Rhode Island Mobile Sports Betting – 2023’s Top Mobile Sports Betting Sites & Apps

For sports fans in Rhode Island, the good news is you were one of the first states to have legal online sports betting. It was back in 2019 when mobile sports wagering went live in the Ocean State, and to improve the mobile betting experience, remote registration was introduced in 2020. 

The bad news is we are in 2023 and there are still very few regulated gambling options available to Rhode Islanders. This is why if you want to expand your mobile gambling capabilities, you have to join Rhode Island sports betting sites located offshore.

The mobile integration has gone great overseas in a place like Costa Rica where sports betting and online casino gaming are perfectly legal. To get you started on the best mobile sportsbooks, we are going to show you the best available, what criteria make them the best, and how to get started winning real money.

Highest-Rated Mobile Sports Betting Sites

The Best Mobile Sportsbooks & Apps in RI

There are many offshore sportsbooks to choose from, but our top 10 list consists of top-graded mobile sports betting sites located in Costa Rica, Panama and Antigua.

1. Bookmaker.eu: Best early betting lines
2. Heritage Sports: Best cash back
3. Bovada: Best prop betting
4. BetOnline: Best opinionated lines
5. BetAnySports: Best reduced juice
6. BetUS: Best expert analysis and stats on sports events
7. WagerWeb: Best for crypto users
8. JustBet: Best reload bonuses
9. Everygame: Best site design
10. SportsBetting.ag: Best for contests and exciting promotions

Are mobile sportsbooks legal in Rhode Island?

Offshore sportsbooks are not regulated in Rhode Island, but that does not necessarily mean they are illegal or that you cannot use them. Gambling laws only provide for regulated online sportsbooks, and the only one so far that the state allows for mobile sports wagering is the Sportsbook Rhode Island app and mobile site. 

But if you want more options for your online gambling activities, then you need to check out international sportsbooks. We have provided a list of the most trustworthy mobile betting sites operating offshore to join that will accept Rhode Island users.

Reviewing the Best Mobile Sports Betting Sites in Rhode Island

From Rhode Island’s top ten, we have included a deeper review of our top five mobile betting sites. None of these companies have a native app to download, but you can always visit their mobile sites on your favorite device.

1. Bookmaker: Best Early Betting Lines

Costa Rica and Panama are home to our top five sports betting sites, but the No. 1 spot belongs to Bookmaker.eu, which has earned a great reputation since launching in 1996. Mobile bettors get the earliest betting lines in the market with Bookmaker, which is why so many sharps prefer to bet with them. This is also a valuable lesson for new bettors in Rhode Island as you can get the best value possible with an early line before the market shifts things a different way.

But beyond the early lines, you can bet on a variety of props and parlays at Bookmaker. They offer some unique ones not found at competing sites, like the ability to bet on a player to not score a touchdown in NFL island games. 

The mobile site works well for live betting, and you can always add Bookmaker to your home screen for quicker access like an app. You will find casino games available, and live dealer table games work fine without much lag as you gamble with a real dealer on video chat. You get reasonable limits on those games too to help the mobile betting experience feel more like a casino. 

Bookmaker lacks poker tournaments, but the sports betting options are the main draw here. If you are serious about sports betting, then you have to check out Bookmaker for the early lines alone. 

2. Heritage Sports: Best Cashback Promotion In Rhode Island

One of our favorite mobile sites is Heritage Sports. Everything from the color scheme to user interface works well in making it easy to create parlays, do live betting, and switch over to the casino where you can play demo versions for free of every game offered.

But the big appeal at Heritage Sports is the ability to get cash back on the racebook, sportsbook, and casino. You can then use that bonus money anywhere you want on the site with no restrictions, which is not always seen on these sites.

There are also nice perks like a free birthday parlay, and you can get some of the best reduced juice with -108 lines instead of the standard -110. Try out the mobile site at Heritage Sports if you want to see what live betting should look like with a great site filled with sports markets from around the world. 

3. Bovada: Best Prop Betting Tool In the Industry

Bovada has an extensive list of sports from around the world, including dozens of different soccer leagues, snooker, cricket, and table tennis. You also get a ton of prop picks for the most popular markets like NFL and NBA. The prop builder is one of the best in the business, and Bovada is open to receiving suggestions for props and specials. If accepted, you and other users will be able to bet on those too.

Bovada is also very generous to crypto users with a 75% welcome bonus on the sportsbook up to $750. Those bonus funds will last for 14 days before expiring. The welcome bonuses are a big deal at Bovada, because the ongoing promos are not as common as we would like to see. However, you can join a reward program where you accumulate points and redeem them for things like cash bonuses, and you will not lose your tier status over time like at some other sites. 

