Best Rhode Island Sportsbooks

Sports betting was legalized in Rhode Island in 2018, and since then both online and mobile sports wagering has gained immense popularity. The sports betting industry in Rhode Island has a vast number of online betting sites to choose from. However, to get the most from online sports wagering, you need to wager on reputable platforms. Our team of leading experts have reviewed and analyzed the various key metrics of sports betting available in Rhode Island. We also looked at the different sportsbooks in the jurisdiction and compiled a list of the best Rhode Island sportsbooks.

How We Found the Best Rhode Island Sportsbooks

Sports betting in Rhode Island is very popular among residents and guests. However, picking the right reputable online platforms is key for a good overall experience. While the state-licensed sportsbooks offer good services, bettors can alternatively access top-quality offshore sportsbooks. This means there are many different options when choosing which sportsbooks will meet your sports betting needs.

Finding the best sportsbooks can be challenging, especially if you are a novice gambler. However, experienced sports bettors fall prey to unscrupulous sports wagering platforms. If you are in Rhode Island, you might not be close to the retail sportsbooks. The only option will be to use online and mobile sportsbooks. All the sports betting platforms in our list have been reviewed and analyzed based on key factors below:

Licensing and Regulations

Bettors in Rhode Island have access to both local and offshore sportsbooks. The Rhode Island Lottery regulates all the state-licensed sportsbooks under the Business Regulation, Division of Gaming and Athletics (DBR). The regulatory body ensures that all the stakeholders’ operations and activities in the Rhode Island sports betting market fall within the legal regulations.

The legal restrictions of the Rhode Island Lottery don’t impact the use of offshore sportsbooks. All the offshore sportsbooks we have recommended in our list of the best Rhode Island are regulated and licensed by the best international regulatory bodies. Some of the notable international sports betting regulatory bodies in the world are;

• Antiguan Directorate of Offshore Gaming
• Malta Lottery and Gaming Authority (LGA)
• Panama Gambling Regulations
• Curacao Internet Gaming Association (CIGA)
• Kahnawake Gaming Commission (KGC)
• UK Gambling Commission

When accessing any sportsbooks we have recommended, you will find the relevant licensing and regulatory body listed at the bottom of the platform’s official web page. It’s suggested to wager on licensed and regulated platforms by either the Rhode Island Lottery or other international regulatory bodies. The regulatory bodies ensure that the operators offer fair sports wagering services to their players.

Available Bonuses

Sports betting bonuses and promotions are very popular among sportsbooks. However, with the current Rhode Island regulations, which prohibit the promotion of sportsbooks and gambling, operators have to be extra careful when offering promotions and bonuses. The state-licensed sportsbooks offer a consumer environment that is less friendly due to a lack of fierce competition. Bonuses and promotions play an important role in determining the best sportsbooks because they increase the player’s bankroll.

However, the Rhode Island offshore sportsbooks have plenty of bonuses and promotions that the state can use. Since the Rhode Island Lottery does not regulate offshore sportsbooks, they have various bonuses and promotions- of their own. Popular bonuses offered by offshore sportsbooks include the welcome bonus, free bets and deposit matches. Please note that these bonuses and promotions will have different wagering requirements that you need to fulfill before accessing the bonuses and wins from the prize.

If you are fine with playing with no bonuses and promotions, the state-licensed sportsbooks will be an ideal option. Bettors who want to increase their bankroll using various bonuses and promotions should opt for offshore sportsbooks.

Sports and Betting Markets

The best sportsbooks will cover various sporting events ranging from local to international leagues. The Rhode Island best sportsbooks cover all the sporting events legally allowed by the state. Gamblers can bet on various sports ranging all the way from college to international leagues. You can wager on a number of popular sports/events with the best sportsbooks in Rhode Island:

• NFL Sportsbooks
• NBA Sportsbooks
• NHL Sportsbooks
• MLB Sportsbooks
• UFC Sportsbooks
• Boxing Sportsbooks
• NASCAR Sportsbooks
• Soccer Sportsbooks
• Tennis Sportsbooks
• Golf Sportsbooks
• Horse Racing Sportsbooks

The sports betting market varies depending on the operator and the sports you are wagering on. Some betting markets are universal, while others are more specific to certain sports. Gamblers can also bet on the teams and individual players depending on the sports. Common betting markets available on the best Rhode Island sportsbooks are:

• Money Line Bets
• Point Spread
• Over/Under (Totals)
• Parlay Bets
• Teasers
• Prop Bets
• Futures Bets

It’s best to go for betting markets that you fully understand and how they operate. Novice bettors should start out with easy-to-understand betting markets such as moneyline bets and futures.

Live Streaming and Live Betting

Sportsbooks are now offering the live stream feature, which gives players a chance to follow ongoing sporting events.  The best sportsbook will cover the latest sporting events and provide ongoing updates on the ongoing matches. Live streaming gives players the convenience of following sporting events from their accounts.

Live betting is a sports wager placed after the sporting event has started. Players can change their bets based on the ongoing activities of the match. With live betting, players can change the traditional betting markets as the game continues and increase their chances of winning a bet.

Security

Bookmarkers need to use the best SSL encryptions and security measures to keep data protected. The banking methods offered by the platform also need to be secure. The best Rhode Island sportsbooks use the latest and most innovative security systems to ensure there is no unauthorized access to information by third parties.

User Experience

Having a user-friendly platform is very key when it comes to picking the best sportsbooks. No one wants to spend an hour mastering the navigation system of the sportsbooks. Instead, bettors want to spend more time wagering and analyzing sporting events. The user experience is also determined by the availability of the mobile application and mobile optimization of the platform. Players prefer accessing sportsbooks from their smartphones through mobile-optimized platforms or mobile applications.

