PROVIDENCE – The R.I. General Assembly approved legislation to allow mobile sports betting in the state through the Twin River casinos in Lincoln and Tiverton Tuesday evening.
The legislation will allow for the creation of an app that will give consumers access to sports gambling options offered at the casinos. Users will be required to register at the casinos but subsequently will be allowed to place a wager anywhere in the state.
Currently wagers may only be placed at the Lincoln and Tiverton locations.
The R.I. Senate approved the legislation in February while the R.I. House approved the legislation Tuesday. The bill will now go to the Gov. Gina M. Raimondo’s to be signed into law or vetoed.
Raimondo spokesman Josh Block said that the governor is supportive of the bill.
“The new in-person sportsbook that opened in November has been very popular, with lines sometimes stretching out the doors,” stated Senate President Dominick J. Ruggerio. “It is an entertainment option that many Rhode Islanders enjoy. … Expanding to mobile gaming would provide a convenient option for those wishing to enjoy this form of entertainment, and open up the economic benefits beyond the walls of Twin River. I can envision a group of friends from out-of-state spending an evening out in a local establishment where they can both watch the game and place a wager.”
The state would continue to receive 51 percent of all winnings (after expenses) from sports wagering, among the highest rates in the country. As of January, sports bets in Rhode Island in the three months of sports betting operations in the state totaled $32.8 million, with sports book revenue totaling $1.2 million, including the state share, vendor share and the casino share.
Sports betting launched at the tail end of November.
“This revenue, along with the revenue we anticipate from an expansion to mobile gaming, is a tremendous benefit to the state,” stated House Speaker Nicholas A. Mattiello. “It’s an added benefit that we can capture revenue that would have otherwise gone to an illegal market. When you consider that up to 97 percent of sports wagering is done illegally, it makes good sense for the state to increase its revenue by providing an entertainment that can be done safely and legally.”
On Tuesday before the vote, the House Republican Caucus issued a statement that said that the Republicans wanted a Supreme Court opinion on the legality of expanding sports betting in the state without voter approval before spending state revenue on the endeavor.
The Governor’s Office noted Wednesday that, “multiple legal opinions have already concluded that there is no need for an additional referendum.”
Republicans had previously threatened to sue if the legislation were to pass.
“House Republicans are not opposed to online gaming,” stated Rep. George A. Nardone, R-Coventry, “however, the responsible path forward is to first determine whether these proposals are constitutional, before money is expended on gaming infrastructure and the state budgets for anticipated gaming revenues.”
Chris Bergenheim is the PBN web editor. Email him at Bergenheim@PBN.com.
