additionally, the legislation proposes modifying the revenue-sharing model — raising operators’ share to 40.5% from the current 32%. Still, the state’s take remains at 51%, while host facilities receive 8.5%. Notably, after fiscal 2025, the operators’ share could rise to 79.5%, with the state’s portion decreasing to 12%. Ciccone argues these changes are necessary to boost state revenue and keep bettors within Rhode Island. “Other states with multiple apps have brought in more revenue,” Ciccone noted, highlighting that Rhode Islanders often cross state lines to Massachusetts and Connecticut for additional options.
Lottery and IGT’s Staunch Opposition
Both the Rhode Island Lottery and IGT firmly oppose the expansion. The Lottery issued a request for qualifications in 2025 to find a new partner, ultimately selecting Bally’s over BetRivers, managed by Rush Street Interactive. Furcolo’s testimony underscored the notion that the current framework, grounded in the state’s constitution, cannot support more vendors. “Requiring that more contracts be awarded than can be supported by the Rhode Island Lottery will negatively impact operations and related player protections,” Furcolo stated. The Lottery contends that additional licenses could dilute the market, hampering operational efficiency and player safety—a position not uncommon among state-run lotteries cautious of over-expansion.
Rhode Island’s Betting market
Rhode Island, despite its small size, was an early adopter of sports betting, launching operations in November 2018. Since then, over $3 billion has been wagered within its borders, contributing $134 million in state tax revenue. In 2024, Rhode Island became the seventh U.S. state to launch online casinos, led by Bally’s. The state’s efforts in expanding gaming services underscore a broader trend seen nationwide, where states seek increased revenue streams through gaming and sports betting. Rhode Island’s regulatory history shows that its approach has often been cautious but forward-thinking—a pattern industry analysts have noted before.
What’s Next?
Now that the bill has passed the Senate, it moves to the Rhode Island House of Representatives for consideration. Lawmakers must act before the session deadline on June 30. Whether the House will approve this round of expansions remains uncertain, especially given the opposition from key stakeholders like the Lottery and IGT.
Marcus Chen brings a quantitative approach to poker strategy and sports betting analysis. With a background in data analytics and over eight years covering professional poker circuits, his articles combine statistical insights with practical advice for serious players looking to sharpen their edge at the table.
