Online Gambling in Rhode Island - Casino & Sports Betting

Rhode Island, also known as The Ocean State, is a small picturesque area of New England that is known for its beautiful shorelines and relaxing beaches. Rhode Island may be small, but it’s a place where many love to visit, especially to get away from the big cities on the east coast such as New York and Boston. Rhode Island residents also love online gambling. There are plenty of legal and available options for gambling in Rhode Island. Sometimes the areas are gray and/or laws change, though, so make sure to do your research so you can gamble confidently and securely. 

This article gives you plenty of information to help you decide where you want to place your bets and how to choose safely.

Rhode Island allows online sports betting, video lottery terminals (VLTs), table games, horse racing wagering, state lottery sales, charitable raffles/bingo/pull‑tabs, and grants a monopoly for online casino play under the Lottery Division. All activities are overseen by the Rhode Island State Police (Games of Chance enforcement) and State Lottery Division via chapters in Rhode Island General Laws.

Online Casinos

Online real-money casino gaming (slots, table games, poker) is legal under the “Casino Act,” authorized March 2023. The law enables the State Lottery Division and its licensed facilities to offer online interactive casino games via state‑approved platforms.

• Status: Legal
• Date of Authorization: 2023
• Law: R.I. Gen. Laws § 42‑61.2‑1 et seq. (Casino Act)
• Official Link: https://webserver.rilegislature.gov/Statutes/TITLE42/42-61.2/42-61.2-1.htm
  

Online Sports Betting

Online and retail sports betting are legal under the amended Video Lottery framework. First legalized June 2018, mobile wagering expanded in March 2019 to include remote registration, all regulated under the Lottery Division.

• Status: Legal
• Date of Authorization: June 22, 2018 (retail), March 25, 2019 (online)
• Law: R.I. Gen. Laws § 42‑61‑3 et seq. (Video Lottery Games & Sports Wagering)
• Official Link: https://law.justia.com/codes/rhode-island/title-42/chapter-42-61/
  

Physical Casinos / Video Lottery Terminals & Table Games

Legal casinos and VLTs are operated at Twin River and Tiverton under the Video Lottery Casino Act (“Casino Act”) and regulated by the Lottery Division. Table games became legal March 2023.

• Status: Legal
• Date of Authorization: VLTs 2013; Table Games 2023
• Law: R.I. Gen. Laws § 42‑61.2‑1 et seq. (“Casino Act”)
• Official Link: https://webserver.rilegislature.gov/Statutes/TITLE42/42-61.2/42-61.2-1.htm
  

Horse Racing & Pari‑Mutuel Wagering

Pari‑mutuel betting on horse racing at Twin River and off-track betting outlets is legal, as allowed under allowances for VLT licensees conducting “pari‑mutuel wagering.”

• Status: Legal
• Date of Authorization: 2013 (with VLTs)
• Law: R.I. Gen. Laws § 42‑61‑2‑3 (casino credit provisions) and § 42‑61.2‑1 et seq.
• Official Link: https://webserver.rilegislature.gov/Statutes/TITLE42/42-61.2/42-61.2-3.2.htm
  

Lottery

The Rhode Island Lottery is legal, providing draw and instant games plus regulating pull‑tabs and charitable gaming. It operates under Title 42, Chapter 42‑61.

• Status: Legal
• Date of Authorization: 1974 (lottery); extended duties ongoing
• Law: R.I. Gen. Laws § 42‑61‑1 et seq.
• Official Link: https://law.justia.com/codes/rhode-island/title-42/chapter-42-61/
  

Charitable Gaming (Raffles, Bingo, Pull‑Tabs)

Charitable games are legal under Criminal Offenses Chapter 11‑19, which includes bingo, raffles, pull‑tabs, and fundraising games approved by local police and State Police oversight.

• Status: Legal
• Date of Authorization: Codified (bingo post-1950s; modern chapter 11‑19)
• Law: R.I. Gen. Laws § 11‑19‑30 et seq.
• Official Link: https://law.justia.com/codes/rhode-island/title-11/chapter-11-19/
  

Overall Comment

Rhode Island supports a fully integrated gambling system, including legal online casinos, sports betting, VLTs, table games, horse wagering, lottery activities, and charitable gaming — all under unified legislation with oversight by the State Lottery Division and State Police.

Online Casino in Rhode Island

Although there is no legal regulation in Rhode Island for online casinos, residents are allowed to register on other sites without fear of prosecution.

Sports Betting in Rhode Island

Good news for sports fans: in 2018, Rhode Island sports betting became legal in person, though it is still illegal to bet on sports online.