The Best Online Betting Sites in Rhode Island in 2024
While Rhode Island legalized retail sports betting in 2018, there are limited legal RI betting sites available. The only online sportsbook is that provided by the state lottery, and while this may not be as good as commercial RI sports betting apps, it still provides great betting opportunities.
In this guide to RI online sports betting, we have covered topics such as the current laws, the RI market regulation, and other legal gambling options. We have also explained how to register for the state lottery app and discussed its strongest features and where it could be improved.
We only recommend licensed gambling operators on this site to ensure our readers’ safety, hence why you won’t find recommendations for offshore betting sites. What you will find instead is an explanation for why the best betting sites in RI are much better than the illegal alternatives.
Rhode Island Online Betting Sites List: All Legal RI Online Sportsbooks
While bettors can wager in person at RI’s two land-based casinos, there is only one name on our Rhode Island online sportsbook list. This is because the state has yet to authorize licensing from commercial operators. Instead, bettors must sign up to Sportsbook Rhode Island if they want to wager online, a state lottery-run platform.
Rather than using proprietary software, the Sportsbook RI app is operated by William Hill using an IGT platform. William Hill is a gambling company owned by Caesars, so you can rest assured knowing that the platform was built by sports betting pros. This is why the operator is the best online Rhode Island sportsbook.
How to Start Betting Online in Rhode Island
Are you new to online sports betting? If so, we want to assure you that the process is extremely easy to do, no matter your experience level. To demonstrate this, we have created a three step guide to online betting in RI below. This covers everything from signing up to a new account to placing your bets.
Visit the Sportsbook RI homepage on your mobile or desktop. You’ll need to download the app on your mobile. Provide your name, details, date of birth and submit ID. Make a deposit.
Head to the lobby to find pre-match and live betting odds. Find the events and sports that interest you and filter the bet types in the market selection.
Click on the odds to add them to your bet slip. Add more odds to build your bet and choose to make a single or parlay bet. Set your stake, click to place your bet, and confirm.
Of all the processes, the one that is most time consuming is the registration. That said, this is still made very convenient, and it shouldn’t take long for your identity to be verified. Be sure to understand all of the betting options when selecting odds and do your research to enhance your predictions.
Criteria We Have Considered When Judging the Best Rhode Island Betting Sites
In order to ensure that all of our reviews are fair, we apply a strict grading criteria to all the sites that are considered. Of course, there was only RI betting site one site, but if the sportsbook failed against our criteria, we would have no trouble recommending our readers avoid signing up. Fortunately, this isn’t the case.
To kick off the reviews, we have taken a look at the site’s safety and security, which are enforced by state regulations. We’ve then looked at whether there are any new player bonuses and promotions, the betting site odds, the customer support options and the quality of its platform, including the app.
Laws, Safety and Security
When Rhode Island first legalized sports betting, the state only offered retail sports betting. However, lawmakers quickly realized that they were losing millions of dollars in revenues to out-of-state or offshore bookmakers. This is when they decided to create an online betting platform through the state lottery.
This app and any other potential future legal RI betting site are regulated by the Rhode Island Lottery, the state regulator of the state’s casinos and retail sportsbooks. This process ensures that operators act responsibly and fairly, and enforce strict player safety standards.
Online betting sites must also pay taxes on revenues and meet other standards such as strict responsible gambling practices and implement strong security features. This means using identity verification software to prevent minors from signing up and ensuring that user data is protected.
In the following sections, we’ve discussed other relevant topics related to the sole Rhode Island online betting sites and the laws and licensing surrounding it.
Gambling Laws in Rhode Island
The primary legislation that deals with gambling matters in Rhode Island is the state criminal code. Here, gambling is defined as “setting up… any chance, game, or device for the purpose of disposing of money.” The language is aimed at illegal gambling operators as opposed to players and designates gambling to be illegal.
This is not common for most US states, which usually include the act of participation in gambling activities as being illegal. For example, Washington state considers online gamblers to be committing a felony. There are several activities that are considered legal in RI, including horse race betting, charitable gambling, and authorized casinos and sports betting.
The state is also bound to the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act until it creates legislation that contradicts this. This federal law prohibits all forms of online gambling unless a state authorizes it. Previously, the federal PASPA law prohibited all sports betting, but this was overturned in 2018.
