Legal Rhode Island Sportsbooks 2026: RI Sports Betting & Legislation Updates

Quick Summary of Online Sports Betting in Rhode Island

Rhode Island Online Sports Betting Updates

• September 8, 2025 – Sportsbook Rhode Island experienced a server outage for about 75 minutes on NFL Week 1; the Rhode Island Lottery said wagering was interrupted and later added a $5 bonus bet to customer accounts.

• August 5, 2025 – Rhode Island Attorney General Peter F. Neronha joined a bipartisan coalition of 50 attorneys general urging the U.S. Department of Justice to crack down on illegal offshore sportsbooks and gambling sites.

• July 29, 2025 – The Rhode Island Lottery issued RFI #25-04 seeking feedback from sports wagering service providers, signaling market evaluation ahead of the 2026 contract expiration.

• June 25, 2025 – The General Assembly’s House did not advance the Senate’s market-expansion bill, so Rhode Island remains a single-operator online sportsbook market at least through 2026.

• June 4–6, 2025 – The Senate passed an amended bill to prohibit renewal of the current exclusive contract after 2026 and to allow a competitive market with roughly 3–5 online sportsbooks; the measure later stalled in the House.

• May 1, 2025 – A Rhode Island Lottery–commissioned Spectrum Gaming Group study on the “optimal number” of online providers recommended opening the market (report discussed scenarios including multiple providers) and informed subsequent legislative efforts.

Popular Sports to Bet on in Rhode Island

Rhode Island may not have major professional teams of its own, but sports fans in the Ocean State are passionate and loyal. Most bettors follow nearby Boston and New York franchises, while NCAA basketball has a strong following thanks to in-state schools like Providence and Rhode Island - even though wagers on local college teams are prohibited. Below are the most popular sports to bet on in RI:

NFL Betting in Rhode Island

The New England Patriots dominate the football landscape in Rhode Island, with Gillette Stadium just a short drive north in Foxborough, Massachusetts. Many RI bettors also follow the New York Giants and New York Jets, especially those in the western parts of the state. NFL Sundays are some of the busiest betting days on the Sportsbook Rhode Island app.

NBA Betting in Rhode Island

Basketball is a major draw in Rhode Island, with the Boston Celtics enjoying a huge local fanbase. The Brooklyn Nets and New York Knicks also attract attention, particularly during playoff runs. NBA betting options include moneylines, spreads, player props, and live in-game wagers, making it a favorite sport for mobile bettors.

MLB Betting in Rhode Island

Baseball loyalty runs deep, and most Rhode Islanders back the Boston Red Sox. Still, plenty of fans also support the New York Yankees or New York Mets, creating lively rivalries within the state. MLB betting offers daily opportunities during the long season, with popular markets like run totals, player props, and futures on division titles.

NHL Betting in Rhode Island

Hockey is arguably the most popular sport in Rhode Island, with the Boston Bruins holding a special place in local fandom. Some older fans also carry loyalty to the Carolina Hurricanes, who were once the Hartford Whalers before relocating in 1997. Wagering on goals, player points, and live NHL betting are staples in the state.

NCAA Betting in Rhode Island

College basketball has deep roots in Rhode Island, with programs like Providence College and the University of Rhode Island attracting strong support. However, state law prohibits wagering on in-state college teams or games played within RI, limiting NCAA betting options to out-of-state schools and tournaments like March Madness.

Rhode Island Sports Betting Legislation

Rhode Island was one of the first states to legalize sports betting after the Supreme Court overturned PASPA in 2018. Lawmakers acted quickly, with Gov. Gina Raimondo signing sports betting into law as part of the state budget that summer. Retail betting launched later that year at the state’s two casinos, and online betting followed in 2019 with the launch of Sportsbook Rhode Island, operated through the Rhode Island Lottery in partnership with IGT and William Hill (now Caesars).

Sports betting in Rhode Island is unique in that it is treated as a state-run service, with revenue sharing split between the state government, IGT, and the casino operator. Bettors must be at least 18 years old, and while wagering is permitted on most professional sports, betting on in-state college teams or college games played in Rhode Island is strictly prohibited.

