Rhode Island Sports Betting Revenue Insights August 2025

Revenue Insights

$27.32M

June handle, the lowest of the first half of 2025.

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$3.17M

Gross gaming revenue in June, just below May's figure.

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11.59%

June hold rate, a robust increase from May’s 9.34%.

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$1.62M

State tax revenue generated from sports betting in June.

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Overview of the Rhode Island Sports Betting Market

Rhode Island was one of the first states to legalize sports betting after PASPA’s repeal in 2018. Governor Gina Raimondo signed legislation on June 22, 2018, allowing retail sportsbooks at Twin River Casino in Lincoln and Bally’s Tiverton Casino. Operations are managed by the Rhode Island Lottery, which oversees both retail and online wagering.

Online betting launched in 2019 through Sportsbook Rhode Island, a platform developed with IGT and William Hill. Available on iOS and Android, the app uses geolocation to ensure bets are placed within state lines.

Sports betting revenue flows into the state’s general fund, supporting education, infrastructure, and problem gambling programs. In FY 2024, the Rhode Island Lottery contributed $426.4M to the general fund. With a 51% tax rate on net sports betting revenue, among the highest in the U.S., Rhode Island consistently ranks near the top in per-capita sports betting revenue.

Want to compare Rhode Island sports betting operators? Read our in-depth reviews of sportsbooks in Rhode Island.

Annual Sports Betting Growth in Rhode Island

Data is pulled directly from the South Dakota Dept. of Revenue Annual Reports

Source:

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Monthly Sports Betting Growth in Rhode Island

Taxes

Data is pulled directly from the South Dakota Dept. of Revenue Monthly Reports

Source:

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Rhode Island Sports Betting Revenue Performance

Rhode Island operates a state-run sports betting model, with both retail sportsbooks at Twin River casinos and mobile betting through the state’s official platform, regulated by the Rhode Island Lottery.

Year	Handle	Revenue	Hold %	State Taxes
2018	13,770,713	1,030,910	9.01%	525,764
2019	245,811,496	17,806,694	7.45%	9,081,414
2020	221,916,076	24,067,477	9.22%	12,274,413
2021	454,457,990	38,751,495	8.95%	19,763,262
2022	532,609,814	49,298,062	9.30%	25,142,012
2023	461,283,426	40,277,816	8.73%	20,541,686
2024	483,686,264	38,051,914	8.02%	19,406,476
2025 Ytd	See monthly breakdown below	—	—	—

2025 Year-to-Date

Month	Handle	GGR	Hold %	Tax Revenue
Jan 2025	47,358,801	5,074,927	10.72%	2,588,213
Feb 2025	35,164,802	2,976,309	8.46%	1,517,918
Mar 2025	43,701,613	2,242,452	5.13%	1,143,651
Apr 2025	36,605,834	2,701,470	7.38%	1,377,750
May 2025	35,521,600	3,318,915	9.34%	1,692,647
Jun 2025	27,317,451	3,167,345	11.59%	1,615,346

Highlights

January 2025 recorded the highest handle of the year to date ($47.36M) and the largest GGR ($5.07M).
March 2025 saw the lowest hold (5.13%) and GGR, indicating a bettor-friendly month.
June 2025 had the highest hold rate (11.59%) despite posting the lowest handle of the first half.
May–June 2025 produced solid revenue contributions, with tax revenue exceeding $1.6M in both months.

Latest Rhode Island Sports Betting Industry Updates

July 1, 2025 – The Rhode Island Lottery issued an RFI (Request for Information) to gauge interest from sports wagering service providers ahead of a potential RFP. (publicgaming.com)
June 24, 2025 – SB 748 stalled in the House before the legislative session ended, meaning the Lottery’s monopoly remains in place for now. (State of Rhode Island)
June 5, 2025/June 4, 2025 – The Rhode Island Senate passed amended SB 748, aiming to end the Lottery’s exclusive contract with IGT and open the market to 3–5 competing sportsbooks starting in early 2026. (yogonet.com)
May 23, 2025 – A Spectrum Gaming Group–commissioned report recommended adding 4–6 new vendors and easing hosting restrictions to better compete with MA and CT. (rhodeislandcurrent.com)
Provides industry-backed justification for expanding options in the state.

Rhode Island Snapshot

Key Aspect	Details
Population	Approximately 1.1 million residents as of 2024. (World Population Review, 2024)
Political Affiliation	Predominantly Democratic, with a Democratic trifecta controlling the governorship and both legislative chambers. (270towin.com, 2024)
Year Sports Betting Legalized	It was legalized on June 22, 2018, when Governor Gina Raimondo signed it into law. (Reuters, 2018)
Number of Sportsbooks Operating	DraftKings is the sole online sportsbook licensed in Rhode Island.
GGR 2025 (Jan-June)	$19,481,418
Handle 2025 (Jan-June)	$225,670,101
Professional Sports Teams	Rhode Island does not have professional sports teams but is home to passionate sports fans, often supporting nearby teams like the New England Patriots and Boston Celtics.

FAQs

Rhode Island Sports Betting Revenue Trends

What trends have been observed in Rhode Island’s sports betting market?

Rhode Island sports betting revenue has grown consistently since launching in 2018.

How does Rhode Island's small population affect sports betting revenue?

Rhode Island’s small population of approximately 1.1 million limits the potential size of its betting market compared to larger states. However, high per-capita participation keeps the state's sports betting revenue competitive with other one-operator states like Oregon.

Legal and Operational Aspects of Rhode Island Sports Betting

When was sports betting legalized in Rhode Island?

Legalized sports betting in Rhode Island began on June 22, 2018, when Governor Gina Raimondo signed the law. The first retail sportsbooks launched in November 2018, with online sports betting following in 2019.

Who manages sports betting operations in Rhode Island?

The Rhode Island Lottery oversees all sports betting operations, including the DraftKings online platform and retail locations at Twin River Casino and Tiverton Casino.

How many sportsbooks operate in Rhode Island?

Rhode Island has a single sportsbook operator, DraftKings, licensed by the state lottery to provide online and retail betting.

How is online betting regulated in Rhode Island?

Rhode Island uses geolocation technology to ensure all online wagers are placed within state lines, complying with federal and state regulations.

General Information

How does Rhode Island benefit from legalized sports betting?

Legalized sports betting generates substantial tax revenue for Rhode Island, supporting education, infrastructure, public safety, and problem gambling programs.

Are there other forms of gambling in Rhode Island?

In addition to sports betting, Rhode Island offers video lottery, casinos like Twin River and Tiverton, and popular games like Mega Millions.

Sol Fayerman-Hansen

Editor-in-Chief

Sol Fayerman-Hansen is Editor-in-Chief at RG.org with 20+ years of experience in sports journalism, gambling regulation, and tech. His work has appeared in Forbes, ESPN, and NFL.com, covering U.S. and Canadian gambling laws, major sports events, and wagering trends. Since 2023, Sol has led RG.org’s global editorial efforts, focusing on transparency, data accuracy, and regulatory insight. He works closely with researchers and legal experts to uphold E-E-A-T and Trust Project standards.📍 Israel/Canada 🌐 English, Hebrew 🎯 Gambling law, responsible gaming, tech in betting

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