The Rhode Island Convention Center hosted the Greater Providence Chamber of Commerce 2024 Legislative Leadership Luncheon on Thursday, as reported by Rhode Island Current. The event, sponsored by Bally’s Corp, unveiled a quick overview of the state of remote gambling in Rhode Island, just two weeks ahead of its official launch.
According to a 2023 Act relating to video lottery games and table games, the state, via the State Lottery Division of the Department of Revenue, will implement and monitor online gambling at Bally’s Twin River Lincoln casino. The official start date laid out in the legislation is March 1, 2024, enabling players to access simulcast slot games and table games from their computers, laptops, and mobile devices.
At the event, Marc Crisafulli, Chairman of the Bally’s Rhode Island Board, affirmed the “soft launch” of remote gaming at the Twin Lincoln Casino. The company’s spokesperson said that further details would be revealed later in February.
During the 2023 Legislative Session, debates about whether or not to approve bills authorizing online gambling at the Rhode Island House were not lacking. Opponents of online gambling shared concerns over a rise in gambling-related harms as a consequence of the easy accessibility.
Others called for additional safeguards that needed to be implemented. Legislators of the opposing opinion stated that problem gamblers have the National Problem Gambling Helpline at their disposal, as well as various compulsive and problem gambling programs that would be implemented.
Dominick Ruggerio Comments on the Upcoming Launch of iGaming
Dominick J. Ruggerio, a democratic member and the president of the Rhode Island Senate, has repeatedly underlined the importance of the gambling tax revenue for the state, as well as being on track with the latest developments in the gambling industry in neighboring states.
Although Ruggerio did not attend the luncheon due to health problems, he shared his enthusiasm for the upcoming launch through email. In his statement, he stressed the positives that the iGaming market would bring to Rhode Island, including “a critical revenue stream for the state”, while simultaneously “providing an alternative form of entertainment”.
He added that the launch of online gaming rested on other measures taken to ensure the state’s advantageous position within the gaming industry, including a new collaboration with the Community College of Rhode Island, aimed at various trainings in gaming and similar entertainment sectors.
A 2023 study, Rhode Island iGaming and State Revenue Forecast commissioned by the State of Rhode Island Department of Revenue (DOR) and based on a comparative analysis of iGaming in other jurisdictions, revealed the revenue projections and state share for a period of five years. As per the findings of the study, Rhode Island Government’s Revenue from gambling would amount to $24.1 Million in Year 1, $29.2 Million in Year 2, $33.6 Million in Year 3, $36.9 Million in Year 4, and $38.8 Million in Year 5.
