Summary:
- The Rhode Island Department of Revenue confirmed the launch date.
- The Lottery is responsible for regulating the new industry.
- Bally’s Corporation will be the only online operator.
Online gambling is finally coming to Rhode Island! The state has plans to launch iGaming in March, with the first of the month signaling the start date. Once live, RI will be the 7th US State to feature online casino gaming.
Details Remain Unclear
The Rhode Island Department of Revenue announced this week the good news for iGamers, revealing the planned launch date of March 1. Specifics of the industry remain unclear, though. We know the Rhode Island Lottery will regulate operators, and Bally’s Corporation will be the only online operator.
Bally’s is the retail provider in the state, backing the only two physical casinos players can visit in Rhode Island. This is nothing new, as Bally’s has been offering the state’s only online sports betting services since September 2019.
Apparently, the regulator will share more information on the matter during a meeting this week with the Lottery Commission. Hopefully, the full details of the new industry will be made clear at this time.
Setting Up for Services
Online casino gaming will begin in less than two months, which is good news for players. Live dealer games will be delayed based on information announced previously. The set date for those games is April 1. It seems online poker gaming may take even longer to launch, with no expected start date as of yet.
To prepare, Bally’s announced a partnership with Stakelogic last year, soon after the iGaming bill passed into law in June. The agreement was made because the bill called for all online table games to be in live dealer format.
Bally’s will use Stakelogic’s studio tech and software to offer live dealer gaming in the state. Plans are to offer blackjack, baccarat, and roulette, among other titles. Players will have to wait a bit longer to access this game section. It is unclear just how many live dealer games will be active as well as if they will operate 24/7 or with limited hours.
Rhode Island is taking a different approach with its table games. All other states offer a mix of table game options with live dealer and standard titles. It will be interesting to see if the live dealer-only option is popular among players or if online casino visitors stick with the slot games instead.
We have just a few weeks before the industry launches, and we can see how Bally’s operations function. Will Rhode Island see great success in its new industry?
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