The Rhode Island Lottery had hoped to garner bids from several technology providers to partner on a system to provide sports betting to the state’s two casinos. As it happened, only one supplier placed a bid in response to the state’s request for proposals—current lottery supplier International Game Technology.
Rhode Island officials are moving on the assumption that the removal of the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act (PASPA), and its federal ban on sports betting, by the U.S. Supreme Court simply removes the federal roadblock to implement sports betting that was approved by voters in referendums in 2012 and 2016. IT is expected the two Twin Rivers casinos will implement sports books in partnership with the lottery.
IGT has been supplying technology for the Rhode Island Lottery since 2003. The supplier reported around $53 million in revenue from Rhode Island operations last year.
“The U.S. Supreme Court’s recent PASPA ruling presents an exciting opportunity for us,” said IGT CEO Marco Sala in an investor earnings call. “We have turnkey solutions for platforms, credit control, risk management support many advisory services that we have successfully deployed in Italy and internationally over the years. Our offering can support full-scale operation or a smaller format retail kiosk.
“Today, in the U.S., we provide a regulator-certified sports betting solution that is up and running at MGM’s casinos in Nevada. This solution is comprised of both land-based retail sports betting platform and the PlaySpot, our mobile solution.
“Ultimately, the opportunity will depend on how many states choose to allow it, how quickly they do so, and how the regulations will shape the offer. Having said that, we have a longstanding deep relationship with the U.S. casino operators and state lotteries, and have been actively engaged with them and government authorities to support shaping a safe and sustainable offer.”
“Last Friday, IGT submitted its proposal to the Rhode Island’s State Lottery to provide comprehensive sports betting operation,” said IGT head of investor relations Jim Hurley. “The proposal contemplates both land-based and digital wagering, and reportedly IGT was the sole bidder of the process. So we feel we are well-positioned.”
