Rhode Island Sports Betting 2024

Rhode Island was one of the first states in the US to offer legal sports betting in 2018 after the federal ban was lifted. However, there are fewer legal Rhode Island sports betting options than in many other states.

There are only three ways to place a legal sports bet in Rhode Island. There are two retail casinos open and one online option. The bricks-and-mortar casinos are both Bally’s properties, with the sportsbook run by IGT/William Hill. Sportsbook Rhode Island, controlled by the state lottery, is the only option for mobile sports betting in RI.

Is it legal to gamble on sports in Rhode Island?

The first question any sports fan looking to gamble on sports in the Ocean State must ask is whether sports betting is legal in Rhode Island. The answer is that sports betting has been legal in RI since 2018, making the state an early arrival on the legal sports betting scene. Still, the evolution of sports betting in RI has been slow compared to many other states.

Best online Rhode Island sports betting sites

Since the only available sportsbooks in Rhode Island are the two Bally’s bricks-and-mortar locations and the app provided by the state lottery, none of our highest recommended sports betting sites are available in the state. Still, there is scope for changes in Rhode Island sports betting, and more options may become available shortly. Here we will review our top options for legal sports betting in the US, with the speculative hope that these operators will offer online gambling in RI soon.

1. DraftKings Sportsbook

Despite DraftKings Sportsbook not being available in Rhode Island, its daily fantasy sports (DFS) platform is. Anyone who has played DFS on DraftKings can tell you that the brand has extensive expertise in offering one of the industry’s best online sports gambling experiences.

You can tell that DraftKings has learned a thing or two over the years of DFS operation, and it carries over into the sportsbook. The browser and app versions of the platform are intuitive and easy to use. You will find one of the best selections of sports and bet types and as good of a rewards program that exists throughout the industry.

In states where DraftKings Sportsbook operates, a generous $150 in bonus bets is offered for a $5 initial wager on any team’s money line if they win the game. As is standard for these offers, only the winnings on these bonus bets are collected, not the amount wagered. We would expect to see similar promotions available to RI bettors if/when DraftKings launches in the state.

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2. Bet365 Sportsbook

With over 20 years of experience, Bet365 is one of the longest-standing entities in online sports betting. This is a significant factor for bettors looking for an established platform they can trust.

We have found the mobile app, compatible with Android and iPhone, to be among the most aesthetically pleasing and easy to use in the industry. Bet365 offers many perks, such as live streaming, early payouts, odds boosts and an excellent in-game betting selection. We have also noted that tennis and soccer promotions are particularly lucrative at Bet365.

In states where Bet365 is active, the welcome bonus is quite generous. With a $10 deposit and a $1 bet, $200 in bonus bets are offered whether your bet wins or loses. As is standard, you will only collect the winnings on these bets, not the money wagered.

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3. FanDuel Sportsbook

FanDuel has a lot in common with DraftKings because the brand is known for its DFS product, which is available in Rhode Island.  RI residents who enjoy DFS will be familiar with the FanDuel platform. 

One of the main things you will note in the DFS experience is that it is straightforward to pick up for novice users. The famous DFS brand has taken the same aesthetic into its FanDuel Sportsbook product, with a simple and clean interface that is easy to understand and navigate.

There is an excellent selection of deposit and withdrawal options and amicable customer service with quick response times. The selection of bet types and sports to bet on is considerable. You can even bet on player fantasy performance using FanDuel’s DFS scoring system, a unique feature for online sportsbooks.

FanDuel Sportsbook offers lucrative deposit bonuses in the states where it operates. New bettors in many states can get a $1,000 No Sweat First Bet, which provides first-bet insurance. We would anticipate similar offers being available were FanDuel Sportsbook to open for RI sports betting.

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4. Caesars Sportsbook

Though Caesars does not offer Rhode Island sports betting, most sports fans will be familiar with the Caesars brand of properties. As one of the most respected providers of luxury hospitality and casino experiences to loyal customers, Caesars has brought significant expertise to the sportsbook arena.

The mobile app and desktop platforms are intuitive, well organized and operate with excellent responsiveness. It is easy to find the wide range of sports and bet types available and access banking and customer service. Caesars is known for its particularly generous rewards program, and rewards earned on the sportsbook extend to the Caesars line of properties and vice versa.

New sports bettors in active states can sign up for Caesars and receive $1,250 in bet credits. If you lose your first bet of up to $1,250, you’ll receive bonus bets equal to your stake within two business days. Upon Caesars’ potential launch in RI, similar offers should be available for new sign-ups.

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How to sign-up for a sports betting account in Rhode Island?

It is elementary to sign up for a new sports betting account at a sportsbook in RI. Here we will look at the process for new bettors in the state step by step.

