Rhode Island Online Gambling – Top Online Gambling Sites in RI for 2025
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Scott Kacsmar
- August 1, 2024
Rhode Island may be the smallest state in the country by surface area, but it is not last in the online options for gambling. Citizens are able to bet on sports in Rhode Island, as well as horse racing, and play daily fantasy sports as part of the legal online betting platform in the Ocean State.
But if in-person sports betting at the two state-owned casinos and one state-licensed sportsbook are not enough for you as a sports bettor in Rhode Island, we understand. That is why we have this guide to help you find the best Rhode Island sports betting sites and online casino games where you can win real money today.
You just have to be willing to join offshore gambling sites, and we have the best and safest experiences out there reviewed for you to decide the best fit.
The Ocean State’s Best Online Gambling Sites
| SPORTSBOOK | TRUST SCORE | BONUS | ONLINE SINCE | Bet Now |
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20% Cash Bonus
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2001
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$250 Free Bet
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2001
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$500 Cash Bonus
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1985
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$750 Cash Bonus
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1994
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55% Cash Bonus
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2001
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$500 Cash Bonus
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1983
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Rhode Island’s Highest-Rated Online Gambling Sites
The following list is our top 10 selections for the best online gambling sites for Rhode Island users. They are all located in countries where it is legal to do online betting. These sites are following the laws of their local jurisdictions, and you are within your right to join them from Rhode Island.
- BookMaker – Great for all sports bettors
- Heritage Sports – Rhode Island’s best cashback programs
- Bovada – Huge crypto bonuses and poker tournaments
- BetOnline – Fast payouts and massive casino library
- BetAnySports – Reduced juice and lottery games
- JustBet – Generous reload bonuses
- BetUS – Expert analysis and predictions
- WagerWeb – Ideal for crypto users
- Everygame – Top-tier Rhode Island gambling site with poker tournaments
- SportsBetting.ag – Unique sports promos
Can you legally gamble online in Rhode Island?
Yes, Rhode Island has legal online sports betting, horse racing, and daily fantasy sports (DFS). What it has not yet passed is legal online casino gaming like blackjack, roulette, slots, other table games and poker. That could change in the near future, but for now, you have to seek out an offshore sportsbook for those activities.
Keep in mind you must be at least 18 years old to join any of these sites, as that is the legal gambling age for any gambling activities in Rhode Island.
Comparison of the Best Gambling Sites for RI Bettors
Anyone can put together a top 10 list, but we also have in-depth reviews of our top online gambling sites. Find out their pros and cons below before deciding which sounds like the right choice for you, though we do recommend creating accounts at multiple sites to get the full online gambling experience.
1. Great for All Sports Bettors: BookMaker
Key Features
- Best sportsbook for early lines
- Solid racebook
- Casino games with RTP data
Bookmaker.eu has built a great reputation since 1996 for being the earliest on the market with betting lines in the sportsbook. This is why sharp bettors love Bookmaker, not to mention they will not limit winning players. But that is why novices in Rhode Island looking for a great sportsbook can also enjoy what Bookmaker has to offer on that front.
Bookmaker also does props and live betting well. You can expect competitive odds on popular markets and niche leagues from around the world. You also get a great racebook with fixed odds for dozens of racetracks across the world.
Bookmaker does not have a poker room or many casino games, but the ones that are available have important return-to-player (RTP) info, which tells you on average how much the game pays back to the player. The closer to 100%, the better it is for you to play that game.
There is also a great reward program with three tiers where you can get big reload bonuses. Bookmaker is an excellent choice for a Rhode Island gambler looking to get started with the online gambling scene.
2. Best Cashback Programs: Heritage Sports
Key Features
- Great mobile site for live betting
- Best programs for cashback and reduced juice
- No restrictions on where to use bonus funds
For over 20 years, Heritage Sports has steadily improved into one of Costa Rica’s best A+ rated online betting sites. You can get cashback at daily, weekly, monthly, or quarterly intervals with great cashback programs for the racebook, casino and sportsbook.
You can also get unique perks like a free birthday parlay or every eighth deposit is free. Reduced juice is also something Heritage Sports does better than most, with -108 lines and more for Premier League soccer matchups. The mobile site is one of the best for live betting with a good user interface and a wide variety of leagues available throughout the day, no matter which time zone you are in.
The casino section has free-to-try versions, so you can get good at Pai Gow Poker, your favorite games in the slot offerings, and much more. They also have live dealer games accessible with video chat and text messaging.
