Bally’s has been handed an online sports betting licence in Rhode Island and will look to launch an online sports betting brand in the US state by the end of the year.
As it stands, Sportsbook Rhode Island is the only operator allowed to offer online sports betting to customers in the Ocean State.
Sportsbook Rhode Island is operated by IGT and Bally’s currently. IGT handles the online side of the business, with Bally’s managing the retail sportsbooks.
Bally’s runs two land-based casinos in the state in the shape of Twin River Lincoln Casino Resort and Bally’s Tiverton Casino and Hotel, where retail sports betting can take place.
In January, reports emerged that the Rhode Island Lottery was planning on granting a five-year licence to a second sportsbook from November 2026 by opening an RFT, effectively ending IGT’s monopoly.
Two months later, Senate Bill 748 was filed, proposing that at least five sportsbook operators to be operational in the state.
However, according to local TV station NBC 10 WJAR, the decision has been made to grant one additional licence to Bally’s and allow two operators to offer online sports betting to customers in Rhode Island.
The launch will take place once IGT’s exclusivity deal runs out in November.
Speaking to the channel on Wednesday, 13 May, lottery deputy director Michael O’Rourke said there was only one other applicant for the sportsbook licence – Rush Street Interactive.
“There was a thorough review process,” he said. “There was a hope we’d get more companies to reply, but they didn’t.”
Patti Doyle, Bally’s spokeswoman, added in a comment to NBC 10: “Bally’s is thrilled to have been awarded a second sports betting licence by the State of Rhode Island.
“We appreciate the confidence and trust the state has placed in our ability to provide a best-in-class product – built for scalability, innovation and the evolving demands of modern bettors – which will generate additional revenue to benefit the Rhode Island taxpayers.”
Bally’s currently offers online casino in the Ocean State, running a monopoly. Bally Bet, the online sports betting app in the US, is live in 12 jurisdictions.
Bally’s also offers online sports betting and icasino in Ontario, Canada.
Rhode Island imposes a 51% tax rate on gross gaming revenue for sports betting, having launched in September 2019.
Alongside news of the sportsbook licence, Bally’s is currently in talks to acquire evoke for £225m.
The post Report: Bally’s to launch new online sports betting site in Rhode Island first appeared on EGR Intel.
Rhode Island-based operator to offer vertical from November 2026, ending IGT’s monopoly in the Ocean State in the process
The post Report: Bally’s to launch new online sports betting site in Rhode Island first appeared on EGR Intel.