Poker fans will also rejoice with the tournament options available at Bovada, which runs on the busiest network for American poker players. There is something for everyone to enjoy at Bovada, a great choice for a Rhode Island user who may be brand new to online casino gambling. 

4. BetOnline: Best Opinionated Lines

With BetOnline, you can get opinionated lines on the most popular markets. These are exclusive lines that you can play as singles or parlay together, which gives BetOnline a heads up over some of the most popular American sportsbooks like FanDuel and Caesars.

One glaring weakness is that the reduced juice at BetOnline is only for NHL markets. It needs to be for the other more popular leagues too. But you can get plenty of unique sports promos and enter sports contests at BetOnline. They also do poker tournaments at a rate that only Bovada can surpass. 

BetOnline’s trademark service is to offer high limits and fast payouts using a variety of banking methods. They accept crypto too. The welcome bonuses are among the most generous available. 

5. BetAnySports: Best Reduced Juice In the Industry

Some of the best reduced juice in the market can be found at BetAnySports with -105 lines instead of traditional -110 lines. However, it can be confusing at first to find this on the site as they offer sports betting lines in a variety of sections. But once you figure it out, this is a top sportsbook with an excellent prop builder that can rival any site. Live betting is also functional on the mobile site.

You also can get cash back on your betting volume. The customer service is very helpful with 24/7 live chat available. Live streaming is available for select foreign markets after you make a deposit to your account. This is also the only site that offers lottery drawings from a variety of states, including the Pick 4 daily drawing in Rhode Island. Winners get 80% better payouts too.

How We Rated the Top Mobile Sportsbooks

The sports betting market is filled with options, but we judge each online sportsbook against a long list of criteria that we deem the most important to providing a quality mobile betting experience. This can range from the type of wagering available to quality of bonuses to a wide variety of deposit methods to customer service. We explain our criteria in detail below, so continue reading for that. 

Rhode Island’s History of Sports Gambling – Explained

Sports gambling does not have a long history in Rhode Island. That is largely because the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act (PASPA) of 1992 outlawed sports betting in just about every place not named Nevada. 

But a great change came in 2018 when PASPA was overturned, and all states were free again to choose to make sports betting laws for legal betting. Rhode Island wasted almost no time and was able to pass a standalone sports betting bill a month later in June. This would allow in-person betting at the two retail sports betting locations at casinos in Rhode Island.

Rhode Island even struck a sweet deal by getting 51% of the revenue generated from sports betting. That is the highest rate of any state in the country that has passed sports betting. The rest is split between the sportsbook (32%) and casino (17%).

By 2019, online sports betting was also given the green light in Rhode Island in another bill. Initially, bettors had to meet an in-person registration requirement before they could download the Sportsbook Rhode Island app, which is still the only state-regulated online sportsbook in the Ocean State.

Thankfully, 2020 brought remote registration to Rhode Island, which has allowed more users to get started with legal sports bets at the state’s only licensed sportsbook. 

There is hope to expand the gambling options in Rhode Island, and getting more third-party sportsbook apps would be a good start. But much work is still to be done in the sports betting laws to get to full gambling capabilities like nearby states like Pennsylvania and New Jersey. 

Rhode Island’s Legal Gambling Timeline

The following timeline shows the recent history Rhode Island went through for legal sports wagering:

• February 2023: Bally’s hopes to soon offer online casino gambling in the state (poker, blackjack, etc.), but it will have to find support in a bill before anything can be passed into law like the way the standalone sports betting bill made it in 2018.
• 2022: For the calendar year 2022, Rhode Island reportedly took $532.6 million in betting handle and $49.2 million in sports betting revenue.
• July 2020: Users are now allowed to register remotely to start using the Sportsbook Rhode Island app and site instead of having to do in-person registration at retail locations like the land-based casinos.  
• 2019: While the earlier gambling laws were for in-person retail betting, the Governor also signs into law the inclusion of online sports betting in Rhode Island in March. In an alliance with the state lottery, IGT, and William Hill, the Sportsbook Rhode Island launches as the only regulated online sportsbook with a license in the state.
• June 2018: Governor Gina Raimondo signs bill S7200A into law, legalizing in-person bets at two state casinos. Rhode Island would get 51% of the tax revenue from sports betting, the highest of any state in the country by more than 10 percentage points.
• May 2018: After years of legal challenges, the Supreme Court reverses PASPA, meaning states can choose to legalize betting laws for both in-person sports betting and online sports gambling. Rhode Island meets almost immediately in an effort to start legally allowing the inclusion of sports betting in the state.

