Rhode Island lawmakers prepare to vote on gambling bills as legislative deadline nears
Rhode Island Senate Majority Leader Frank Ciccone is confident that two gambling bills have a good chance of passing thanks to the support of newly elected Senate President Valarie Lawson.
If passed, Senate Bill 748 and Senate Bill 623 would expand the state’s sports betting industry and impose stricter penalties for underage online gaming.
Online gaming studio IGT currently has exclusive rights to run the state’s digital sportsbook, but its contract expires in November 2026.
If SB748 is approved, it could open the door to major sportsbook operators like DraftKings and FanDuel.
Senate spokesperson Greg Paré believes that the new Senate President is in favour of expanding the state’s gambling market, telling the Rhode Island Current in an email, “She believes the sports betting bill has merit.”
The bill is scheduled for a floor vote on 4 June, after the Senate Committee on Labor and Gaming recommended it with a 7-0 vote on Monday.
Along with opening the state to new vendors, SB623 will also allow the imposition of harsher penalties on people or groups who facilitate underage gambling.
This includes sanctions of up to one year in prison and a US$1,000 fine for letting anyone under 21 place bets or play mobile casino games, which can be handed out if the bills pass.
A similar bill, House Bill 5643, imposing penalties on underage gambling, was also up for reconsideration, with a vote scheduled for 29 April.
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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.
