Rhode Island Online Gambling Sites 2024
The Rhode Island online gambling industry is widely open and accepting of residents from within the state and outside of it. With many forms of online gambling in RI, they feature laxer rules than much of the country. Full online casino gambling became regulated in March 2024 as the newest addition of Rhode Island online gambling sites, as their demand for further regulation decreases. While Rhode Island enjoys the gambling freedoms of states like New Jersey or Pennsylvania, its residents can still legally gamble online with mobile betting sites outside of the country. While state regulations might prohibit certain types of online gambling (think betting on RI colleges at local sportsbooks), these international sites follow rules in different jurisdictions. Because of this, Rhode Island residents can play poker online, slots, blackjack, and all other types of casino gaming, horse wagering, and sports gambling.
StateRhode Island
Population1.059 Million
Largest Gambling CitiesProvidence
Number Of Land Based Casinos2
Gambling Revenue$9.4 Million
State Licensed DFSYes
State Licensed Sports BettingYes
Land Based Poker Rooms2
Lottery ServicesYes
Mobile Betting OptionsSports Betting, Daily Fantasy, Casinos
Best Rhode Island Gambling Sites
At USAOnlineGambling, we review dozens of different Rhode Island gambling sites looking for the best possible playing experiences for our players. It is important to cast a wide net with our reviews, as there are dozens of different sites claiming to be the best, but only a small handful that are actually worth visiting. We test each site thoroughly to ensure that they live up to important quality standards. To earn a USAOnlineGambling recommendation, a site must offer both a high-quality experience and a trustworthy one, as we stake our reputation on these recommendations.
After universal quality standards have been assured, the next step is differentiating between multiple sites of high quality. This is trickier than it sounds, and there’s no foolproof way of making a concrete recommendation when every site has its own distinct advantages and drawbacks. Every player has their own preferences in a gambling site, so the best gambling site for one might not be the best for another. For example, if one Rhode Island resident only plays online poker, the best website for them will be different than one who only plays slots.
Best Online Sportsbooks
Top Online Casinos In The USA
Best Online Poker Sites That Accept US Players
How We Pick The Best Rhode Island Gambling Sites
Different Types Of Online Gambling In Rhode Island
Any form of gambling you can imagine being available at a casino is also available legally online. Since Rhode Island is one of the few states with legal online gambling for sports betting, casino play, and pari-mutuel wagering, the breadth of options has helped online gambling grow into a massive industry. Here are a few of the most popular forms of online gambling.
Rhode Island Online Casinos
Rhode Island became the seventh state to regulate online casinos, when Bally's launched an iGaming app in March 2024. Residents 21 and over who are located within the state can play. Bally's partnered with Stakelogic table game software as well as live dealer software. Outside of that app, the only online casinos in Rhode Island are those hosted outside of the United States. International online casinos offer every imaginable form of casino gaming, from roulette wheels to poker tables and slot machines to real money online blackjack tables. With player bases numbering in the hundreds of thousands or even in the millions, USA online casinos like Ignition and Bovada can afford to offer better payout rates, better security, and more betting types to their players than Bally's Casino ever could.
Best Casino Site In Rhode Island: Ignition Casino
Benefits of Rhode Island Online Casinos:
Rhode Island Online Sportsbooks
Rhode Island is one of the increasing number of states to offer legal online sports betting. Although there are no major professional or college sports teams in Rhode Island, the northeast is enough of a hotbed for sporting activity to support a successful sports betting industry for the state. There are only two casino sportsbooks in Rhode Island, each of which operates its own online sportsbook as well. Unfortunately, both of these online sportsbooks require that players register in-person at the casino before they can gamble online.
Global online sportsbooks that accept Rhode Island residents offer a preferable, hassle-free alternative to this convoluted process. These international sportsbooks will accept all players who are at least 18 years old and can show valid proof of ID. As with online casinos in general, online sportsbooks for US players have more resources to offer a better quality of experience. For example, online sportsbooks can offer extensive live betting options because they have enough global players that there is guaranteed to be a market for it. They can also offer betting odds in RI on unconventional sports like Australian rules football or cricket, and betting odds involving local, northeastern teams are not skewed by regional bias.
Top Online Sportsbook in Rhode Island: Bovada Sportsbook
Benefits of Rhode Island Sportsbooks:
Rhode Island Online Poker Sites
While there aren’t any state-licensed online poker sites in Rhode Island, residents can still play at internationally licensed poker sites like Ignition. There are also several nearby states with legal online poker, including New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Delaware. To play online poker, all you need to do is register an account with a USA online poker site, then download that site’s poker software. This will give you access to a wide array of poker variants to play either against a computer dealer or against other players all over the world at their live dealer poker sites for Americans. The advent of online poker has made the game more popular and accessible than ever before.
