Rhode Island last week became the seventh state in the U.S. to offer online casino gaming, when Bally’s Corporation launched its online casino, with slots and table games available within state limits beginning at noon on March 5.
Rhode Island’s iGaming law specifies that online casinos must be tied to a brick-and-mortar license, which gives Bally’s, the state’s only land-based operator, a monopoly on the online product. Bally’s operates the Bally’s Twin River Lincoln and Bally’s Tiverton casinos.
The initial site offers 170 slot games and live-dealer roulette and blackjack. Bally’s and its union workforce constructed a 4,000-square-foot live-dealer studio at its Lincoln casino. When fully operational, Bally’s expects the iGaming program will allow for the creation of 50 to 75 new jobs, both full and part-time positions.
“We are pleased to launch this new gaming product,” said Bally’s Rhode Island President Craig Eaton, “which is borne out of our partnership with the General Assembly, Governor McKee and our regulators, the Rhode Island Department of Revenue, Division of Lottery, Department of Business Regulation and RI State Police to enhance state revenue and better position the state’s casinos in the competitive New England gaming market.
“As with all gaming operations, the state will retain complete regulatory control of iGaming, with nearly 62 percent of the slot revenue and 15 percent of the table game revenue directed to the state.”
To register and play Rhode Island online gaming, customers must meet two requirements: they must be at least 21 years old and physically located within the state. Customers must create an online account by downloading the Bally Casino app or visiting Ballycasino.com.
“I was proud to sponsor the legislation authorizing iGaming in Rhode Island, and I am excited for its implementation,” said state Senate President Dominick Ruggerio. “iGaming will ensure that Rhode Island remains at the forefront of the competitive gaming industry, reinforcing a critical revenue stream for the state while providing an alternative form of entertainment. It builds upon other steps we have taken to better position Rhode Island in the gaming and hospitality industries, including a new partnership with CCRI to train Rhode Islanders for good-paying, secure job opportunities in gaming and related areas of the hospitality industry.”
Added Speaker K. Joseph Shekarchi, “This is a wonderful example of how the legislature and the private sector can work together to develop initiatives that enhance state revenues, which in turn, benefit our taxpayers. I congratulate Bally’s and its Rhode Island leadership team on its successful launch of this online gaming program as well as on their efforts to continuously seek ways to keep Rhode Island at the forefront in this competitive New England gaming market.”
Bally’s has partnered with Stakelogic, a leading live table games supplier, to provide its Live Dealer/Table Games software and studio technology.
Within the iGaming platform, participants can utilize responsible gaming tools to control their time and financial activity on the site:
- Deposit Limits – Players may elect to set deposit limits on a daily, weekly, and/or monthly basis.
- Session Limits – Players can set limits on the length of wagering sessions. Once a limit is reached, the player is logged out.
- Spend/Wager Limits – Players can set daily, weekly, and monthly spending limits.
- Cool Off/Time Out – A time period is configurable to support State regulations.
- Standard configuration allows players to set a cool off period of 72-hours and up to 4 weeks.
- Self-Exclusion – The platform has the framework to work with State regulators requirements to ensure player self-exclusion requests are adhered to.