While RI has legalized online sports betting, online casinos are still unlawful. Considering the fact that there are two land-based casinos and online horse race betting is allowed, Rhode Island is quite a progressive state when it comes to gambling laws.
Taxes on RI Betting Sites
There are several taxation models that are applied to sports betting in Rhode Island. When it comes to retail betting, a revenue-sharing model is adopted. The state takes a 51 percent cut of sports betting revenues at commercial casinos. They also receive $200,000 for hosting legal sports betting.
As it is run by the state, the Sportsbook Rhode Island online betting site only applies a 5.99% tax on gambling revenues. This leads to much more attractive odds than the retail betting sites. There is also a federal tax of 24% withheld on gambling winnings over $5,000. If more best Rhode Island betting sites were to debut from commercial operators, it’s likely they’d be taxed like the casinos.
Data Security and Encryption
There’s nothing more important than ensuring that you’re gambling safely when online. When you join a licensed sportsbook, you can be sure that your financial details and private information is protected. This is because regulators require license holders to implement strong security technology to prevent hackers from interfering with user connections.
In the case of Sportsbook Rhode Island, the operator uses 256-bit SSL encryption supplied by Entrust to guarantee that users’ data is protected. Entrust is a well-respected security certification group, so this was pleasing to see. This security sets a standard that other RI sportsbooks online will need to follow if the commercial market is open.
Minimum Gambling Age
Unlike most other US states, Rhode Island has a blanket minimum gambling age for all legal gaming activities. Players must be over 18 years old to participate in any gambling activity, including playing at RI betting sites. This is worth keeping in mind if you intend to travel, as most states require bettors to be at least 21 years old.
Responsible Gambling Practises
One of the most dangerous things about joining an unlicensed site is that it may employ practices that are considered predatory. This could mean enticing gamblers that are displaying problem behaviors to gamble more, or failing to provide any support to those who need help. This is illegal at the best Rhode Island betting sites.
The Rhode Island Lottery, the sole RI sportsbook operator, has sponsored the Gambling Helpline, a 24/7 service that supports those in need. While the site also blocks those who are self-excluded at the state’s retail betting locations, it unfortunately does not offer self-exclusion or self-limitation mechanisms of its own.
Organization Certificates
A legal RI betting site will include several logos at the bottom of its homepage or throughout its website that indicate its trustworthiness. These are generally certificates that attest to its safety and security, its responsible gambling practices, and its licensing status. The following are some certificates featured on the site.
- Entrust SSL Certificate – shows that your data and privacy is protected via encryption
- Responsible Gambling – displays that the operator works with gambling helplines
- Rhode Island Lottery – the certificate of the site’s regulator, proves that it’s licensed
If more betting sites debut in Rhode Island, it’s worth taking a look to see that these types of certificates are on display. Usually, the logos will include links to the relevant authority’s website where you can find further details about the organization. Keep in mind that if there is no evidence of local licensing, it’s either illegal or a scam.
Bonuses and Promotions
In states where there are commercial betting apps available, you will likely see that there are promotions available for new players and loyal customers. These bonuses can offer you perks such as free bets, risk-free bets, matched bets and odds boosts. Sometimes, you can claim these at the registration page, while others will reward you when you reload your funds.
Depending on the specific terms and conditions, these promotions can be a great way to boost your wallet or provide a safety net in case your wager is unsuccessful. Some players could even employ a matched betting strategy when signed up to several online sportsbooks to guarantee a profit.
As our list of the best betting sites RI has to offer only includes one name, this won’t be possible. It also means that there is no competition, so Sportsbook RI does not have any promotions to lure in new players. That said, it has offered ticket giveaways to sporting events in the past. You can find available promos on its Promotions page.
Average Payout, Odds and Lines at Sportsbooks
An essential indicator of a high-quality online sportsbook is the strength of its odds. The odds will influence the payout of your bets, so the more attractive these are, the better it is for bettors. These will be influenced by a return-to-player (RTP) rate that is set by an operator, which can either apply to individual sports or a blanket rate on all events.
In the case of the Sportsbook Rhode Island online betting site, the odds are very fair. We undertook an odds comparison with this site and commercial operators such as BetMGM and DraftKings in New Jersey and Pennsylvania.
