Rhode Island is "getting into the sports betting game," as Gov. Gina Raimondo on Friday "signed the state's fiscal year budget, which includes provisions for the state's two Twin River Casinos ... to offer sports betting through the Rhode Island lottery," according to David Purdum of ESPN.com. The casinos are "targeting the fall to begin offering sports betting, with Oct. 1 a potential opening day." Rhode Island is the "third state this year to pass sports betting legislation." Delaware and New Jersey are "already up and running, and Mississippi and West Virginia are poised to be next to offer Las Vegas-style sports betting." Rhode Island sports betting will be "restricted to in-person wagering to start, with no mobile options allowed." Without any mobile wagering option, research firm Eilers & Krejcik Gaming projects Rhode Island sports betting "could generate" $25.6M in annual revenue off roughly $395M wagered (ESPN.com, 6/22). REUTERS' Hilary Russ noted Rhode Island will receive 51% of the "revenues from the wagers." The state's budget for the fiscal year starting July 1 counts on $23.5M of "new revenue from sports betting." The move "could give Rhode Island an early edge in New England's sports betting market." Meanwhile, sports and gaming law attorney Daniel Wallach said that Massachusetts is "expected to include online wagering in legislation later this year" (REUTERS, 6/22).
