Rhode Island Lawmakers Considering Sports Betting Expansion

• Members of the Rhode Island Senate approved a bill to expand the state’s online sports betting market
• The legislation will expand the state’s online sports betting platforms from one to potentially five
• Rhode Island is currently contracted with International Game Technology to be its sole online sports betting operator

The Rhode Island Senate has taken a large step towards potentially expanding Little Rhody’s online sports betting market in 2026.

Members of the Senate Wednesday afternoon approved SB 748, a bill to expand the state’s online sports betting from one operator to potentially a maximum of five, by a 30-3 vote.

Currently, the only contract Rhode Island has with an online sports betting operator is with International Game Technology (IGT).

Expanding Rhode Island’s Sports Betting Market

If approved by the Rhode Island House of Representatives, SB 748 would open up the state’s online sports betting market to more than one operator for the first time since it launched in 2019.

The Rhode Island Senate approved an amendment to the original bill that set the total number of online sports betting operators at no more than five, but no less than three operators if approved. The amendment also disallows the state to renew its sports betting contract with IGT after Jan. 31, 2026. The original bill set the renewal deadline at July 1, 2026.

New operators will apply for sports betting licenses and be awarded them through a competitive licensing process.

“With legalized sports betting flourishing across the country, there is ample evidence on how this new industry works best for consumers and the state. And what we are seeing is that having only one company exclusively operate is not in the best interests of consumers or from a revenue generating standpoint. This bill will give our state’s sports bettors the options that they are clamoring for and in turn, will hopefully strengthen the revenue generated from sports betting in Rhode Island and not across the border in Massachusetts,” House Leader Sen. Frank A. Ciccone (D-7) recently said.

IGT Currently Only Operator

Rhode Island legislators approved sports betting in the state in 2019 soon after the repeal of PASPA, but never allowed an open market.

The contract with IGT has led to the company being the only operator in the stateRhode Island requires IGT to pay a 51% tax rate on its sports betting revenues.

By opening up the market, popular operators such as FanDuel and DraftKings could potentially enter the state for the first time, but approval isn’t certain.

The House version of the bill, HB 6048, however, has long been stalled in committee.