Bally’s is set to expand its presence in Rhode Island’s sports betting scene, having been selected to operate the state’s second online sports betting platform. Since 2019, Rhode Island has allowed only one online sports betting service, Sportsbook Rhode Island, which is operated by IGT.

This contrasts sharply with Massachusetts, which boasts seven licensed online sports betting sites. The Rhode Island Lottery initiated the process to select a second vendor in late 2025, with applications due by February. NBC 10 has confirmed that Bally’s—currently the operator of Rhode Island’s sole casinos in Lincoln and Tiverton—has been chosen.

The new sports betting site is anticipated to launch in November, coinciding with the expiration of IGT’s exclusive contract. According to Lottery Deputy Director Michael O’Rourke, only one other company submitted an application, with Bally’s emerging victorious over Rush Street Interactive after a comprehensive review process. O’Rourke expressed a desire for more company participation; however, that was not the case.

“There was a hope we’d get more companies to reply, but they didn’t,” he noted during an interview with NBC 10. Rhode Island retains a significant 51% of the revenue from online sports betting, which is notably higher than what many other states impose on their vendors. O’Rourke indicated that this may have influenced some companies’ decisions not to engage.

Bally’s spokeswoman, Patti Doyle, expressed enthusiasm about receiving the second sports betting license from the State of Rhode Island. “Bally’s is thrilled to have been awarded a second sports betting license by the State of Rhode Island.

We appreciate the confidence and trust the State has placed in our ability to provide a best-in-class product—built for scalability, innovation, and the evolving demands of modern bettors—which will generate additional revenue to benefit the Rhode Island taxpayers,” she stated in a communication to NBC 10.