Online Gambling in Rhode Island: Laws, Forms, and Player Behavior

Online poker is legal in Rhode Island, with legislation passed in 2023. However, the state operates under a monopoly with Bally's Corporation as the sole licensed operator. Despite the legal framework, no real-money online poker platforms have launched. This is primarily due to the state's requirement for live dealers for all online table games, which makes a traditional online poker room impractical. Rhode Island is also not part of the Multi-State Internet Gaming Agreement (MSIGA), which would allow it to share player pools with other states like New Jersey. As a result, regulated online poker is not currently available to players in the state.

The Rhode Island Lottery is legal, overseen by the State Lottery Division. It is a charter member of the Multi-State Lottery Association (MUSL) and offers national draw games like Powerball and Mega Millions, as well as state-specific games like Wild Money and Keno. The state also offers an online iLottery service for eInstant games and Keno, but online ticket sales for traditional draw games are not available. The legal age to play the lottery in Rhode Island is 18. The lottery's proceeds are used to fund public programs and services.

Charitable bingo is legal in Rhode Island and is regulated by the State Police Charitable Gaming Unit. To host an event, a nonprofit organization must have a valid license and have been chartered for at least two years. There are specific rules regarding prize limits, event frequency, and the number of games that can be played at a single event. The legal age to participate in charitable bingo is 18. Additionally, online bingo is available through the state's iLottery platform, categorized as an eInstant game.

Charitable gaming is legal in Rhode Island under the regulation of the State Police Charitable Gaming Unit. Permitted games include raffles, bazaars, and bingo. Games like “Las Vegas nights” are not allowed. Only licensed nonprofit organizations are permitted to hold these events, and all net proceeds must be used for charitable purposes. The legal age to participate is 18. All raffle applications must first be submitted to the local police department before being sent to the Charitable Gaming Unit for final approval.

Daily Fantasy Sports are legal and widely accessible in Rhode Island. While the state has not passed specific legislation to regulate DFS, the Rhode Island Attorney General's office has determined that DFS is a game of skill, not a game of chance. This classification means it is exempt from the state's traditional gambling laws. As a result, major DFS platforms operate freely. The minimum age to participate in DFS in Rhode Island is 18.

Private, non-commercial social gambling is legal in Rhode Island. Games like home poker or friendly sports pools are permitted as long as the host does not take a “house cut” or profit from the event in any way. These activities are not formally regulated by any state agency, but are distinguished from illegal gambling operations based on the non-commercial nature of the event.

Rhode Island has two land-based casinos: Bally's Twin River Lincoln and Bally's Tiverton Casino & Hotel. Both venues offer slots, table games, and live poker rooms, as well as in-person sports betting. The legal gambling age for land-based casinos is 18. The State Lottery oversees the gaming operations, with Bally's serving as the state's exclusive commercial operator.