Rhode Island moved closer to ending its single-operator sports betting model after the state Senate approved legislation that would bring several new sportsbooks into the market and overhaul the way betting revenue is distributed.
Lawmakers passed Substitute A to Senate Bill 3118 on Thursday (June 4). The measure, introduced by Sens. Frank Ciccone, John Burke, and Stefano Famiglietti, would revise state laws covering sports wagering, table games, and video lottery operations.
The proposal builds on a wider debate that has been underway in Rhode Island for more than a year. Since sports betting launched in 2019, International Game Technology has operated under an exclusive arrangement that effectively gave the company control of the state’s sports wagering market. Industry observers have long viewed Rhode Island as one of the few remaining states with a sportsbook monopoly.
Rhode Island opens the market to more sports betting operators
Under the bill, the Rhode Island Lottery Division would be required to seek additional sportsbook partners. The legislation says, “No later than January 1, 2027, the division shall issue an open invitation to applicants for sports-wagering vendor contracts and then shall award additional sports-wagering contracts until the total number of individual sports-wagering vendors operating in the state is no less than four (4) and no more than six (6).”
State officials would evaluate applicants based on technical capability, regulatory compliance records, experience in other jurisdictions, and their ability to generate revenue while limiting gambling-related harm. Any approved operators would face licensing obligations, audits, and consumer protection requirements.
The idea of expanding competition is not new. Earlier legislation introduced in 2025 proposed replacing the exclusive IGT arrangement with a system that would award at least five sportsbook licenses. It reflected growing interest in attracting major national brands and increasing overall betting activity.
The latest bill also redraws the revenue-sharing formula. Current law gives sportsbook vendors 32% of sports wagering revenue and host facilities 17%. The new structure would shift more revenue toward operators while reducing the share going to host casinos.
The state would collect 51% of sports wagering and online sports wagering revenue until it receives an amount equal to fiscal year 2025 revenue levels. After that point, the state’s share would drop to 12%.
Vendors would receive 40.5% until the benchmark is reached. Afterward, “the state’s authorized sports-wagering vendors shall receive seventy-nine and one-half percent (79.5%) of sports-wagering and online sports-wagering revenue.”
Host facilities would receive 8.5% of revenue, with a guaranteed minimum annual payment of $4.5 million. Lincoln and Tiverton would continue receiving $200,000 each as host communities.
The measure also gives operators more control over promotional activity. It states that “a sports-wagering vendor shall be permitted to make operational decisions with regard to marketing, advertising, and promotions” as long as those activities follow approved plans and regulations.
According to the bill’s explanation, the measure “would redefine sports wagering sections and specifically change the percent the host facilities would receive on sports wagering.”
The legislation would take effect immediately upon passage.
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