Rhode Island Sports Betting Market Won’t Expand in 2025

Sports betting in the Plantation State will remain a monopoly for at least one more year.

Lawmakers in the Rhode Island House chose not to vote on expanding sports betting before the end of the legislative session this week. Senate Bill 748 proposes creating two to five new online sportsbook licenses to grow the market. 

While it passed the Senate by a vote of 30-3, many House lawmakers didn’t think the timing was right. They pointed to the state’s contract with International Game Technology (IGT) to run Sportsbook Rhode Island until late in 2026. It is the only sportsbook currently available to bettors in the state.

The bill was proposed in response to a state-funded Spectrum Gaming Study. It found that the sports betting market could increase revenue by adding four to six new operating licenses. This would help make the tiny market more competitive with neighboring states and allow visitors to use the same sportsbooks they would at home.

House Speaker K. Joseph Skekarchi led the opposition to the bill, but didn’t rule out looking at it once the contract with IGT ends. Given the support from the Senate, it seems likely that an effort next year will succeed. 

Proposed Expansion Came With Risks

While many Senators and the Spectrum Gaming Study both believe expansion will lead to market growth, some question the risks.

One concern is over the small size of the state. While Sportsbook Rhode Island has been relatively successful, they have had a monopoly on the market. If more sportsbooks are added, each operator would end up splitting those numbers, making it less appealing to join.

There is also a question over the 51% tax rate that IGT currently pays. That is the highest rate in the country, putting them in line with New York’s massive market. Operators are willing to pay the rate in New York, but it seems unlikely they would in Rhode Island. That means a tax change would likely be needed once IGT’s contract is up.