Top Online Casinos for Rhode Island
The smallest state in America by land area, admitted to the United States in 1790 as the last one among 13 original colonies, is one of six states that form the New England region on the East Coast. It borders Massachusetts to the north and east, Connecticut to the west, and Atlantic to the south.
Rhode Island is the second-most densely populated state in the United States — excluding D.C. and unincorporated territories — with economy which, in time, migrated from fishing, agriculture, mining, and forestry to biomedicine, advanced business services, manufacturing, cyber and data analytics, maritime products, and defense shipbuilding (submarines’ hull fabrication and outfitting facilities for General Dynamics).
These industries generate the majority of a state gross product that was a bit above $61 billion in 2018, amounting to 0.3 percent of the country’s overall GDP.
Well-recognized for self-governance and individual freedoms ever since its foundation — Rhode Island was the only state that rejected the 18th Amendment ratification, which prohibited the manufacture and sales of alcohol in 1917; curiously enough, this is the only Amendment ever repealed in the history of the U.S. Constitution — the Ocean State has lasting relationship with gambling.
Betting on horse races was legalized in 1934, a state lottery in 1973, one-armed bandits a couple of years later, VLTs in 1992, and casino table games in 2012 (after the first initiative to do so in 1994 failed). Each of those market introductions required a state referendum.
After the SCOTUS struck down the PASPA in 2018, Rhode Island was the first state to hold hearings related to sports betting legalization; as a consequence, land-based sportsbooks were introduced the same year, and the interactive counterpart was allowed for in 2019.
Onshore online gambling operations remain prohibited although some offshore operators accept the residents.
Legal Framework
Games of luck and skills are regulated by the Rhode Island General Laws (Chapter 11-19), that is, the State Law on Gambling and Lotteries.
The minimum gambling age for any type of gambling is 18.
All winnings are subject to a flat 25 percent tax except for sports betting gross wins which are taxed 51 percent. Gross gaming revenues of operators are taxed at 30.5% on gaming machines and 16% on table games.
Two regulatory bodies in the state oversee different gaming verticals: Rhode Island Department of Business Regulation (casinos and vendor licensing, sports betting) and the Charitable Gaming Unit of the State Police (any type of charitable gambling).
Licensing
There are three brick-and-mortar gaming houses operating in Rhode Island: Plainridge Park Casino, Tiverton Casino Hotel, and Twin River Casino Hotel. Only the Tiverton and Twin River — which acquired Newport Grand slots venue in 2015 — are authorized to operate gaming machines, table games, and sports betting.
Considering that every new casino has to be approved on the state referendum, including the expansion of offerings to new verticals, we might have to wait for another venue for some time.
In any case…
…those interested in entering the casino services arena in Rhode Island have to obtain a Gaming Vendor License (GVL) from the Department of Business Regulation. This license is a prerequisite for any manufacturer and/or seller of slots and video machines (including components), as well as for any entity in charge of conducting gambling operations.
All interested parties are obliged to submit basic business identification information, all written and unwritten agreements, reports on subsidiaries and related entities, detailed description of the business, list of all current (and former) directors, trustees, and officers (including criminal history), plus comprehensive financial information on stocks and shareholders.
If approved, a GVL is valid for three years. The application fee is $750 plus all costs of due diligence and investigations.
Key operator’s employees also have to submit Vendor Gaming Employee Application which includes personal information, residences, motor vehicle data, employment and licensing information (if any), marital status, and detailed civil, criminal, and investigatory proceedings.
Licenses for employees are also valid for three years.
The licensing procedure is also required for institutional investors, e.g. companies which may acquire up to 15% of ownership interest in already licensed operator. These entities go through a similarly thorough process as GVL.
On the other hand, licenses for charitable gambling — issued by the Charitable Gaming Unit of the State Police — are considered to have one of the most demanding and uncompromising processes in the United States.
Players’ Protection
Since there’s no online gambling in Rhode Island, the majority of measures in place to protect patrons focus on the following activities:
- Self-exclusion, available on a period of one- and five-year, including lifetime
- Advertising restrictions, which stipulate that helpline number is mandatory on all materials
- On-premise Display Requirements, which specify that helpline number must be displayed noticeably at casinos floors
In addition, both Tiverton and Twin River casinos have to fund responsible gambling programs with at least $100,000 annually (aggregate sum).
Finally, Codac Behavioral Healthcare operates the Problem Gambling Services of Rhode Island that offer services to players as well as industry professionals, which are complementary to support provided by the Rhode Island Council on Problem Gambling.
Final Notes
The gambling scene in Rhode Island is small and congested, and in no small part in the shadow of much larger markets on the East Coast.
That said, it is a mature environment with a long-standing history and prudent approach by the state regulators that also include the use of gambling taxes for public education, safety programs, and healthcare.
While online gambling remains off-limits in the Ocean State, the introduction of sports betting is surely encouraging. Hopefully, one day, iGaming might perhaps complement the picture.
Until then, if you happen to test your chances and choices in RI, do it responsibly and prudently, and, as always, have good luck!
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