As the smallest state in the country, with somewhat strict gaming regulations, Rhode Island has fairly modest gambling offerings. Still, this doesn’t mean that you can’t gamble at all, and passionate casino players will probably find a decent number of places to test their luck.
Plus, considering the current trends, the available gambling and casino options are likely to increase in the near future. To help you make sense of all this and successfully navigate the Rhode Island casino market and find what you need, we created this guide to serve as a valuable resource for all information related to gambling in Ocean State. Here’s what you’ll find on this page:
In general, the gambling offer in Rhode Island is a mixed bag, and depending on what type you prefer, you may find it to be rather satisfying or completely disappointing.
When it comes to commercial, land-based casinos, there are only two currently in operation in the Ocean State. However, Twin River Casino in Lincoln and Tiverton Casino Hotel in Tiverton, both operated by Bally’s Corporation, offer a fairly decent choice of games, including real money slot machines, various table games, poker, lottery games, and sports betting.
At the moment, Rhode Island has no tribal casinos, although the Narragansett Tribe of Indians has made multiple attempts to open one during the last 20 years. The RI gambling regulations also allow betting on horse and dog races, but there’s no racino active at the moment, although you can bet on these events at the two commercial casinos mentioned above.
As for online casinos, Rhode Island is not one of the six states that have made this type of gambling legal. Still, Rhode Island residents can play at offshore casinos that accept American players. On the other hand, Rhode Island was one of the first states to introduce sports betting after the Supreme Court ruling in 2018 and residents can place wagers on sporting events at the two commercial casinos, as well as through the state’s sole online sportsbook, Sportsbook Rhode Island, which is owned and run by William Hill. It’s also worth noting that Rhode Island residents can play daily fantasy sports using a number of dedicated online apps.
As we already mentioned, at the moment, there are two active commercial casinos in Rhode Island, This may not seem like much, but for a state of this size, it’s probably more than enough to serve all the casino enthusiasts, Plus, as RI is such a small state, both Twin River Casino and Tiverton Casino Hotel are only a relatively short drive away no matter where you live. Currently, there are no plans for the development of any additional casino establishments in Rhode Island. Below is a short overview of what both of these casinos have to offer to their visitors.
Located in Lincoln, Twin River Casino Hotel is the larger and older of the two Rhode Island casinos and offers a wide range of both gambling options and additional amenities. The main draw of the complex is the huge casino floor which spans 190,000 square feet and features a large variety of games, including over 4,100 slot machines with different denominations, 125 live table games (roulette, blackjack, dice games, and others), and poker room with 23 constantly busy tables.
Visitors can also enjoy different specialty and real money lottery games, such as keno, bingo, or scratchers. In addition to all this, Twin River Casino Hotel also features a sportsbook and racebook facility, where you can place wagers on the extensive range of sports and horse and dog races. All gambling facilities are open 24/7, with the exception of Christmas and Easter when the casino is closed.
If you’re planning a trip to the Twin River casino, you can take the advantage of the onsite accommodation and book a stay at the 136-room luxury hotel. The casino complex also boasts extensive dining and entertainment offerings. Guests can use the indoor swimming pool and fitness center, as well as the conference center and multiple meeting rooms.
The dining and drinking options include five restaurants and bars, including the Sportsbook Bar & Grill, where you can wager on sporting events while enjoying a meal and drinks. If you’re looking to relax after a day of gambling, you can find some peace in the spacious garden and patio area. On top of all this, Twin River Event Center hosts various live entertainment events year-round.
As its name says, Tiverton Casino Hotel is located in Tiverton, just off Route 24, and just like Twin River Casino Hotel is operated by Bally’s Corporation. It first opened its doors in 2018, but in this short time, has managed to establish itself as one of the most reputable land-based casinos in the north-eastern part of the United States. The backbone of the Tiverton Casino’s offer is the extensive range of casino games, but this establishment also offers much more to its customers. The gaming floor spreads across nearly 35,000 square feet and features more than 1,000 slot machines and 32 live table games. The casino has also recently added 18 Hybrid Stadium Seats tables featuring a combination of blackjack, roulette, baccarat, three card poker, and several other games.
