• About Us / Contact
  • Responsible Gambling
This site contains commercial content
SportsHandle
  • US Sports Betting
    • Arizona
    • Arkansas
    • Colorado
    • Connecticut
    • Delaware
    • Illinois
    • Indiana
    • Iowa
    • Kansas
    • Louisiana
    • Maine
    • Maryland
    • Massachusetts
    • Michigan
    • Mississippi
    • New Jersey
    • New Mexico
    • New York
    • Ohio
    • Oregon
    • Pennsylvania
    • Tennessee
    • Virginia
    • West Virginia
    • Wyoming
  • Pending States
    • California
    • Florida
    • Georgia
    • Missouri
    • North Carolina
  • Canada
    • Ontario
    • British Columbia
    • Alberta
  • Sportsbook Apps
    • FanDuel
    • BetMGM
    • Caesars
    • PointsBet
    • BetRivers
  • Tools
    • Sportsbook Bonuses Explained
    • Sports Betting Revenue Tracker
    • Sports Betting Podcasts
    • Partnership Tracker
    • Expected Value
    • Sports Scores And Odds Apps
    • Sports Betting Twitter
  • News
No Result
View All Result
SportsHandle
  • US Sports Betting
    • Arizona
    • Arkansas
    • Colorado
    • Connecticut
    • Delaware
    • Illinois
    • Indiana
    • Iowa
    • Kansas
    • Louisiana
    • Maine
    • Maryland
    • Massachusetts
    • Michigan
    • Mississippi
    • New Jersey
    • New Mexico
    • New York
    • Ohio
    • Oregon
    • Pennsylvania
    • Tennessee
    • Virginia
    • West Virginia
    • Wyoming
  • Pending States
    • California
    • Florida
    • Georgia
    • Missouri
    • North Carolina
  • Canada
    • Ontario
    • British Columbia
    • Alberta
  • Sportsbook Apps
    • FanDuel
    • BetMGM
    • Caesars
    • PointsBet
    • BetRivers
  • Tools
    • Sportsbook Bonuses Explained
    • Sports Betting Revenue Tracker
    • Sports Betting Podcasts
    • Partnership Tracker
    • Expected Value
    • Sports Scores And Odds Apps
    • Sports Betting Twitter
  • News
No Result
View All Result
SportsHandle
No Result
View All Result

Rhode Island Mobile Sports Betting Bill Clears House

Passes by sweeping majority, however restricts registration to in-person

Brett Smiley by Brett Smiley
March 12, 2019
in Regulation
rhode island sports betting governor raimondo expecting 24 million

Rhode Island Gov. Gina Raimondo (L) with R.I. House Speaker Nicholas Mattiello.

Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

After discussion before the full Rhode Island House of Representatives on Tuesday evening, the chamber passed HB 5241, a measure that will legalize mobile sports wagering state-wide.

Several representatives argued in favor and against, but ultimately there was no suspense as the measure passed, 64-8. The bill was co-sponsored by Speaker of the House Nicholas Mattiello (D-District 15).

On the Senate side, President Dominick Ruggerio (D-District 4) sponsored S 37, which sailed through in February, 30-4. With all of that might behind it, passage of mobile sports betting was all but inevitable. The bill now heads back to the Senate, and from there to the desk of Governor Gina Raimondo, whose 2019 budget included an ambitious $23 million in total sports betting revenue for fiscal year 2019. In other words, she’ll be on board here as Rhode Island will need more than retail operations to meet those financial ambitions.

Rhode Island sports betting debate

Rhode Island House just voted on. HB 5241, to allow sports wagering online, following in-person registration. Measure passes 64-8.

Goes to Gov. Gina Raimondo's desk, will be signed. Some more background:https://t.co/z7uwgXbroJ pic.twitter.com/EgqXRLeD86

— Sports Handle (@sports_handle) March 12, 2019

One the House floor, a vocal minority expressed several points of opposition, among them objections about problem gambling. Representative Theresa Tanzi (D-District 34) said “Betting on premises is one thing. This is a whole new animal being unleashed.”

Earlier, Representative Blake Filippi (R-District 36) proposed an amendment that would have required the state’s supreme court to issue an opinion on the law’s constitutionality — whether it constitutes an β€œextension of gambling activities” that would require voter approval. A House colleague suggested passing the measure without obtaining such an opinion would only benefit the lawyers lined up to file a constitutional lawsuit. But the amendment failed.

The majority position was summed up in remarks by Representative Anastasia Williams (D-District 9), who saidΒ  β€œLet’s stop money from going to all these other states. We always deal with the good, the bad and the ugly on many issues. This one is no different. We need [mobile sports betting] and we need it now.”

The state projects to collect $8 million in tax revenue in 2019 via mobile sports betting. As for the pie-cutting, sports betting revenue in Rhode Island gets split between the state, the state’s gaming operator and the casinos as follows: 51 percent, 32 percent, 17 percent.

Mobile sportsbook by existing providers

A key discussion point prior to the Senate vote was why Rhode Island is choosing to give a mobile sports betting monopoly to the Twin River Management Group, which owns and operates the state’s only two casinos, and houses the state’s two licensed sportsbooks. According to this bill, soon law, it will be the only company licensed to offer sports betting in the state.