The welcome bonus is not that big at Heritage Sports, but it makes up for it with the ongoing promos and cashback programs. The best part about bonus funds at Heritage Sports is that they can be used anywhere on the site with no restrictions.
3. Huge Crypto Bonuses and Poker Tournaments: Bovada
Key Features
- America’s busiest poker network
- Crypto users get huge welcome bonuses
- Great prop builder
Bovada is well known as an offshore gambling site thanks to having a lot of poker tournaments and games available on the busiest network for North American poker players. But they also have a top-graded sportsbook with a great prop builder, and you can even recommend props and specials to be added to the site. The racebook has some of the best design, and no one does virtual racing better.
The site is well organized with sections for sports, poker, racing and the casino. Bovada used to have a native app you could download, but now you can just use the mobile site and add it to your home screen to use it much like you would an app with quick access to everything.
The crypto bonuses are massive at Bovada. You can get up to $3,750 in bonus bets over your first three crypto deposits. Bovada is very crypto-friendly with free and fast payouts. But ongoing promos for existing users are not as common as on other sites. Fortunately, there is a good rewards program where you can accumulate points to buy cash bonuses.
4. Fast Payouts and Massive Casino Library: BetOnline
Key Features
- Opinionated lines on top sports markets
- Hundreds of casino games, including many exclusive titles
BetOnline is a great choice for Rhode Island users looking for that all-around gambling experience. You can get poker tournaments on par with Bovada after downloading some free poker software to play. You also get hundreds of casino games, many of them exclusive, for what is the largest casino library on our top 10 list. The games are newer than rivals like Bovada and Bookmaker, and you will find plenty of your favorite games if you are familiar with online casino slot offerings.
BetOnline also does live dealer games and live betting on the sportsbook well. The sportsbook has a solid prop builder with opinionated lines on popular markets that you can use in parlays. The NHL lines even have reduced juice, so you can get very competitive odds on those markets. You also get access to very unique sports promos, including bad beat insurance bets and some risk-free bets for trying out live bets or your first horse race wager.
The other elements that make BetOnline great to use are the fast payouts, high limits and generous welcome bonuses. It makes for a very easy spot to get started with a big bonus and start playing a variety of casino games and having access to tons of sports markets from around the world.
5. Reduced Juice and Lottery Games: BetAnySports
Key Features
- Very competitive odds on sportsbook
- Excellent prop builder
- Great variety with seven different casinos
If you ever wanted to play the Rhode Island Pick 4 lottery game from home, you can do that with BetAnySports’ exclusive Lotto section. They have drawings for Pick 2, Pick 3, Pick 4 and Pick 5 from a variety of states around the country. You can play as much as you want for as many days as you want here, and if you win, you will get 80% better payouts than at a retail location.
But beyond the unique lottery offerings, BetAnySports does a great job with reduced juice (-105) on the sportsbook. The prop builder is also up there with Bovada for one of the best around. You will find plenty of leagues and markets from all over the world here.
The casino comes with seven different casinos to choose from. Each has its own selection of games, though there is some overlap. But you can find 3D slots, live dealer games and plenty of other popular choices.
BetAnySports does have a confusing site design in the sportsbook, but once you get used to it, you’ll find that this is one of the most functional and versatile online casinos available to Rhode Island users. It is why we give it an A+ rating.
Details on Our Rating Methodology
When it comes to grading these offshore sites, our methodology stands up no matter which gambling activities are being offered at the site. You should always be able to deposit money in a variety of ways, easily navigate a good mobile site, place bets without an issue, enjoy a wide variety of betting options and promos and get paid your winnings on time. If you need customer service, that should be available to you in a timely fashion too.
The History of Gambling Laws in the Ocean State
One of the original colonies, Rhode Island would have lotteries in various towns in the 1700s to generate some tax revenue. But all forms of gambling were banned in the state in 1896. It was not until 1934 when the state approved pari-mutuel betting on horse racing by a huge margin that Rhode Island had any real, legal gambling available.
Horse racing really took off at this point. Narragansett Park was opened as the premiere racetrack, and memorable horse Seabiscuit won his first race at the track in 1935. But horse racing would eventually fizzle throughout the country as the decades wore on, and by the 1980s, Narragansett Park and Lincoln Downs were already closed and no longer offering live horse races. To this day, there are not any live horse races that take place at Rhode Island tracks.
