Bally’s Wins Rhode Island’s Second Online Sportsbook License, Ending Seven Years of Single-Operator Market

The Rhode Island Lottery has selected Bally’s Corporation to operate the state’s second online sportsbook, ending a single-operator model that has been in place since 2019. The selection was confirmed by Rhode Island Lottery Deputy Director Michael O’Rourke, who said Bally’s beat out Rush Street Interactive in a process that saw only two applications submitted. A formal contract is still being finalized, with the Bally’s platform expected to go live in November.

The November timing aligns with the expiration of the exclusivity period in IGT’s current agreement to operate Sportsbook Rhode Island, the state’s only licensed digital wagering platform since it launched seven years ago. Once that exclusivity ends, Bally’s will have the authorization to launch a competing platform.

Why Bally’s Was the Obvious Choice

Bally’s is not an outside operator coming into Rhode Island cold. The company operates the state’s only two physical casino locations, at Lincoln and Tiverton. Those properties already participate in Rhode Island’s sports betting revenue sharing structure, which gives the physical sportsbook holder 17 percent of online betting revenue. IGT, as the current online operator, takes 32 percent, while the state retains 51 percent.

Under its own digital license, Bally’s will receive the combined 49 percent share rather than just the 17 percent physical cut, since it will function as both the digital operator and the physical sportsbook rights holder simultaneously. That revenue advantage makes Rhode Island a more financially attractive market for Bally’s than it would be for an operator without existing physical operations in the state.

“Bally’s is thrilled to have been awarded a second sports betting license by the State of Rhode Island,” said Bally’s spokeswoman Patti Doyle. “We appreciate the confidence and trust the State has placed in our ability to provide a best-in-class product built for scalability, innovation, and the evolving demands of modern bettors.”

What Bettors Can Expect

Rhode Island bettors have had limited choices since the state launched online wagering. IGT’s Sportsbook Rhode Island platform has been the only option, and while it has served the market adequately, the absence of competition has meant no incentive for aggressive promotions, product innovation, or the type of odds competition that bettors in states like New Jersey or Pennsylvania take for granted.

A second platform will not immediately replicate the multi-operator environment of a fully open market. Rhode Island’s state-controlled structure means both operators work as vendors to the lottery rather than as independent commercial sportsbooks. Bettors will gain a second app and a second set of betting markets and features, but the promotional landscape may remain more conservative than in states where DraftKings, FanDuel, BetMGM, and others compete directly.

Still, for Rhode Island bettors who have wanted more options, the November launch of a Bally’s platform will represent a meaningful expansion of what the state’s legal betting market offers. Bally’s has experience operating digital sportsbooks in other markets and brings the brand recognition of a major casino operator.

The Larger Picture for Rhode Island Sports Betting

Rhode Island has maintained a cautious approach to sports betting expansion, keeping the market tightly controlled to protect state revenue. The single-operator model had the advantage of simplicity and reliable state revenue, but as other states have moved to more competitive frameworks, the case for broadening Rhode Island’s market has grown.

The limited application process, with only two bidders, reflects the structural reality that Rhode Island’s revenue sharing terms make the market less attractive to operators who could invest those resources in larger, more open markets. For Bally’s, the combination of existing physical presence and the favorable revenue split makes the math work in a way it simply would not for most operators without those advantages.

Players in Rhode Island and neighboring states can find more about sports betting options in the region through state-specific guides that cover available sportsbooks, promotional offers, and how to get started on each platform. The Bally’s launch this fall will give Rhode Island bettors their first real choice since the state’s sports betting market opened.