We found that the odds were about the same, which was surprising considering the lack of other RI online sports betting options.
While the commercial operator’s odds need to be competitive to lure customers in, the appealing odds offered by Sportsbook Rhode Island would be influenced by its low 5.99% cut of sportsbook revenues. This ensures that payouts can remain high, with a majority of profits going back to punters as winnings.
Live Betting and Streaming
Over the short period of time that sports betting has been legalized in the wider USA, live betting has quickly become one of the most popular betting options. Live or in-play betting allows punters to make wagers on events that are happening in real-time, forcing them to rely on their own knowledge, instinct, and reflexes.
Fortunately, this is an option at the Sportsbook RI site. Users can wager on everything from NFL games to international tennis. What is unfortunate is that the live betting platform lacks helpful information such as infographics and live statistics, features which are fairly standard at major commercial online sportsbooks.
These sites can also sometimes offer live streams of different events so that you can watch games as you bet on them, with betting suggestions and odds appearing on screen. This is not available in RI. Until more commercial Rhode Island betting sites are launched, you’ll need to source your own information and streams.
The Betting App
Mobile betting is by far the easiest way to place wagers, and when offered correctly, can guarantee that you can conveniently gamble while on the go. The best RI sports betting apps will be compatible with all operating systems, including Apple, Android and Windows smartphones and tablets.
While most sportsbooks will create dedicated sports betting apps, some bettors may prefer to access the site through their web browser. The best online Rhode Island betting sites should offer a browser platform that is optimized for mobile use, and facilitate all basic features such as deposits, withdrawals and live betting.
You can access the mobile-optimized Sportsbook Rhode Island site through your smartphone and tablet web browser on all operating systems. However, we were disappointed to find that the app is only compatible with Apple devices. Hopefully this will be amended soon to cater to all bettors or other RI sports betting apps will join the party.
Customer Support
It’s an unfortunate fact that even the best betting operators can have technical issues that affect your account and, in the worst case scenarios, your bets. Therefore, it’s essential that bettors are able to contact a customer support representative at any time to help resolve any issues.
We believe that if the market was expanded, the top betting sites Rhode Island has on the market would offer around-the-clock support, seven days of the week. Ideally, there should also be numerous contact methods including telephone and live chat. While Rhode Island offers 24/7 service, you must contact support via telephone.
We tested the online sportsbook’s support and found that wait times were no longer than 10 minutes, and that the representatives were very knowledgeable, friendly and patient. We’re sure that if you’re ever facing the rare scenario of account issues, you’ll have no trouble getting your problems resolved.
Are There New Betting Sites in Rhode Island
After sports betting was legalized in RI in 2018 for retail locations, lawmakers quickly realized that the retail betting market was being shunned in favor of offshore betting sites. In 2019, legislators legalized mobile sports betting, though this was only authorized through the one sports betting app created by the Rhode Island Lottery.
To this day, local adoption of the new app hasn’t been entirely successful, with many choosing to travel interstate to gamble or use offshore bookies. There is no word yet whether commercial sites such as DraftKings or BetRivers will be permitted to enter the market in future years.
Until new betting sites in Rhode Island are permitted, you’ll need to travel to nearby online sports betting states to try these commercial apps. Rhode Island residents would often travel to the legal sports betting state of Connecticut which has full mobile betting with multiple options. For those who would rather stay and wait until the situation in Rhode Island improves, we’ll keep update you on the situation if this changes in the future.
Offshore Betting Sites in Rhode Island
As mentioned above, there are many offshore betting sites that advertise to Rhode Islanders in an effort to lure them in. These sites are neither legal nor illegal, but the lack of illegality does not make them good options. Without licensing, there is no way to be sure that the odds are fair or that you’ll receive any owed winnings.
Below, you’ll find a list of non-legal betting sites in Rhode Island.
- ⛔ BetUS
- ⛔ Bovada
- ⛔ MyBookie
- ⛔ XBet
- ⛔ BetOnline.AG
- ⛔ BUSR
- ⛔ Intertops
- ⛔ BetNow
- ⛔ BetAnySports
- ⛔ JazzSports
- ⛔ Lucky99
- ⛔ WagerWeb
Chances are that you’ve heard at least one of the above names while searching for online sportsbooks in Rhode Island. We assure you that while they’re popular, they don’t meet the same standards as set by US regulators. They also don’t pay taxes to Rhode Island, so gambling revenues don’t benefit social programs at all.
