Rhode Island Bills Aim to Open Betting Market, Curb Underage Play

Busting the Betting Monopoly

Bills S 748, led by Senate Majority Leader Frank Ciccone, and H 6048, backed by Rep. Matthew Dawson, would let Rhode Island Lottery pick new vendors when IGT’s contract ends in November 2026. The Senate’s plan calls for two to five new operators, down from the House’s original push for five.

“It’s a way of cleaning it up,” Ciccone said, noting the lottery’s open to options. Dawson’s blunt: “People are gonna gamble. We gotta get our cut.”

With state betting revenue dipping 25% to $19.2 million in 2024, and gripes about Sportsbook RI’s clunky app, lawmakers see competition from firms like DraftKings as a fix.

The Senate’s S 748 sailed through committee 7-0 and awaits a floor vote, but the House’s H 6048 hit a snag, stalled in the Finance Committee since May 1 for “further study.”

House Speaker K. Joseph Shekarchi says the law might not be needed until IGT’s deal expires, but he’ll review it post-Senate vote. Some insiders think both bills might stall until 2026 if momentum fizzles.

A lottery report backs adding four to six vendors to compete with Massachusetts’ seven, but Rhode Island’s 51% tax rate could scare off big players.

Clamping Down on Underage Betting

Another pair of bills, S 623 by Ciccone and H 5643 by Rep. Gregory Costantino, would slap tougher penalties on anyone letting folks under 21 bet online, targeting Bally’s, the state’s sole online casino operator.

S 623 proposes up to a year in jail and a $1,000 fine, pushed by state police to enforce the 21-and-up rule set in 2023 when iGaming launched.

“Younger people want more options,” Ciccone said of betting trends, but he’s firm on protecting kids from addiction risks. H 5643 cleared the House Judiciary Committee 10-5, though no floor votes are set for either bill yet.

The underage gambling crackdown’s got critics. The ACLU of Rhode Island calls it overkill, arguing 18-to-20-year-olds, legal in land-based casinos, could unknowingly break the law online, labeling it a “victimless crime.”

The 21-online, 18-in-person age split’s a sticking point. Some lawmakers share the worry, fearing unfair traps for young adults. Meanwhile, experts like analyst Kelly warn more betting apps could spike problem gambling: “If you make gambling easier, addiction goes up.” Ciccone’s open to mandating vendor funds for addiction programs if issues grow.