But a state lottery was approved in 1974. By 1993, racinos were allowed to have slot machines to help with the struggling financial situation. A decade later, in 2003, Lincoln Park got approved for more gaming machines and eventually turned into Twin River Casino in 2007. Voters would approve live table games for the casino in 2012, and in 2015, the state had its first poker room.
Meanwhile, sports betting was gaining steam again with daily fantasy sports (DFS) claiming a share of the market among mobile users with games promoted as skill-based rather than the normal definition of gambling as a game of chance.
But the big win for sports betting laws came in 2018, when the Supreme Court overturned the PASPA ruling from 1992 that largely banned sports betting across the country. This gave states the right to choose to legalize sports betting or not. Rhode Island wasted little time to act and by June, the state had passed retail sports betting at the two casino locations as Tiverton Casino opened in September.
By 2019, mobile sports wagering was also approved in the state, but it will be limited to just the Sportsbook Rhode Island app, which is run by the state lottery, William Hill, and IGT. To this day, it is the only licensed and regulated sportsbook app in the state. You used to have to go to the casinos to register to use it, but in 2020, remote registration was allowed, driving up new users by a significant rate.
The two casinos are renamed to reflect ownership by Bally’s. In February 2023, Bally’s expressed their interest in the Ocean State to legalize online gambling games the way they did for sports in 2018. We will see if that happens any time soon, but gambling is making good progress in the state in the last five years compared to its long history with it.
Key Features of the Top Online Gambling Sites
The following sections explain why we think our methodology matters for judging these online options for your gambling needs.
Competitive Gambling Odds Offered
No matter which online gambling activities you want to do, we expect to see competitive odds whether it is a sportsbook bet or a horse racing wager. This is why many users elect to have an account at multiple gambling sites to shop around for the best prices on betting markets they want to take advantage of.
A Variety of Betting Markets Are Available
With offshore gambling sites offering many forms of gambling, we always want to see many types of games offered at the casino, and many types of wagering available on the sportsbook and racebook. Here are some examples of what we should see if we use one of these top sites:
- Sportsbook; Singles, parlays, props, live bets, etc.
- Racebook: Win-place-show wagers, exotic wagers (Trifecta, Daily Double, Pick 2, etc.)
- Casino: Slots, poker, table games, live dealer games, keno, etc.
Deposit & Withdrawal Methods
This is very important to give the user the most options possible for how they get money into their account and how quickly they can get their winnings back to them. We expect to see two different styles of banking methods at these sites:
- Traditional: credit cards, debit cards, gift cards, checks, bank transfers, etc.
- Modern: eWallets (PayPal, Venmo, Zelle, etc.), VIP preferred (e-checks), cryptocurrency, etc.
Generous Promo Codes & Bonuses
Who does not enjoy bonus bets? These online gambling sites are very competitive with their welcome offers, which are usually among the largest you will receive in your time using the site. But ongoing promos also are a great way to keep you coming back to the same gambling site.
Ongoing promos can come in a variety of ways, including but not limited to:
- Deposit match or reload bonus
- Risk-free bets
- Free spins
- Parlay insurance bets
- Parlay boosts
- Reduced juice
- Enhanced odds boosts
- Double reward points on select casino games
- Refer-a-friend program
- Reward/loyalty program
Some promos will require a bonus code or promo code and some may require you to opt-in first, so be sure to always check the promos page for good deals.
Live Betting is Offered
Live betting is becoming a huge deal with any decent sportsbook, so this is something we definitely look to see now. Beyond just sides and totals, we are starting to see live parlay options too. This will only improve over time as more people place wagers on the go using their mobile devices. You cannot be a top-tier sportsbook without a robust live betting platform now.
High-Quality User Interface
An online gambling site needs to have a good design and layout so people can easily find the betting markets they want to use. Most of the top sites do a good job of organizing things neatly and making it easy to get into your account and deposit funds or check your active bets.
Enjoyable Mobile Experience
The offshore sites lack a downloadable mobile app, but you can use their site to get a mobile experience that will remind you of the casino apps and sportsbook apps. In fact, you can always go to your browser and just add the page to your home screen, enabling it to serve like an app on your phone with quick access to your bets.
It should be easy to get in and bet quickly to take advantage of live betting, or to enjoy the casino gaming experience on your mobile device.