History of Gambling in Rhode Island
The state of Rhode Island has had an interesting relationship with gambling. At times, the voters of RI have been incredibly welcoming to gambling expansion, while at others, voters have rejected progress on the matter. The first laws about gambling were established in 1896, which prohibited bookmaking and the lottery.
In 1934, voters supported a measure to legalize pari-mutuel wagering on horse races. Months later, the Narragansett Park was complete, which famously hosted Seabiscuit. In 1947, the Lincoln Downs was opened. Both would continue to operate until the 1970s when low audience numbers shuttered them.
In 1973, voters again approved a measure to create a state lottery. Since then, more than $8 billion has been raised for state coffers, with roughly $40 billion paid out in prizes. For nearly 40 years, all other gambling expansion efforts were thwarted, with voters refusing measures to create casinos and simulcast wagering.
This changed in 2012 when lawmakers authorized the construction of two resort-style Class III casinos. In 2018, Rhode Island sports betting was legalized, with the first bets taken later the same year. In 2019, lawmakers approved RI online sports betting, although only the lottery has since launched a site.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do you still have more questions about the best betting sites Rhode Island has to offer? If so, you’ll find brief answers to common queries on the local betting market. If you’re looking for more details, you can click on the links provided to each to be taken to the relevant section of this guide.
🥇 What is the best betting site in Rhode Island?
The best and only betting site in Rhode Island is the Sportsbook Rhode Island operator. This site was launched by the Rhode Island Lottery and includes a vast array of betting options. The site benefits from a low tax rate on gaming revenues, meaning that odds are very similar if not better than those offered by commercial betting operators in other states.
🔎 Are there any new betting sites in Rhode Island?
There are currently no new betting sites in Rhode Island and whether or not there will be anymore is yet to be revealed. There are no clear efforts by lawmakers to expand the offers to commercial operators, though this could change if the state realizes that it's still losing revenues to neighbor states with a more open betting market.
📜 Is there a list of the Rhode Island betting sites?
We do not have a list of top betting sites for Rhode Island as there is only the one betting option. As the sportsbook does not offer any promotions to new players, we have not been able to provide an adequate sign up link to the site. If more sites debut in the state, we’ll be sure to create a ranked list of high-quality betting sites.
🛡️ Are Rhode Island betting sites safe?
Rhode Island applies taxes to sports betting revenues for both online and in person wagering. However, the online odds are often better than the retail odds, as only a 5.99% tax is applied to revenues. This means that payout rates can be higher. In comparison, the taxes on betting revenues at the state’s casinos is 51%.
💵 How does Rhode Island make money from betting sites?
Rhode Island applies taxes to all sports betting revenues, whether online or in person. However, the online odds are often better than the retail odds, as only a 5.99% tax is applied to revenues. This means that payout rates can be higher. In comparison, the taxes on betting revenues at the state’s casinos is 51%.
⚖️ Is online betting in Rhode Island legal?
Since the state gambling laws were changed in 2019, online betting in Rhode Island is completely legal. That said, only the Sportsbook Rhode Island has been given the approval to accept Rhode Island punters. Commercial operators are yet to launch, but if they do, we would expect an app from TwinSpires or BetRivers to launch.
👮 How can I solve a dispute with a Rhode Island online sportsbook?
If you have any technical issues, queries, or disputes with the sportsbook, you can contact customer support. At Sportsbook RI, support is available 24/7 via a telephone line. In our experience, the support was extremely helpful and wait times did not exceed 10 minutes.
Conclusion: RI Online Betting Available But Limited
Now that we’ve reached the conclusion of this review of the best Rhode Island betting sites, you should have all the information you need to decide whether the Sportsbook RI is for you. We tested the site against our strict criteria and found that it offers a stable platform with great betting options, including live betting.
The site is regulated by the Rhode Island Lottery, meaning that it meets the strictest safety and security standards. It also pays taxes to the state, with its competitive odds ensuring fair payouts. If you’re interested in the betting markets of other US states, then we invite you to head to our guide for all US betting sites.