Key Features of Mobile Sports Betting Sites

In the following sections, we look at what makes our criteria for grading these online sportsbooks an important feature. A quality mobile sports wagering experience should excel in these areas. 

Do they have competitive betting odds?

We like to see a sportsbook that offers reduced juice, such as BetAnySports (-105) and Heritage Sports (-108) where you can get better betting odds than the traditional -110 lines. BetOnline also has reduced juice, but it is only for NHL markets. 

But it is important to join multiple sportsbooks just so you can shop around for the best prices on bets you want to make. The books will be competitive across the board in their betting lines, but good value plays can be found by shopping around. 

Do they offer a variety of betting markets?

The more loaded a betting suite is with different types of wagering, the more likely a user is willing to stay on that site instead of seeking another sportsbook. This is why we expect these sites to be competitive with their gambling options, including flexible parlay building, same-game parlays, parlays across multiple sports, and plenty of props and futures bets. 

Do they accept a wide variety of banking methods?

Today, there are many different ways to pay for things on the internet. It is important to see a sportsbook that has high debit card and credit card acceptance, options for eWallets (PayPal), and cryptocurrency. This should be for deposits and withdrawals, and we want to see small fees, reasonable limits, and quick processing times for these different banking methods. 

Do they offer generous bonuses & promos?

Generous bonuses are very important to get people to use a specific sportsbook. The welcome bonus is usually the biggest bonus of them all, and that often comes as a deposit bonus based on how much your initial deposit is. Be sure to read the full terms and conditions for that, because you will have to satisfy a rollover requirement before any of those bonus funds can be withdrawn.

For existing users, there are usually plenty of bonus codes and ongoing promos that may require the user to opt into. You can also get a referral bonus for getting a friend to join the site with your invitation link. If they make a deposit with their new account, you can both receive bonus bets. 

Do they offer live betting?

Live betting is constantly growing in popularity as fans get used to taking advantage of live betting lines to either enhance their viewing experience, hedge their pre-game bets or just have more fun with the game. A good live betting platform is very important for a mobile site to be considered top tier now. 

Do they provide a high-quality mobile user experience?

Mobile wagering accounts for a huge market share of sports betting today, especially for the online wagers as people love to bet on the go instead of being hunkered down on their computers like in the old days. For this reason, having a great mobile betting experience is crucial. Sports bettors need a well-designed site that is easy to deposit money, place bets, and withdraw any winnings. 

Do they offer a variety of customer support options?

The more customer support options, the better the grade for this key area. You should be able to contact a company by message request, email, phone number, or live chat. The hours of operation also matter as 24/7 works best. 

Do they take their customer’s safety seriously?

There are many scams and data breaches on the internet these days, so it is understandable why someone would feel nervous about sharing personal and financial data with an offshore company. But we only choose sites with great reputations and years of service in the industry, so we count on them to be keeping up with the latest security measures to protect your data and make your experience safe. 

What sports can you bet on online in Rhode Island?

It is probably fair to say that most people in Rhode Island who do online sports betting are interested in popular sports, including professional sports teams in the NFL, NBA, MLB, and NHL. But there are also plenty of gambling options for extensive sports markets and leagues from around the world, especially if you use an offshore sportsbook.

In the following sections, we look at the different sports Rhode Island’s top mobile betting sites offer.

Football

America’s favorite sport, you can expect to find many betting markets for the NFL and the top college teams in the NCAAF, as well as some standard ones for leagues like the CFL, XFL, and USFL.

Basketball

The NBA is king with basketball, but you can also expect betting markets on many leagues in Europe, Asia, and other international markets. You can also bet on the WNBA and the NCAAB, including events like March Madness.

Baseball

Beyond MLB bets, you can expect to place bets on the World Baseball Classic and many leagues in Japan and Korea to name a few. 

College Sports

When it comes to collegiate sports, you cannot bet on any events that take place in Rhode Island if you use the Sportsbook Rhode Island app. However, you can bet on as many collegiate sports as you want with offshore sportsbooks. Bet on college football, basketball, baseball, hockey, and more at offshore sites. 

