Rhode Island Lawmakers to Vote on Expanding Sports Betting

The sports betting market in Rhode Island may soon be more crowded.

Lawmakers in Little Rhody are considering a bill to expand its online sports betting market as the legislative session comes to a close. The bill initially called for at least five additional licenses to be created, but was revised to allow for between two and five. If passed, it would end Sportsbook Rhode Island’s three-year monopoly on the market.

The proposed expansion of sports betting is being driven by a study conducted by Spectrum Gaming Group a month ago. The study showed that there was room for four to six online sportsbooks in the small market, which would help them remain competitive with other New England states.

The Senate is expected to pass the bill once a floor vote is conducted, but getting approval from the House could be a challenge. 

Speaker K. Joseph Skekarchi has opposed previous expansion proposals, citing them as unnecessary given the state’s contract with International Game Technology (IGT), which operates Sportsbook Rhode Island. The deal doesn’t expire until late in 2026, but Skekarchi has promised to take a deeper look at the proposal once passed by the Senate.

No Senate floor vote has been scheduled to review the bill, but it is expected to be reviewed soon, with the legislative session ending on June 30.

Crackdown on Underage Betting Also Proposed

In addition to expanding sports betting, lawmakers in Rhode Island are also considering a pair of companion bills that would increase penalties for underage gambling. Violators could receive a $1,000 fine and up to one year in prison. 

Key lawmakers have pointed out that while the minimum age for online gambling is 21, the age for retail is set at 18. This could lead some young bettors to end up with criminal records without realizing they were even breaking the law.

The bills have both passed committees, but have not been assigned dates for a floor vote.