Rhode Island third US State to legalise sports betting

Rhode Island legalises sports betting and joins Delaware and New Jersey in passing new law

Rhode Island has become the third US state to legalise sports betting this year, joining early adopters, Delaware and New Jersey, and plans to begin taking wagers from October 1.

On Friday, State Governor Gina Raimondo signed the state’s fiscal year budget, which includes measures for Rhode Island’s two Twin River casinos to accept sports bets.

The state’s decision follows the landmark Supreme Court Decision to give states a free reign to make their own laws on sports betting.

The budget also offers provisions for the state to take 51 per cent of revenue made from sports betting. However, Rhode Island, the smallest state in the US, will limit sports betting to land-based services only, with no current plans to launch online.

According to the Reuters news agency, Paul Grimaldi, a spokesman for the Rhode Island Department of Revenue, said: “We wanted to start small and make sure we have the operational system down pat in the casinos before we explore online or mobile.”

Rhode Island follows Delaware and New Jersey in passing new sports betting laws in the wake of the Supreme Court’s decision to overturn the federal 1992 Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act (PASPA).

Two weeks ago, Mississippi also moved closer towards legalisation after regulators in the state approved a set of new rules for such activities.