Sports Gambling Open For Business In R.I.

LINCOLN, RI — A Rhode Island casino became the first in New England with legal sports betting Monday. Twin Rivers Casino in Lincoln made the announcement Wednesday, Nov. 21, and had the ceremonial first bet at 3 p.m. with some Rhode Island lawmakers and casino officials.

Following a U.S. Supreme Court decision striking down federal law prohibiting sports gambling, Rhode Island legalized it in June and is one of six states to do so. The bill Governor Gina Raimondo signed not only legalizes sports betting, but gives 51 percent of the generated revenue back to to the state.

Twin Rivers dubbed it SportsBook.

“Sports gaming provides the state with revenue that offsets reliance on taxes to support essential state services, such as education and fixing roads and bridges,” Senate President Dominick Ruggerio said in a statement, the Associated Press reports.

Twin Rivers will get 17 percent of revenue from the gambling. Thirty-two percent will go to London-based International Game Technology (IGT) and William Hill, the companies running the services. The remaining 51 percent of revenue will go to the State of Rhode Island, which remains the only New England state with legislation legalizing sports betting.

Officials had hoped to get the ball rolling on Oct. 1, the AP reports, to make more revenue from betting on the NFL and World Series. However, negotiations with IGT and William Hill lasted longer than normal. After the delay, projected revenue from sports betting dropped from $23.5 million to about $11.5 million.

The Tiverton Casino Hotel is also set to host sports betting services.

See more on Patch:

• Rhode Island Lottery Chooses Casino Sports Betting Provider
• Legal Sports Gambling Starts In RI On Monday

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