Rhode Island Sports Betting Timeline

• June 2018 - Gov. Gina Raimondo signs S2045, legalizing retail sports betting at Bally’s Twin River casinos.
• November 2018 - First retail sportsbook opens at Bally’s Tiverton Casino.
• December 2018 - Bally’s Twin River Lincoln opens its retail sportsbook.
• March 2019 - Gov. Raimondo signs SB37, legalizing online sports betting.
• September 2019 - Sportsbook Rhode Island app officially launches statewide.
• July 2020 - Gov. Raimondo signs SB2919/HB8097, removing in-person registration requirements for mobile betting.
• March 2024 - Rhode Island becomes the seventh state to launch online casinos, expanding the state’s gambling options beyond sports.

Other Rhode Island Betting Options

While Rhode Island’s sports betting options are limited compared to larger states, residents have access to several other legal forms of gambling. From the long-standing state lottery to online casinos and daily fantasy sports, there are multiple ways to wager beyond traditional sports betting.

Rhode Island Lottery

The Rhode Island Lottery, operating since 1974, is one of the oldest in the U.S. It offers instant win scratch-offs, draw games, and multi-state jackpots like Mega Millions and Powerball. Online options are also available through the state’s iLottery platform, making it easy for players to participate digitally.

Casinos

Rhode Island is home to two full-service casinos: Bally’s Twin River Lincoln and Bally’s Tiverton. Both venues feature slot machines, table games, poker, and retail sportsbooks. In March 2024, Rhode Island became the seventh state to launch online casinos, giving residents access to digital slots, table games, and live dealer experiences.

Horse Racing

Rhode Island no longer has active live horse racing tracks or off-track betting locations. However, residents can still wager on races nationwide via licensed online racebooks such as TVG and FanDuel Racing.

Daily Fantasy Sports (DFS)

DFS contests are legal in Rhode Island following a 2016 opinion by the state attorney general. Platforms like DraftKings and FanDuel operate in the state, offering daily fantasy competitions across major professional sports.

Social Sports Betting Sites in Rhode Island

Social sports betting sites in Rhode Island are fully legal and ready for players in the state to make their predictions. These sites are free to play at and use virtual currency to let players switch between playing for fun, or having a chance at redeeming prizes. Below are the social sportsbooks we recommend in Rhode Island.

Thrillzz Social Sportsbook

Thrillzz is live, legal and fully operational in Rhode Island. New signups can collect the welcome bonus of 3,000 Thrillzz Coins and 3 Thrillzz Sweeps just for signing up. With 33+ sports to choose from, players can make predictions on NFL, NBA, MLB, soccer, tennis and college sports alongside many other options.

Legendz Social Sportsbook

Legendz social sportsbook gives new players in Kansas a free welcome bonus of 500 GC and 3 SC when they sign up. There are plenty of sports for players to make picks on, from the major leagues like NFL and MLB, to more niche choices like tennis.

Onyx Odds Social Sportsbook

New players at Onyx Odds in Rhode Island can expect to receive 1,000 Onyx Coins as a free signup bonus. Players at Onyx Odds can make picks on popular sports, including NHL, MLB, NFL and college sports, to name a few.

Fliff Social Sportsbook

Fliff social sportsbook gives new players 5,000 Fliff Coins and 1 Fliff Cash to get started on making their sports picks. The Fliff Coins work like Gold Coins and the Fliff Cash is similar to Sweeps Coins in that when you collect enough eligible Fliff Cash, players can redeem prizes. There is a strong variety of sports to make picks on at this social sportsbook including all the major leagues and college sports.

Kickr Social Sportsbook

New signups at Kickr can collect a generous welcome bonus of 150,000 Bucks and 4 Bits totally free, just for signing up. Sports fans will be pleased to see all their favorite options are available to make picks on, including football, soccer, basketball, college sports and many more.

Prophet X Social Sportsbook

Prophet gives its new signups in Rhode Island up to 200 Prophet Cash in the first 30 days of signing up. This is great news for sports fans as they can use this free virtual currency to make predictions on one of the many sports the platform offers including favorites like NFL and NHL, plus combat sports like UFC and college sports too.

