Bally’s Wins Five-Year Contract to Become Rhode Island’s Second Online Sportsbook Operator

Rhode Island has selected Bally’s Corporation to launch the state’s second online sportsbook under a tentative five-year agreement, as announced by the Rhode Island Lottery. The deal would end the single-operator online sports betting structure that has been in place since Rhode Island launched mobile wagering in 2019, with Bally’s expected to go live as soon as November. The move introduces competition into one of the most restricted digital sports betting markets in the country and gives Rhode Island bettors their first alternative to the IGT-operated Twin River platform that has served as the state’s only mobile option.

Rhode Island is among the smallest US sports betting markets by population, but its market structure has historically been notable for the degree of state control over the product. The lottery-run framework has kept operator margins thin and promotional spending limited, which critics argue has suppressed market development relative to states like New Jersey and Pennsylvania where multiple private operators compete aggressively. The selection of Bally’s is designed to inject competitive dynamics that could expand overall wagering activity and improve the product experience for bettors in the state.

Why Bally’s Was Selected

Bally’s already operates the physical sportsbook at its Twin River Casino properties in Rhode Island, giving the company an existing regulated footprint and strong brand recognition among the state’s sports bettors. The selection reflects a natural extension of the company’s land-based presence into the digital channel. Bally’s spokesperson Patti Doyle said the company was “thrilled” to have been awarded the license and expressed appreciation for the state’s confidence in its ability to operate a competitive online product. Bally’s has been expanding its digital sports betting platform and has sought to position itself as a credible alternative to the largest US operators.

The five-year term of the agreement provides both the state and the operator with a medium-term planning horizon. For the state, it ensures revenue certainty while allowing for an evaluation of how competition affects market growth before deciding whether to further expand the operator pool. For Bally’s, it provides a reasonable runway to invest in product development, marketing, and customer acquisition in a market where it has an established offline presence but limited online track record.

What Rhode Island Bettors Should Know

For Rhode Island sports bettors who have been limited to a single mobile option, the addition of Bally’s as a second operator means more choices, more promotional competition, and ideally better odds and product quality. The launch timeline of as early as November means the new operator could be live in time for the NFL season’s second half and the start of the NBA and NHL regular seasons. Bettors in the state should compare odds, welcome bonuses, and product features between operators when Bally’s goes live. Our guide to Rhode Island sports betting will be updated as the market launch approaches. For a broader view of the US sports betting landscape, our state-by-state sports betting guide covers where things stand in every jurisdiction.