Is Poker legal in Rhode Island (ri)? Online Poker Laws in Rhode Island Explained
Rhode Island
- Online Poker is allowed
- Online Poker is legal since 2023
- H 6348
- Sports Betting is allowed
- Sports Betting is legal since 2019
- Online Casino is under approval
- Online Casino is legal since 2023
- H 6348
- Live Poker is forbidden
Can You Play Online Poker in Rhode Island?
Rhode Island legalized online poker in 2023 and the first poker sites are expected to launch in March 2024.
Current gambling laws
Legalized gambling in Rhode Island dates all the way back to 1934 when voters approved pari-mutuel betting on horse races. Almost forty years later, the Ocean State introduced a lottery and pull-tab lottery games and bingo were also made legal.
In 1992, video lottery terminals were approved for operation in racetracks. Twenty years after that decision, voters approved full-scale table gaming for two casinos, Twin River Casino and the Newport Grand Casino. In 2015, the former bought out the latter to become the lone casino operator in the state.
Rhode Island legalized sports betting in 2019, which opened the door for them to legalize online poker down the road. In 2023, Rhode Island lawmakers passed identical bills legalizing both online poker and casino gaming.
Best Online Poker Sites for Rhode Island Players
None at present. The first online poker sites in Rhode Island are expected to launch in March 2024.