Pickem Social Sportsbook

New signups using Pickem in Rhode Island can receive 50,000 GC and 1SC totally free, which is more than enough to get started at this social sportsbook. Pickem has a lot to offer in terms of choice, covering some of the more niche sports like tennis, golf and esports, alongside major league sports like NFL, NBA and MLB etc.

Wanna Parlay Social Sportsbook

Wanna Parlay gives new signups the chance to enter free contests after joining up to the platform. This keeps things interesting for sports fans in Rhode Island who want to sign up. There is a good selection of sports available to make predictions on the platform, including NFL, NBA, and other major league sports alongside MMA and soccer options too.

DFS Sites in Rhode Island

Daily fantasy sports sites are also legally operating in Rhode Island, creating plenty of opportunities for sports fans to take part across a wide variety of sports. Some sites have social aspects where you can interact with other players, while others offer picks on the more niche sports out there. Below is our list of recommended DFS sites in Rhode Island.

Underdog

Underdog offers new Rhode Island players up to a generous $100 as a 100% first deposit match. Players have the opportunity to take part in a variety of contests such as Best Ball, Battle Royale or Pick ’Ems across a range of sports including NFL, NBA, college sports, soccer and esports.

ParlayPlay Fantasy

New players at ParlayPlay can get their hands on a $5 free credit for signing up, plus up to $100 as a 100% first deposit match. This platform has a broad selection of sports to make predictions on, including sports you don’t see offered everywhere like cricket and esports. There are plenty of contest options too, from the basics like Higher/Lower to Hit-It contests and Slide-The-Line.

DraftKings Fantasy

DraftKings Fantasy gives new players a chance to get $50 in picks credit if they deposit $5 and use it as their first paid entry. It’s a great place for peer-to-peer DFS where you can compete against other players. There are a huge variety of sports to pick from, including all the usuals like NFL and MLB, plus boxing, golf and NASCAR.

Sleeper Fantasy

New players Sleeper in Rhode Island can enjoy a 100% first deposit match up to $100. This platform allows players to make predictions both prior to sporting events and when the game has already started, which is always a positive.

PrizePicks Fantasy

The PrizePicks Fantasy welcome bonus gives new players a chance to collect $50 in lineups credit if they play $5 for their first lineup. They have the chance to compete at Pick ’Ems, Pick ‘Em Arena, Flex Play and Power Play on a choice of sports including MLB, NHL, NFL and NBA, plus soccer, UFC and some esports.

Dabble Fantasy

Dabble Fantasy really focuses on the social side of DFS, allowing its members to follow other members, copy their picks by simply clicking a button, and they have the opportunity to discuss everything sports related in the chat rooms. They cover all the major league sports, soccer and esports.

Wanna Parlay Fantasy

Wanna Parlay Fantasy gives their new players a 100% deposit match up to $250 for their first deposit. This platform has a variety of ways to compete including Hero Contests, Parlay Royale and even free-to-play contests. There’s also a good variety of sports available to make picks on including NFL, NBA, MLB, NHL, combat sports and college sports.

Bleacher Nation Fantasy

New players at Bleacher Nation Fantasy can enjoy a 50% deposit match bonus up to $250. Players can go head-to-head or compete in rivals contests for sports such as NFL, NBA and MLB.

Betr Picks

Betr gives new players $10 credit for free when they sign up. There are plenty of contests to keep sports fans entertained, there is also a “group mode” and options to make live entries. Sporting markets offered include NFL, NBA, MLB, NHL, UFC and golf, so there’s a good variety for all sports fans.  

Retail Betting Locations in Rhode Island

Rhode Island has two retail sportsbooks, both located inside Bally’s casinos. These venues offer live betting kiosks, large screens for game viewing, and the ability to wager in person on a wide range of sports.

• Bally’s Twin River Lincoln - 100 Twin River Road, Lincoln, RI 02865
• Bally’s Tiverton - 777 Tiverton Casino Blvd., Tiverton, RI 02878

Rhode Island sports betting FAQ