Plentiful Customer Service Options
Settling disputes or troubleshooting issues with payments are just some of the ways customer service can be really useful to an online sportsbook and casino user. We want to see a site that offers the most options possible for customer service, including a messaging system, email address, phone number and live chat. We prefer live chat with an agent rather than an A.I. bot, but getting access to 24/7 customer service is the goal.
Site Security & Customer Safety
When using an online gambling site, you can be expected to share personal and financial info with that company. It is very important that you feel comfortable in doing that, so you should only stick to the most trustworthy sites with a great reputation. The sites we chose for our top 10 all have strong reputations in the industry with plenty of years of experience serving customers for their gambling needs. We would not recommend a site with a shady reputation that might not have user security in its best interest.
Land-Based Gambling Versus Online Gambling in Rhode Island
There are some obvious differences in land-based gambling venues compared to using online sites, especially if you use offshore betting sites that have so many gambling options available to Rhode Island users they otherwise do not get anywhere else.
Going to a land-based gambling venue is the right choice for people who like to get out of the house to gamble, maybe eat at the venue, make a night of it, and enjoy the sounds and sights on the gaming floor.
But if you live in Rhode Island, you are basically limited to two such venues in the commercial casinos owned by Bally’s. You also have just one regulated online sportsbook to use. This is why we think offshore online gambling sites are the best and most efficient way for Rhode Islanders to get the most out of gambling in the Ocean State. These are just some of the advantages we see to doing online gambling:
- More deposit and withdrawal methods
- Online sports gambling provides far more markets and options in Rhode Island, including any collegiate sports and plenty of parlays you could create in a minute on your mobile device
- Play on your phone right from home at any hour of the day
- Save on gas money and travel time
- Play games like keno, roulette and poker from home
- Bet on horse races from around the world
- Enjoy far more betting promotions and perks online than at a Rhode Island casino
Rhode Island’s Land-Based Casinos
The state’s two land-based casinos are both owned by Bally’s Corporation. These gambling venues offer retail betting, electronic table games, video poker and more. We look at the details of each in this section.
Bally’s Twin River Lincoln Resort
Formerly the Twin River Casino Hotel, Bally’s Twin River Lincoln has its retail location in Lincoln, Rhode Island. There are 170,000 square feet of gaming space to hold over 3,700 slot machines, and over 110 table games (52 for blackjack alone). You can also play baccarat, craps and roulette. There is also a racebook with simulcast betting on races from around the country.
Bally’s Tiverton Casino & Hotel
Bally’s Tiverton Casino & Hotel is located in Tiverton and has over 39,000 square feet of gaming space. You can find 1,000 video slots at this casino location. The table games range from blackjack, craps, and roulette to baccarat, three-card poker, Spanish 21, Let It Ride, and Pai Gow Poker.
Bally’s Tiverton Casino & Hotel did have a racebook, but it remains closed, so players will have to go to the Bally’s Twin River Lincoln for an in-person racebook with simulcast wagering. There are also social casino games that can be played online for those unable to make it to the casino, though you cannot win real money on social casino games.
Tips to Stay Safe at Online Gambling Sites in Rhode Island
For those new to gambling online, there are some tips you should follow to protect yourself, especially if you are joining an offshore sportsbook for the first time.
Never Join an Unknown Site
With the booming industry of online gaming, not all sites are going to have a proven track record of success in paying customers on time and providing a quality experience. This is why you should steer clear of fly-by-night sites that have no history in the game and stick with the proven names in the business like the ones we highlighted above. Be sure to read reviews of sites before you join them since there are so many options now.
Track Your Gambling Habits
It is important to keep an eye on how much you are betting either weekly or monthly. You do not want to get into debt over something like this, so you should check out your account details and see what your net winnings are over time. Some sites will even allow you to set deposit limits so that you are not betting more than you should be wagering.
Think about setting a monthly budget for how much you are willing to bet on online betting sites, and never bet more than you can afford to lose. There are responsible gambling links and resources offered at most top online operators if you need help with this.
Read the Details of Every Promotional Offer
You should take advantage of as many promotional offers as you can while using an online betting site. That means more than just the welcome bonus too. Some promos that come up for existing users require a promo code to collect, so be on the lookout for those. You also should read about rollover requirements and understand how much you will have to wager with bonus money before any of it can be withdrawn for real cash. Bonus funds also have expiration dates, so be sure to use them in time or they will be removed from your account.
