Rhode Island expanded sports betting bill fails to pass
A bill that would have expanded the sports betting market in Rhode Island has failed to materialize despite passing in the State Senate in early June.
Senate Bill 748, which Sen. Frank Ciccone proposed, would have seen the state accept applications for up to five sportsbook licenses, including from DraftKings and FanDuel.
Currently, IGT is the only sportsbook operator in the state.
Although the bill was initially passed in the Senate by a vote of 30-2, it did not receive a committee hearing from the House before the 21 June deadline, effectively killing any attempt to open up the sports gambling industry in the state for another year.
The House’s failure to schedule a committee meeting on the matter is not surprising, as the bill had significant opposition. House Speaker, K. Joseph Shekarchi, had previously stated that he was not willing to discuss the matter until IGT’s current contract expired next year.
IGT Senior Vice President Joe Bertolone and Rhode Island Lottery Director Mark Furcolo had also raised concerns to the Senate and legislative committee about market expansion, which may have contributed to the bill not being discussed.
Although sports betting in the state has been legal since 2018, Rhode Island has remained with just one gambling operator taking bets. IGT has a 20-year contract with the state, set to expire in 2026.
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Charlotte Capewell brings her passion for storytelling and expertise in writing, researching, and the gambling industry to every article she writes. Her specialties include the US gambling industry, regulator legislation, igaming, and more.