Other Sports

There are many other sports available at offshore sportsbooks. The following list is not inclusive but a good idea of how varied, niche, and deep these markets can get:

• Aussie Rules
• Boxing
• Cricket
• Cycling
• Darts
• Esports
• Golf
• Handball
• Hockey
• Horse racing
• MMA (UFC)
• Motor racing
• Rugby
• Snooker
• Soccer
• Table Tennis
• Tennis
• Volleyball

Mobile Sites Versus Apps for Betting in Rhode Island

In the next section, we are going to look at the differences in the mobile betting experience using mobile sports betting apps versus mobile betting sites. The online sportsbooks covered above do not have apps available, but those in Rhode Island are likely familiar with the Sportsbook Rhode Island app as it is the only licensed app for mobile sports wagering in the state.

Mobile Sports Betting Sites

Most of us are doing online betting with the use of our favorite mobile device, so it is important to have a good mobile site that is easy to use. The mobile integration of online sports betting has led to these sites producing good mobile versions of their sites that are optimized to run on a smartphone or tablet.

The offshore sportsbooks rely heavily on mobile sites as they do not have apps downloadable on the Android or iOS stores just yet. But fortunately, mobile gambling works well enough on these sites, even if you want to do live betting while watching a game. 

Mobile Sports Betting Apps

When using a sportsbook app, you usually just need to touch the icon and you will instantly be in the app. You can typically log in quicker using your phone’s biometric option (fingerprint), though passing the geolocation test can get trickier on an app at times depending on your connection strength.

Using mobile sports betting apps will also take up storage space on your phone, use data when roaming without Wi-Fi, and you have to keep up with downloading and installing app updates, which also take up space on your phone.

But mobile apps still tend to run smoother and look better than mobile sites, and they make it easier to track your bets and share pictures on social media or with friends of your bet slips. 

Signing Up With Mobile Sportsbooks

It is a very simple process to create an account with a mobile sportsbook. We are going to walk you through the four steps associated with that, and it should be roughly the same process no matter which site you are signing up for.

Step 1. Create Your Account

Go to the site you want to join and find the link to create or register a new account. You will typically have to create your password, which should always be something unique that you are not using anywhere else. 

Step 2. Verify All of Your Information

Most sportsbooks will want to verify your identity before finalizing the creation of your new account. Be sure to use your real name, address, email address, and mobile phone number you can be reached at. 

Step 3. Deposit Funds Into Your Account

With your account created and logged in, you now can deposit funds into your account using the deposit method you feel most comfortable with. Before you make that deposit, you should read up on any welcome bonus that involves a first-deposit bonus. Make sure to read the terms and conditions of that offer as only your first deposit will usually count for it. 

Step 4. Enjoy Wagering On-the-Go

Now that your account has money, you can start placing bets in any manner you please. Try out live betting, build your first parlay, or just settle on a classic pre-game single play that you really like. 

How to Create a Betting App for Rhode Island

While these offshore sportsbooks lack a downloadable native app, you can always use their mobile sites on your favorite smartphone like it is a sportsbook app. We go through the steps on how to do that below to improve your mobile sports wagering experience. This should work regardless if you are using an Android or iOS device for your online sports gambling. 

Step 1: Go to the Betting Site on Your Phone’s Browser

With your account already created, go to the webpage on your phone of the sportsbook you want to create a betting app with. 

Step 2: Open the Browser Menu

Next to the URL, you should have an icon for settings or a list of options in the browser menu. You want to find the option that says, “Add to Home screen” and enter that.

Step 3: Add to Your Home Screen

Name your connection something appropriate like the name of the sportsbook, then add it to your home screen by clicking “Add.” 

Step 4: Confirm

On an Android, a confirmation screen will pop up telling you to touch and hold the icon to add it or just hit “Add” again to confirm this move. Confirm the move to the home screen.

Step 5: Launch the App

Go to your home screen where the icon was just created as a shortcut for this sportsbook, and simply touch it to go right into it. Now you can start placing your bets or doing your business on that sportsbook after one touch and quick access. 

Rhode Island Sports Betting Bonuses & Promo Codes

The promos and bonuses can draw in many users to an online sportsbook. Sometimes these offers come with a bonus code, or you must opt into the promo before you can receive it, but these are always important to keep track of.

Here is a sample list of bonuses you can expect to see at online sportsbooks: 

• Deposit matches
• Reload bonuses
• Risk-free bets
• Reduced juice
• Enhanced odds on select markets
• Parlay boosts
• Parlay insurance bets (get money back if your parlay loses by one leg)
• Free birthday parlay (available at Heritage Sports)
• Cashback on your total betting volume each quarter (available at Heritage Sports)
• Free deposits after meeting certain requirements 
• Refer-a-friend program
• Reward programs for loyal users

FAQs – Rhode Island Mobile Sports Gambling