1. First, select a sportsbook you would like to sign up for and navigate to the welcome page of the sportsbook. You can click the links to our top sportsbook options in this guide and bet on them in the states where they operate. None are available yet in Rhode Island, so you will need to use Sportsbook Rhode Island while in the state.
2. You will need to enter personal information like your name, address, phone number, date of birth and other details to sign up for the sportsbook. This will include your username and password.
3. Sportsbooks will generally send you a verification email with a link to click to verify your account. They will also ask for additional details, such as a photocopy of your ID and proof of address. These details will be needed to withdraw funds, although you can generally deposit and bet before providing them.
4. Once you have verified your account, you can deposit and claim the welcome bonuses available to you. There may be a field to enter a promo code. Be sure to enter this code where applicable to receive your bonuses. Now you are ready to place wagers, and we will go into this process in detail later in this guide.

Best Rhode Island sports betting mobile apps

While none of our recommended sportsbooks are available in Rhode Island, we hope to see more options in RI shortly. We have extensively reviewed the mobile apps of all of our top choices in states where they are active. Let’s take a look at each one.

1. DraftKings Sportsbook mobile app

As a long-standing DFS brand, DraftKings has a lot of experience in app development. The app is available for Android and iOS and is very easy to use and similar to the web experience. Please remember that you cannot download gambling apps from the Google Play Store, so you will need to download the Android app directly from the DraftKings website.

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2. Bet365 Sportsbook mobile app

The Bet365 Sportsbook mobile app is available for iOS and Android, and we have experienced no difference in responsiveness based on the operating system. It is easy to navigate to common wager types like money lines, point spreads and totals (over/under), yet less standard options are also simple to access. 

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3. FanDuel Sportsbook mobile app

Only DraftKings had the same experience in app development leading into legal sports gambling as FanDuel. This is apparent in the sleek and easily operable FanDuel Sportsbook mobile app. The app works excellently on both iOS and Android devices.

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4. Caesars Sportsbook mobile app

Response times on the Caesars Sportsbook mobile app are on par with BetRivers, meaning some of the fastest in the industry. One place where Caesars particularly shines is with the mobile bet slip itself, which is as easy to populate and read as we have seen. The app is available for iOS and Android, with great user reviews.

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5. BetMGM Sportsbook mobile app

One of the better features of the BetMGM app is live streaming of select sporting events right from the app, including a more admirable selection than at some sportsbooks offering this feature. The app is available for Android and iOS and has experienced significant improvements since a 2022 revamp. 

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Best Rhode Island sports betting promo codes and bonuses

While none of our highest-recommended sportsbooks are open in Rhode Island, we can look at the welcome bonuses offered in states where they operate. It is worth keeping in mind that Rhode Island residents can bet at the sportsbooks when located in states where they are active.

1. DraftKings Sportsbook promo codes and bonuses

DraftKings Sportsbook $150 for $5 wagered on any team’s money line if they win on any sport or bet type in states of operation.

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2. Bet365 Sportsbook promo codes and bonuses

Deposit $10, bet $1 and claim $200 in bonus bets at Bet365 in active states.

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3. FanDuel Sportsbook promo codes and bonuses

In states of operation, a No Sweat First Bet of up to $1,000 from FanDuel Sportsbook is offered to new sign-ups.

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4. Caesars Sportsbook promo codes and bonuses

New Caesars sign-ups can enjoy a second-chance bet of up to $1,250 in eligible states.

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5. BetMGM Sportsbook promo codes and bonuses

A second-chance $1,000 wager is offered to new sign-ups in applicable states by BetMGM.

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How to bet on sports online in Rhode Island?

It is a straightforward process to place a bet online in Rhode Island. Still, we will walk you through it step by step.

Upon signing into the sportsbook, you will see a list of sports available to bet on; select a sport you are interested in.

You will now see a list of games available for wagering, and you will see lines and odds on common bet types like money lines, point spreads, and totals (over/under).

Select a bet you would like to place, and you will see it populate on the bet slip of the sportsbook. You can add additional bets to place as single wagers or as part of a parlay.

You can then select the amount you would like to bet on each wager, and you will see the amount you would stand to win on the bet slip.

Once you are happy with your selections, submit your bet, which will then be available for tracking on your account.

Legal Rhode Island sports betting legislation timeline

• 2018: The sports betting bill S 2045, sponsored by various senators, was introduced in January 2018. This bill would allow the Rhode Island Lottery to operate RI sports betting at two state retail casinos. Rhode Island sports betting was passed into law on June 22.
  
• 2019: It became apparent to state officials in 2019 that RI sports betting being limited to retail locations resulted in a significant loss of revenue. A new bill, S37, was introduced, allowing online sports betting, also through the Rhode Island Lottery. This bill was passed through the Senate and House and signed into law in March 2019 by Governor Gina Raimondo.