Sports fans can enjoy brand-new sportsbook facilities where they can bet on football, basketball, baseball, golf, and numerous other sports. Furthermore, the casino also features a state-of-the-art simulcast theater with live simulcasts of thoroughbred, harness, and greyhound racing. Simulcasts also include Jai Alai games, All casino games and betting facilities are available 24/7.
A part of the casino complex is also an elegantly designed hotel with 83 rooms and in-house conference rooms and a fitness center. When looking to take a break from gambling you can enjoy diverse cuisine in one of the four restaurants, or have drinks at the VIP Lounge or the hotel’s Center Bar. The Center Bar also hosts live entertainment and DJ events every weekend.
Organizing online gambling is still illegal in Rhode Island, but that may change in the near future, depending on the political climate. With nearby Pennsylvania and Connecticut already featuring legal online gaming, and Rhode Island’s long-time gambling rival Massachusetts actively pondering the enactment of iGaming laws, the Ocean State’s legislators have every incentive to introduce their own online gambling bill sooner rather than later.
While online gaming is restricted in the state itself, the locals can still gamble at regulated online casinos that hold licenses in one of the US-friendly gambling jurisdictions, such as Curacao or Costa Rica. However, if you plan to play at one of these online gambling platforms, make sure to do it on legit and trustworthy sites. The best way to find those is to check out our list of top-rated online casinos for RI players, as we have put each site on that list through a rigorous review process to make sure they provide a safe and enjoyable gambling experience.
Rhode Island has a long history of gambling and the industry has been steadily expanding, often despite various restrictions imposed by the state. Today, Rhode Island casinos and gaming are regulated by Section 11-19-1 of the state’s General Laws, which has seen several significant amendments over the last 50 years. The first form of gambling that was legalized in the modern age was the lottery, which was made legal along with several other types of betting in 1973.
The most significant developments happened in 1979 when licensed horse race betting and wagering were legalized and in 2012 when the amendment to legalize offline casino gambling at approved locations and resorts was introduced. The latter led to the development of Twin River and Newport Grand resorts. The Newport Grand had its license later transferred to Tiverton Casino Hotel.
Additionally, raffles and bingo are allowed in senior citizen housings, while the former is also legal when hosted by charitable organizations. Online gambling and games such as online poker or online slots are still not legal within the state borders. However, mobile and online betting is now permitted after the legalization bill was passed in 2019. Also, Rhode Island residents can use offshore and unregulated sites without the fear of penalty.
The status of Daily Fantasy Sports is still pretty much in the air as the official legislation to legalize it was never introduced, although Attorney General has ruled it to be legal under the state law. Currently, most of the major DFS sites, such as FanDuel or DraftKings can be accessed from waiting for Rhode Island borders, and DFS platforms are not restricted in any way. As for tribal gambling, it’s legal under federal law as it is in the rest of the country, but the efforts to get a tribal casino up and running have proven to be unsuccessful so far.
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The legal gambling age in casinos in Rhode Island, as well as at other gambling establishments is 18. So, in order to play at one of the two Rhode Island casinos and bet cash, participate in online sports betting through Sportsbook Rhode Island, or engage in any other form of gambling such as bingo and lottery games, horse racing betting, and pari-mutuel betting, you have to be at least 18 years old.
All gambling winnings in Rhode Island are subject to both federal and state income tax. In addition to the federal 24% tax, casino winners in Ocean State also have to pay 5.99% of their winnings under the current state laws on personal income. This sums up to create a total tax rate of up to 29.99%.
At the moment, there are only two commercial, land-based casinos in Rhode Island.
The two commercial casinos in Rhode Island are Twin River Casino Hotel in Lincoln and Tiverton Casino Hotel in Tiverton. Both casinos are operated by the same company, Bally’s Corporation.
Currently, there are no active commercial casinos in Providence, Rhode Island.
Yes and no – the state of Rhode Island allows gambling, but not in all of its forms. According to the state’s current gaming legislation, casino offline gambling, horse race betting, online and offline sports betting, lottery, and charitable gambling are legal. However, online gambling, including online slot machines and online poker, is currently prohibited.
