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. However there are several other sports betting and gaming operators that you can play with, however these are not traditional sportsbooks but rather social sportsbooks and fantasy sports apps.

Rank	Operator	Welcome Bonus
#1	Thrillzz Social Sportsbook	Spend $10, Get $30 in Sweeps Coins
#2	Sleeper Fantasy	100% Deposit Match up to $1,500
#3	Underdog Fantasy	First Time Deposit Offer up to $1,000 in Bonus Cash
#4	Betr Picks Fantasy	Get a 100% First Deposit Match Up To $200 + Free Pick
#5	Rebet Social Sportsbook	Get $100 in rebet Cash, Just for Signing Up
#6	PrizePicks Fantasy	Get a $100 Deposit Bonus!
#7	Fliff Social Sportsbook	100% match on your First Purchase up to $100 in Fliff cash, plus 600,000 in Fliff Coins
#8	Boom Fantasy	Get a Refund Up To $100 If Your First Entry Loses
#9	Dabble Fantasy	Receive $25 When you Sign up with Dabble – No Deposit Necessary
#10	Sportzino Social Sportsbook	Get up to 1,570,000 Gold Coins + 45 FREE Sweeps Coins upon signup

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.

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 are other legal ways to take part in sports betting and gaming through social sportsbooks and fantasy sports. Are recommendations for the best providers of both of these formats are below.

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.

Best Rhode Island DFS Apps

Firstly, DFS is a long running method of sports gaming that precedes the legalization of sports betting in the United States. All of these DFS apps are legal, safe and have excellent welcome offers so you can get started with bonuses.

Underdog DFS

See our full rundown of the Underdog Fantasy Promo Code.

Sleeper DFS

Check out our full rundown of the Sleeper Fantasy Promo Code.

Betr Picks DFS

Find out more about the Betr Picks Fantasy Promo Code in our full rundown.

PrizePicks DFS

Discover more on the PrizePicks Fantasy Promo Code in our full rundown.

Boom DFS

Get the full rundown on the Boom Fantasy Promo Code.

ParlayPlay DFS

Get all you need to know in our full rundown of the ParlayPlay Promo Code.

Dabble DFS

Check the full rundown of the Dabble Fantasy Promo Code.

Are Social Sportsbooks Legal in Rhode Island?

There are also plenty of options for social and sweepstakes play in Rhode Island, offering a wider range of online sports gaming than just the sportsbook run by the state lottery. Social Sportsbooks differ from regular sportsbooks in that players use in-game currency such as gold coins and sweeps coins to play, while the names of the currency can vary depending on the brand, generally speaking gold coins are free to play with, while sweeps coins can be redeemed for cash prizes.

Best Rhode Island Social Sportsbooks

All the social sportsbooks we recommend are completely legal and legitimate in Rhode Island. They are all tested and trusted by us, so you can be confident they are safe, secure and offer an excellent sports gaming experience.

Thrillz Social Sportsbook

See our full rundown of the Thrillzz Social Sportsbook Promo Code.

Rebet Social Sportsbook

Get everything you need to know in our full rundown of the Rebet Social Sportsbook Promo Code.

Fliff Social Sportsbook

Check out our full rundown of the Fliff Social Sportsbook Promo Code.

Sportzino Social Sportsbook

Find all the information you need for the Sportzino Social Sportsbook Promo Code in our full rundown.

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

It is really simple to sign up for a new account at either a fantasy sports app or social sportsbook in Rhode Island. Here we will look at the process for new bettors in the state step by step.

1. First, select an operator you would like to sign up with – remember to use one of our links to claim your welcome bonus
2. You will need to enter personal information like your name, address, phone number, date of birth and other details to sign up. This will include creating your username and password.
3. You typically get 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, although this may come later depending on the operator.
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 play.

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.

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.