Rhode Island makes sports betting legal

Rhode Island became the third US state to make sports betting legal. It will come into force from October 1. Delaware and New Jersey have already legalised sports betting, following the US Supreme Court’s landmark order to allow states to make decision on sports betting.

State Governor Gina Raimondo signed the state’s fiscal budget for the year. The budget proposes measures for Rhode Island’s two Twin River casinos to accept sports bets.

The budget also offers provisions for the state to take 51 per cent of revenue made from sports betting.

However, the state will restrict sports betting to land-based services only, with no current plans to launch online.

According to the Reuters news agency, Paul Grimaldi, a spokesman for the Rhode Island Department of Revenue, said: “We wanted to start small and make sure we have the operational system down pat in the casinos before we explore online or mobile.”

Rhode Island follows Delaware and New Jersey in passing new sports betting laws in the wake of the Supreme Court’s decision to overturn the federal 1992 Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act (PASPA).

Two weeks ago, Mississippi also took a step closer to legalising sports betting after regulators in the state approved a set of new rules for such activities.

Source: iGamingBusiness.com