Rhode Island is finally adding a second legal online sportsbook, but players hoping for a wide-open market will still need to keep their expectations in check.
A Two-Horse Race, Naturally
Bally’s has been picked to run Rhode Island’s second online sports betting site, beating Rush Street Interactive’s BetRivers in a bidding process that drew only two applicants. The Rhode Island Lottery opened the process in late 2025, with applications due in February, and NBC 10 WJAR reported that Bally’s emerged as the winner after a review by lottery officials.
That is progress, technically. Since 2019, Rhode Island bettors have had just one legal online option: Sportsbook Rhode Island, powered by IGT. Bally’s new platform is expected to go live in November, once the exclusive portion of IGT’s current arrangement ends, though the final contract still needs to be signed.
Bally’s Already Had a Foot in the Door
Bally’s was hardly arriving as a stranger. The company operates Rhode Island’s two casino properties in Lincoln and Tiverton, and those venues already host the state’s retail sportsbooks. That existing setup matters because of how Rhode Island splits sports betting money.
Under the current structure, the state keeps 51% of online sports betting revenue, the online vendor gets 32%, and retail sportsbook operators receive 17%. With Bally’s now set to control both the online platform and the physical sportsbook side for the second license, it is positioned to collect the full 49% operator share on that new site. Nice work, if the taxman lets you keep it.
Why Bigger Names Stayed Away
Rhode Island’s 51% revenue share is a big ask in a small state. Lottery Deputy Director Michael O’Rourke told NBC 10 that the rate may have helped explain why more operators did not apply. Covers also reported that the tax burden and market size likely cooled interest from larger sportsbook brands such as DraftKings and FanDuel.
For players, that means the immediate upside is modest. A second app should create some pressure on pricing, product quality, promos, and user experience. Yet this is still a long way from Massachusetts, where bettors have seven licensed online sportsbook choices. Rhode Island is adding competition, but not exactly opening the buffet.
The Money Behind the Move
Online sports betting produced $26.7 million in revenue in Rhode Island from July through March, with the state’s share at about $13.6 million, according to lottery figures cited by NBC 10.
That explains the state’s careful approach. Rhode Island wants more betting activity and more tax money, but it also wants to keep a fat slice of the pie. The risk is that too high a take can scare off the very operators that would make the market more useful for everyday bettors.
More Licenses Could Still Be Coming
The Bally’s award may not be the final word. Senate Bill 3118, introduced in March, would alter Rhode Island’s sports wagering framework and was scheduled for hearing or consideration on May 20, 2026, according to LegiScan.
Earlier reporting from Rhode Island Current, republished by Route Fifty, showed that lawmakers had been exploring a broader move away from the single-app model, with Sen. Frank Ciccone arguing that more vendors could improve choice and help keep bettors from crossing into nearby states for better options. The same report also raised the familiar warning that easier access can bring more problem gambling risk.
For now, Rhode Island bettors can expect one more legal app, not a full sportsbook free-for-all. Bally’s gets the next seat at the table, the state keeps its 51%, and players get a little more choice. In Rhode Island’s tightly managed betting market, that counts as movement.