Where can I bet on sports in Rhode Island?

The options are pretty limited for legal Rhode Island sports betting. There is only one online provider, Sportsbook Rhode Island, and the same entity controls two retail locations.

• Sportsbook Rhode Island
• Bally’s Tiverton
• Bally’s Twin River Lincoln

Can you bet in person in Rhode Island?

There are two bricks-and-mortar sportsbook locations in Rhode Island. Both are operated by IGT/William Hill through the Rhode Island Lottery and are located in Bally’s properties.

Casino	Sportsbook	Address
Bally’s Tiverton	IGT/William Hill	777 Tiverton Casino Blvd, Tiverton, RI 02878
Bally’s Twin River Lincoln	IGT/William Hill	100 Twin River Rd, Lincoln, RI 02865

Can you bet on college sports in Rhode Island?

While you can bet on college sports in Rhode Island, wagering on in-state teams is exclusively prohibited. There are no exceptions, including significant tournaments. Still, unlike some states, you can bet on college sports if the events don’t involve in-state teams.

Betting on Rhode Island teams

While there are no major professional sports teams in Rhode Island, the state does boast four colleges with NCAA Division I teams. Yet, you can’t bet on these teams due to the regulations for Rhode Island sports betting. Allegiances in Rhode Island tend toward Massachusetts teams, but those on the state’s western side may root for New York squads. 

Rhode Island NFL betting

In the NFL, popular favorites in Rhode Island include the New England Patriots, New York Giants and New York Jets. Our top sportsbooks have excellent NFL betting options such as money lines, point spreads, totals (over/under), parlays and more.

Rhode Island NBA betting

In Rhode Island, the Boston Celtics, Brooklyn Nets and New York Knicks are popular NBA favorites. The sportsbooks we recommend offer a wide array of NBA options, such as money lines, point spreads, totals (over/under), in-game betting, props and more. 

Rhode Island MLB betting

The Boston Red Sox, New York Mets and New York Yankees are top baseball favorites in RI. MLB fans in RI can enjoy common bets like money lines and run lines (the baseball version of a point spread), totals (over/under), parlays, props, futures and more at our recommended sportsbooks. 

Rhode Island NHL betting

NHL teams such as the Boston Bruins, New York Rangers and New York Islanders are popular favorites in Rhode Island. Common hockey bets available at our highest-ranked sportsbooks include the money line, puck line (the hockey version of a point spread), totals (over/under), props, futures and more.

Rhode Island college teams

Division I Rhode Island NCAA football and basketball teams include the Brown Bears, Bryant Bulldogs, Providence Friars and Rhode Island Rams. While betting on in-state college teams is prohibited in Rhode Island, RI residents can bet on them in neighboring states with legalized sports betting, such as Connecticut.

Who can bet on sports in Rhode Island?

Rhode Island is different from many states in that the legal betting age is 18 instead of 21. Bettors from out of state can bet at Rhode Island sportsbooks when located in the state. Rhode Island residents in states where sports betting is not legal cannot place bets at Rhode Island sportsbooks.

Do you have to pay sports betting taxes on winnings in Rhode Island?

You do need to pay federal and state taxes on sports betting winnings in Rhode Island. Winnings on any single wager paying at least 300 times the amount wagered with a total payout of at least $600 are reported to the IRS.

Since there is only one sportsbook operator in the state, it is easy to go by its exact policy. Sportsbook Rhode Island will withhold taxes automatically on winnings over $5,000 equaling at least 300 times the amount wagered. Bettors must come to one of the two physical sportsbook locations in the state to complete their W-2G forms on winnings.

How does Rhode Island sports betting compare with Connecticut?

Connecticut offers a far more comprehensive selection of legal sports betting options than Rhode Island, with top providers like FanDuel Sportsbook and DraftKings Sportsbook open for business. One fundamental similarity between the states is that betting on in-state college teams is banned in both. However, Connecticut does make exceptions for major tournaments, unlike Rhode Island. A drive over the border to Connecticut is a viable option for Rhode Island bettors looking to wager using many of our top recommended sportsbooks.

Can you play fantasy sports in Rhode Island?

Fantasy sports are legal and available to play in Rhode Island. This is particularly important since Rhode Island sports betting options are limited, so sports gambling enthusiasts may be more likely to seek alternatives. Popular sites like FanDuel and DraftKings offer excellent daily fantasy sports (DFS) platforms.

Anyone who has played season-long fantasy will have a feel for how DFS works. Unlike in sports betting, you construct your team of individual players from multiple teams. Key differences are that DFS is a daily game, and you also have to work within the constraints of a salary cap. We recommend Fantasy Alarm as a top option for fantasy sports information and advice.