Best Site to Play Poker in Rhode Island: Ignition Poker
Benefits of Rhode Island Online Poker:
Rhode Island Online Bingo
Bingo is still hugely popular in the United States, but its primary demographics skew older. As a result, online bingo in Rhode Island has not exactly seen runaway success. Still, most major online casinos do offer one or more forms of online bingo. Ignition, for example, has 11 different variants of instant play bingo. Some websites even offer live dealer bingo, although the appeal of a live dealer for bingo is limited. The primary selling points at USA online bingo sites are the fact that you never have to wait for a large group of people to organize a game, and the overall pace of play is much faster.
Best Bingo Site for Rhode Island Players: Slots LV Casino
Benefits of Rhode Island Online Bingo:
Rhode Island Online Slots
Online slots have proven to be just as popular as their physical counterparts. Rhode Island offers licensed slot play online, meaning Bally's can be a spot to play. But, their offerings are slim, which is we why recommend using online casinos that have hundreds of different slots on offer. Online slots do not require expensive machinery or large amounts of physical space, meaning that they are much more cost-efficient than slots at brick-and-mortar casinos. As a result, payout rates for USA online slot sites are generally much better. Additionally, most online slots allow players to set their own wager level so that players can bet what they are comfortable with.
Best Slots Website in Rhode Island: Slots LV Casino
Benefits of Rhode Island Online Slots:
Rhode Island Online Horse Racing
Rhode Island used to have several of the most lucrative horse racing tracks in the country, but all have now either shut down completely or pivoted to greyhound racing. Rhode Island’s two casinos still offer simulcasting of horse races at other tracks, but the heyday of Rhode Island’s live horse racing scene is long past. Still, legal online pari-mutuel betting is available using local platforms, as well as numerous international online racebooks. Twin Spires and TVG offer a better selection of local and regional races, while the globally-based US online horse betting sites offer more player-friendly odds on major horse racing events around the world.
Best Online Racebook in Rhode Island: Bovada Racebook
Benefits of Rhode Island Online Horse Racing:
Rhode Island Online Lottery
Online lottery tickets in Rhode Island are not offered by any of the state-run organizations, with many of the global casinos that are highlighted on this page for various other categories offering some type of online lottery games in RI. These USA online lottery sites offer both scratch-offs and lottery-esque games that offer large wins quickly. Of course, many of the best sites to buy lottery tickets in Rhode Island are fully functional casinos, so players could always try their hand at slots if they want a different type of fast game that allows residents to win big.
Best Lottery Site in Rhode Island: BetOnline Casino
Benefits of Rhode Island Online Scratch Offs:
Rhode Island Online DFS
Daily fantasy sports (DFS) emerged as an alternative to traditional fantasy sports in the mid-2010s and have since supplanted traditional fantasy. The Rhode Island Legislature ruled in 2016 that online daily fantasy sports games were completely legal, and all major DFS providers now operate within Rhode Island, including DraftKings and FanDuel. While Rhode Island levies heavy taxes and fees on its casino and sports betting operators, its regulations on DFS providers have been laxer and have allowed competition within the state to flourish.
Benefits of Rhode Island Online DFS:
Is It Legal To Use Bovada In Rhode Island?
Rhode Island only has two major casinos, and that means that a lot of gamblers are left without easy access to a casino. Bovada is an industry leader in online casino services, but is it legal for Rhode Island residents to use Bovada? The general rule is yes, but there are some things to note. Bovada is not licensed in RI like Bally's is. But, that doesn't stop you from using their service because they are located outside of the United States, and thus able to continue operation.
Mobile Gambling In Rhode Island
Mobile gambling is available and legal in Rhode Island. The Twin Rivers and Tiverton casinos offer a mobile sports betting app. Bally's provides an iGaming service. Also, major horse racing sites offer apps to bet horses to RI. Other real money gambling apps circle around daily fantasy providers like DraftKings and FanDuel. Out of these options, none of them offer all forms of online gambling. Using a gambling site online like Bovada makes it easier to find all of your gambling needs in one location.
Mobile Sports Betting Apps
Mobile sports betting is available through all Rhode Island online sportsbook websites, but the best websites to use are those that invest in developing mobile sites with interfaces optimized to work with a touch screen. International online sportsbooks like Bovada and BetOnline cannot offer downloadable apps in American app stores, but they have done an excellent job developing mobile sites that look and function just like apps without requiring a download.
Real Money Online Gambling Sites In Rhode Island
Real money gambling sites in Rhode Island are available for any type of gambling that residents could ever want. There are both state-run and internationally-based gambling sites that payout in RI in a myriad of ways. For credit card users, either type of real money gambling website would work, although the limited fees at RI-based sites does give them an edge. Where national US real money gambling sites stand out is essentially every other payout method, specifically crypto. Cryptocurrency gambling sites in Rhode Island allow players to bet with real money, fast. Our experts at USAonlinegambling.com recommend crypto because of the fast payouts and non-existent fees.
Free Online Gambling In Rhode Island
The two most popular forms of free online gambling in Rhode Island are downloadable casino games apps with a simulated bankroll and daily fantasy sports contests. The downloadable apps are good for a few minutes of entertainment, but the DFS games offer a layered strategy. Some DFS sites even offer free entry tournaments with real money prizes, meaning that you can win money without risking any. Outside of these two options, the best way to gamble online for free is to play free versions of casino games at real money gambling sites like XBet. By practicing at a free US online gambling site with a simulated bankroll, you can gain a better understanding of both the payout rates for each game and the systems behind the game.