Banking Methods

While there are no restrictions on the banking methods to be used by the Rhode Island sportsbooks, it’s important to check the available banking methods at each sportsbook before signing up. Most sportsbooks will advise bettors to use one banking method when making deposits and withdrawals.

Apart from banking methods having different deposit and withdrawal limits, they also have other withdrawal processing times. All our recommended sportsbooks in Rhode Island offer a wide variety of banking methods, with e-wallets and cryptocurrencies allowing you to withdraw in less than a few hours.

There is great demand for sportsbooks offering each of the following payment methods: PayPal sportsbooks, Bitcoin sportsbooks, crypto sportsbooks, Neteller sportsbooks and Skrill sportsbooks.

Rhode Island Sports Betting Regulations

Real money sports betting sites are legal in Rhode Island after Governor Gina Raimondo signed Bill SB2919 into law in 2019. Bettors have previously been wagering on retail state-licensed sportsbooks since 2018. However, to place any bet on a sporting event, you need to be geographically located in Rhode Island. All sportsbooks in Rhode Island are expected to use geolocation systems to determine the location of bettors.

The Business Regulation, Division of Gaming and Athletics (DBR) regulates all the Rhode Island sports wagering industry operations. The division also issues licenses to operators seeking to provide sports betting services to residents of Rhode Island. All the gambling, lottery and sports betting activities in Rhode Island are regulated by the Rhode Island Lottery. Apart from being geographically located in Rhode Island, the gambling laws also require all players to be 18 years and older.

Bettors in Rhode Island have access to both state-licensed and offshore sportsbooks. The state-licensed sportsbook offers sports wagering for major sporting events, both local and international. There are different options for Rhode Island sports betting; you can either wager from the retail sportsbooks or use the online sportsbooks. Currently, the state has two state-licensed retail sportsbooks for in-person betting and several online sportsbooks.

Online Sports Betting in Rhode Island

Sports betting in Rhode Island was initially limited to retail sportsbooks until July 28, 2020. Gamblers can take part in remote sports wagering activities, so long as they are geographically located in Rhode Island when making a bet. The state-licensed operators use defencing software to prevent wagering activities from out-of-state sports bettors. Players’ accounts can be opened on both mobile apps and online sports betting platforms.

Rhode Island remote sports betting offers players plenty of conveniences, by allowing them to wager from any location within the state. They can also access the sportsbooks and have access to more games, especially international competitions. When mobile and online sports betting was legalized in Rhode Island, bettors from the state were then onwards allowed to wager on both state-licensed and offshore sportsbooks.

However, players can’t gamble at online casinos, even though offline and online sports wagering is legal in Rhode Island. There are currently no online casinos operating in the state, thanks to the current legislation which prevents online casino services.

Even though online and mobile sports betting is allowed, it’s illegal for anyone to engage in unlawful gambling activities. It’s a Class C felony for anyone to promote or participate in illegal gambling activities in Rhode Island. You can get a sentence of up to two years and a fine (maximum $2000).

Taxation

All the states in the US that have legalized sports betting have a taxation system for the operators and players. Sportsbooks operating within the Rhode Island jurisdiction are expected to pay a tax revenue of 51% of revenue. Additionally, Rhodes Island and Delaware have revenue sharing models, where the collected revenue is shared between the operators, casinos and the state. Rhode Island is one of the states with the highest tax rates on operators.

Apart from taxing the operators, the Rhode Island Lottery has a tax rate for all Rhode Island residents’ wins from sports wagering. Winnings from legal gambling activities in the state are classed as taxable income. If you win any bets while playing at the Rhode Island sportsbook, you are expected to pay a state tax of 5.99% of all gambling and sports betting winnings. You will also be required to pay the federal tax of 24% of your winnings separately. If your winnings are more than a certain threshold, you may be required to pay more taxes.

Regulatory Body

The Rhode Island Lottery regulates gambling, lottery and sports wagering activities. The Rhode Island Lottery was established in 1974 and is a voluntary source of income for the residents of Rhode Island. It also handles all the tax collection from the various stakeholders in the legal Rhode Island gambling sector.

The Rhode Island Lottery only regulates and monitors the activities of state-licensed retail and online sportsbooks. Offshore sportsbooks in Rhode Island are regulated by international sports betting and gambling regulatory bodies.

Horse Racing Betting

There are no horse racing tracks in Rhode Island, despite the state having a rich history with the sport. In 1934, Narragansett Park opened its doors and turned out to be one of the most profitable horse tracks in the state. A few years later, in 1947, Lincoln Downs opened another horse race betting spot for sports betting enthusiasts. Unfortunately, the two-horse tracks were shut down in the 1970s.

However, horse racing fans in Rhode Island can still wager on various horse racing events that are taking place outside the US. The sportsbooks in our list offer multiple horse racing betting options for both US-based horse racing and international events.

Daily Fantasy Sports

Bettors residing in Rhode Island can wager on fantasy sports. Peter F. Kilmartin, Rhode Island Attorney General, ruled in 2016 that daily fantasy sports sites were legal under the Rhode Island state laws. The ruling was made after the attorney general’s office carried out tests to determine whether the fantasy sports were indeed a game of chance.

The tests showed that fantasy sports met the state’s legal definition of gambling because it was a mixture of both skill and luck. Various Rhode Island sportsbooks offer fantasy sports. Some of the popular fantasy sports you can bet on when accessing the Rhode Island sportsbooks are online daily Fantasy NBA, MLB, NHL, and MHS.

Conclusion

Our detailed guide has covered every key aspect of sports wagering in Rhode Island. Since sports betting is legal, the market is constantly growing, offering bettors from the state plenty of perks. Mobile and online sports wagering has made it easier for bettors, a far cry from retail sportsbooks services. Find your preferred sportsbooks from our list of the best Rhodes Island sportsbooks.