Be Aware of Average Withdrawal Processing Times
Each withdrawal method comes with a different processing time. Checks are the slowest, bank transfers can take days to clear, and crypto is typically the fastest followed by eWallets. It also could take longer than usual the first time you use a certain withdrawal method as your account details will need to be verified. Keep this in mind when it comes time to withdraw your winnings.
Keep Your Betting Account Information Private
Never share your password with anyone, and none of the sites will ever text you to share it with them. Do not use a password that you use on different sites. You also should not be logging into betting sites on public computers like at school or a library.
Creating an Online Gambling Account
If you want to get started with online gambling, you will have to create an account at an offshore gambling site. No matter which one you choose, the sign-up process is simple. We will walk you through the steps below:
Step 1. Sign-Up With Your Chosen Site
Using your favorite device, go to the website of the betting site you want to join. Find the link that says “join” or “register” so you can begin creating your account. One of your first steps will be to choose a password for your account. Choose something unique that you will not be using anywhere else.
Step 2. Verify Your Account’s Details
Before your account can be added to the site, you must verify your identity. Be sure to include a valid name, address, email address and phone number in case you need to be reached by the company.
Step 3. Deposit Your Gambling Funds
With your new account created, simply log in and head to the deposit or cashier section to fund your account using your preferred deposit method. Before you make that deposit, be sure to check out the site’s welcome bonus, because that initial deposit is likely going to be the way you get a big deposit match in bonus funds, so you may want to start with a large amount so you can get the most bonus funds possible.
Step 4. Begin Gambling
Now with money in your account, feel free to navigate the site to the betting market you want to enjoy. Choose from a sportsbook bet, a racebook wager, a table game, a video slot game, racing or maybe a poker game depending on which site you joined. Remember to have fun and bet responsibly.
Rhode Island Gambling Tips
If you are just getting started with online wagering, here are some tips to ensure a safe and prosperous experience in Rhode Island:
- Budget your gambling as you should not bet more than you can afford to lose.
- Do not chase losses and learn when to call it a night and live to fight another day.
- Slot machines can be high variance, but you can also research most online slots for their return-to-player (RTP) rate to see which games do the best job of paying you back your money on average. The closer to 100%, the better.
- Stick to smaller amounts on online slots like $1-to-$2 per spin, because you will go through money in a hurry if you do $10-to-$20 per spin.
- If you are trying casino poker for the first time, start small before jumping right into a big tournament.
- Take advantage of welcome bonuses, reload bonuses, risk-free bets, and any other promotions you see offered at the site you join.
- Enroll in a site’s loyalty/rewards program if you plan on using that site often, allowing you to accumulate points for more perks down the road.
- Research the math behind games like blackjack and poker to give yourself the best edge possible over the house.
- Games built on random number generators like video slots are supposed to be random, so do not get caught up with superstition and think the game is “due” to give you free spins or something good if you keep betting. This is why learning when to quit is arguably your best attribute to have as an online casino gambler.
- Only stick with reputable sites like the ones reviewed in this guide.
- Try to avoid gambling while intoxicated or you may end up with something worse than a hangover the next day when you check your bank account.
- Remember to have fun.
FAQs – Online Gambling Options in Rhode Island
Is online gambling legal in Rhode Island?
Rhode Islanders have legal access to mobile sports wagering, horse racing, and daily fantasy sports. For table games, slots and poker, Rhode Islanders have to use offshore casino sites.
What online sportsbooks are legal in Rhode Island?
Rhode Island’s only regulated and licensed sportsbook is Sportsbook RI. It is a joint venture by William Hill and IGT in conjunction with the Rhode Island lottery. You can bet on professional sports teams and most collegiate sports.
Can I use DraftKings in RI?
You can play daily fantasy sports using DraftKings in Rhode Island, but you cannot use the DraftKings Sportsbook or DraftKings Casino app in the Ocean State just yet.
Can I use Caesars Sportsbook in Rhode Island?
No, which is odd since William Hill, a business partner with Caesars, is behind the Sportsbook RI app, which remains the only licensed sportsbook in Rhode Island in 2024. You cannot use the Caesars Sportsbook yet in Rhode Island.
Does Rhode Island tax gambling winnings?
Yes, if your gambling winnings exceed $600 and are 300 times your bet wagered, you will be taxed and need to fill out a W-2G tax form for that win. Offshore casino sites do not report your winnings, it is the player’s responsibility to do so.