Is Online Gambling Legal In Rhode Island?
Yes, online gambling is legal in Rhode Island. Daily fantasy sports were the first form of online gambling officially approved by the state in 2016. DFS legalization did not require a new piece of legislation; Rhode Island Attorney General Peter Kilmartin found that DFS was legal under pre-existing Rhode Island laws. A few years after that landmark case, the state legislature passed RI S.B. 37, which authorized both retail and online sports betting.
Additional forms of online gambling are also legal in Rhode Island via internationally regulated gambling websites. While there are state laws in place against online casino gaming, these international websites are not subject to either state or federal anti-gambling laws. As a result, they are completely legal and accessible to all Rhode Island players. The only restrictions are a requirement that players have proof of ID and be at least 18 years old. If you are still concerned that gambling with these sites is not explicitly legal under Rhode Island law, know that no state in the country has ever prosecuted an individual simply for gambling online. Anti-gambling laws are in place to impede operators, not players.
Online Gambling Laws In Rhode Island
Like most northeastern states, gambling has always existed in Rhode Island. The first few decades of operation were under-the-table and operated by the wealthy and by organized crime syndicates. Pari-mutuel wagering was regulated in 1934, and Rhode Island’s two horse racing tracks would go on to become two of the most popular and profitable tracks in the country before being shut down in the 1970s. Rhode Island introduced a state lottery in 1973 that proved hugely successful. Casino table gaming was regulated in 2012, and daily fantasy sports and online sports betting were regulated in 2016 and 2018, respectively. The recent flurry of activity could be a positive development toward fully legal online casino gambling in the next several years.
Legal Gambling Age In Rhode Island
Rhode Island is one of the most forgiving states in the country in terms of its gambling age laws. All forms of legal gambling within the state are available to all residents 18 or older, with the exception of daily fantasy sports and casinos. It is unclear why these two forms must be 21 years old. The legal gambling age in the US at international gambling websites is also 18 years old. For both in-state and international gambling sites, players will be required to show proof of a government-issued ID before they are authorized to collect their winnings.- Lottery: 18
- Parimutuel: 18
- Casinos: 21
- Bingo: 18
- Online Poker: 18
- DFS: 21
- Sports Betting: 18
Where Are Rhode Island Gambling Sites Regulated?
Rhode Island gambling sites are regulated by whichever jurisdiction they operate out of. Operators based in Rhode Island are regulated by the Rhode Island Department of Business Regulation, which oversees all gambling business operations in the state. International gambling sites are regulated by their country of origin. While online gambling laws are generally laxer in these countries, that shouldn’t be interpreted to mean that they are lawless. Regulatory agencies in other countries still closely monitor payout rates and consumer data security to ensure that companies are not taking advantage of their players.
Who Can Play At Rhode Island Online Gambling Sites?
The availability of Rhode Island gambling sites beyond the state itself depends on the nature of the operator behind the site. Domestic operators in the United States can only offer online gambling to people located within their state, but international gambling sites are available to players all over the United States. In other words, the residents of Delaware, Massachusetts, Maine, and all of Rhode Island’s other neighboring states can legally gamble at most of the same sites as Rhode Island players.
Taxes On Gambling Winnings In Rhode Island
Gambling winnings tax in Rhode Island: 25% (federal) + 3.75-5.99% (state)
In addition to the flat federal gambling winnings tax rate of 25%, Rhode Island taxes all gambling winnings as income. In other words, the tax rate will depend on your total amount of reported income during the year. The highest personal income tax rate in Rhode Island is 5.99%, meaning that the maximum overall gambling tax rate is 30.99%. This applies whether you win your money with a Rhode Island gambling operator or an international one. You should always report gambling winnings on your taxes, as a failure to do so constitutes felony tax evasion and can and will be prosecuted if discovered.
Gambling Revenue In Rhode Island
Gambling revenue in Rhode Island continues to grow as gambling becomes more popular and residents continue their recovery from any financial shortfalls caused by Covid. Following the conclusion of 2022, the recovery of the Rhode Island economy and the popularity of gambling meant that RI generated $1.429 billion in gambling revenue. What that means for the future of online gambling in Rhode Island is that there is no reason to expect that number to not keep growing. That influx of taxable revenue and the overall popularity means online gambling in Rhode Island is here to stay.
Future Of Rhode Island Online Gambling
Rhode Island has been unfortunately done a lot to shoot its online gambling industry in the foot, not the least of which has been its excessive taxes and licensing fees for various gambling operators. While the state’s ability to capture a large percentage of gambling revenue through taxes isn’t necessarily a bad thing, a slightly lower tax rate could stimulate growth and encourage more betting, which could, in turn, lead to more overall tax collections, a la Pennsylvania. After the COVID-19 pandemic, online gambling could be an avenue for Rhode Island to pursue as a way to help the state budget recover, but fully state-regulated Rhode Island gambling sites are still a distant possibility at best.