WOYALE.
What's legal
Rhode Island runs sports betting as a state lottery product. By statute the state, through the Lottery, operates and controls sports wagering at the Twin River casino in Lincoln and the Tiverton casino. Sportsbook Rhode Island is the only authorized platform, available in person and online, with IGT supplying the technology. In January 2026 the Lottery extended IGT's contract through at least November 2028.
The minimum age is 18, among the lowest in the country. Rhode Island is small, so many bettors live near Massachusetts or Connecticut. A bet is legal only if it is placed through the Rhode Island platform from inside Rhode Island, and geolocation checks enforce that. A license from another state does not carry across the border.
Crypto and offshore sites
The state-run app uses ordinary payment methods. Licensed US sportsbooks generally do not take crypto deposits.
With only one licensed option, any other app or site taking Rhode Island bets is unlicensed. That includes crypto sportsbooks based abroad. Offshore crypto sportsbooks sometimes pitch Rhode Islanders by pointing at the single-app model. That is a sales pitch and carries no license. A site not run by the Rhode Island Lottery or an approved partner has no Rhode Island authority behind it, whatever coins it accepts.
What's changing
The Lottery issued a request for qualifications in December 2025 to add a second online operator. Only Bally's and Rush Street Interactive bid, and in May 2026 the Lottery selected Bally's for a five-year contract. The single-operator market continues until Bally's launches, which is expected in November 2026 at the earliest, once the contract is finalized.
Tax note
Rhode Island taxes gambling winnings as income at its state rates of 3.75, 4.75 and 5.99 percent, depending on your taxable income, in addition to federal tax.
Large payouts can trigger a W-2G. Keep records of wins and losses. The Woyale tax guides show a federal worked example, and a tax professional can address Rhode Island's rules.
Common questions
How many sportsbooks are legal in Rhode Island?
One: Sportsbook Rhode Island, operated by the state through the Rhode Island Lottery. The Lottery selected Bally's in May 2026 as a second operator, but that app is not yet live.
How old do you have to be to bet in Rhode Island?
You must be 18 or older.
Are crypto sportsbooks legal in Rhode Island?
No. Only the state-run sportsbook is authorized, and offshore crypto books are unlicensed.