β€œBy passing this law, we would be giving a monopoly to one business, Twin River,” said Senator Sam Bell (D-District 5) at a committee hearing. β€œThis is America! Why don’t we set up a real free market?”

The regulatory body for sports betting in Rhode Island is the state lottery, which contracted for retail operations with IGT and William Hill.

Thus, when the mobile rollout comes at a time not yet determined, it will likely resemble the William Hill skin as seen in New Jersey and Nevada.

Another controversial aspect concerns the account registration process. Bucking the New Jersey and Pennsylvania models (forthcoming), Rhode Island will require patrons to appear in person to sign up for a mobile betting account.

At the hearing, Bell said he believes that the requirement will deter Rhode Island gamblers from using the Twin River or Tiverton app, and keep them placing bets on the black market. He also suggested that in-person registration would keep potential customers from neighboring Massachusetts at home, and in the illegal market, as well.

ShareTweetShare
Brett Smiley

Brett Smiley

Brett Smiley is editor-in-chief and co-founder of Sports Handle, which joined forces with the US Bets team in November 2018. He focuses on the sports betting industry and legislation. He's a recreational sports bettor and DFS player himself, focusing on the NFL. In a past life, Smiley practiced commercial litigation in New York City and previously wrote for FOX Sports and SI.com. He lives in New Jersey with his family.

Related Posts

Rock-in-road
Regulation

Sports Betting Not Coming To Massachusetts This Year

October 28, 2021
(Shutterstock)
Industry

Get A Grip: Week In Sports Betting: NJ Numbers Rise, First CO Report In, RI Registration, Senate Hearing, More

July 17, 2020
Load More

Top Stories

taylor mathis

Taylor Mathis Got Sacrificed At The Altar Of Responsible Gambling

March 20, 2023
fanduel baseball wall

Premade Same Game Parlays Are Sucker Bets

March 13, 2023
maginfier-over-small-print

Read The Fine Print: A Proposed Federal Rule Could Change Everything For Indian Gaming

March 6, 2023
roman reigns wwe

Colorado Denies Report Stating That It’s Considering WWE Wagering

March 8, 2023

State Sports Betting Guides

Ohio (U.S. state) flag waving against clear blue sky, close up, isolated with clipping path mask alpha channel transparency, perfect for film, news, composition

Ohio Sports Betting – Where To Play, Bonus Offers And Promo Codes

by Brian Pempus
March 20, 2023

Downtown Detroit at twilight (Shutterstock)

Michigan Sports Betting – Where To Play, Online Sportsbooks, And FAQ

by Brett Smiley
March 16, 2023

VA captial

Virginia Sports Betting – Where To Play, Online Sportsbooks And Bonus Offers

by Brett Smiley
January 17, 2023

nj flag

New Jersey Sports Betting — Where To Play, Online Sportsbooks, And FAQ

by Brett Smiley
October 20, 2022

pa online sportsbooks

Pennsylvania Sports Betting – Where To Play, Online Sportsbooks And Bonuses

by Brett Smiley
October 6, 2022

Canada Sports Betting Guides

Canada Sports Betting – Best Sportsbook Apps & Bonus Offers

British Columbia Sports Betting – Legal Update, Available Sportsbooks, and FAQ

Ontario Sports Betting – Legal Status And Where To Play

SportsHandle

  • Analysis
  • Casino
  • Features
  • Horse Racing
  • Industry
  • Legal
  • Legislation
  • Opinion
  • Podcasts
  • Poker
  • Politics
  • Promotions
  • Regulation
  • Sports
  • Uncategorized

Better Collective

This website is owned and operated by Better Collective USA. Trademarks and copyrights referenced on this website are and shall remain the exclusive property of their respective owners and/or licensors. Please be sure to visit the operator’s website(s) to review their terms & conditions. We advise you to read these carefully as they contain important information. Copyright Β© 2023 USBets.com | Better Collective USA
21 Play Responsibly
Gamble Aware West Virginia
Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-Gambler.
GameSense

Search Sports Handle

No Result
View All Result
  • About Us / Contact
  • Responsible Gambling

No Result
View All Result
  • US Sports Betting
    • Arizona
    • Arkansas
    • Colorado
    • Connecticut
    • Delaware
    • Illinois
    • Indiana
    • Iowa
    • Kansas
    • Louisiana
    • Maine
    • Maryland
    • Massachusetts
    • Michigan
    • Mississippi
    • New Jersey
    • New Mexico
    • New York
    • Ohio
    • Oregon
    • Pennsylvania
    • Tennessee
    • Virginia
    • West Virginia
    • Wyoming
  • Pending States
    • California
    • Florida
    • Georgia
    • Missouri
    • North Carolina
  • Canada
    • Ontario
    • British Columbia
    • Alberta
  • Sportsbook Apps
    • FanDuel
    • BetMGM
    • Caesars
    • PointsBet
    • BetRivers
  • Tools
    • Sportsbook Bonuses Explained
    • Sports Betting Revenue Tracker
    • Sports Betting Podcasts
    • Partnership Tracker
    • Expected Value
    • Sports Scores And Odds Apps
    • Sports Betting Twitter
  • News

loading

Please wait while you are redirected to the right page...

Please share your location to continue.

Check our help guide for more info.

share your location