Rhode Island sports betting launched in 2018, but the state's market has since been restricted to one operator, IGT.
The operator currently works under a 20-year arrangement the Rhode Island Lottery brokered, with it set to expire in 2026.
Key takeaways
- A bill to expand Rhode Island sports betting passed the state's Senate, but remains stuck in committee in the House.
- Rhode Island's casino smoking ban advanced to final stage.
- The Nevada Gaming Commission unanimously approved Apollo’s $6.3 billion acquisition of IGT and Everi Holdings.
In an attempt to break the monopoly this arrangement established, Sen. Frank Ciccone introduced Senate Bill 748 to let private operators such as FanDuel and DraftKings access the state’s sports wagering industry. Although the bill passed the state Senate, it remains in a House committee and hasn't proceeded any further.
The Ocean State could be part of a bigger policy shift if legislators are willing to introduce more economic value and consumer interest through an open operator model. As more states, including Missouri, Texas, and California, consider legal sports betting, Rhode Island could be forced to shift its model after the current IGT contract expires.
Rhode Island moves to ban casino smoking
Despite no movement on the sports betting bill, Rhode Island lawmakers passed legislation that would broaden the state's smoke-free workplace statute to casinos, shutting a loophole that's long aided gambling halls.
The measure, which Rep. V. Susan Sosnowski sponsored, is a shift in workplace health policy.
The revised bill lets casinos develop enclosed smoking lounges with separate ventilation systems intended to ensure smoke doesn't filter into the non-smoking section. Bally's Corporation, owner of the state's two casinos, Twin River and Tiverton, expressed opposition earlier before the compromise.
Sosnowski, a coauthor of the original proposal for the Public Health and Workplace Safety Act, said the health of casino workers can't come second to business. The original bill would have prohibited smoking entirely, but the new law delays enforcement until July 1, 2027.
The move comes as casino employees make growing demands for a healthier working environment. Employees at Twin River aggressively lobbied for the elimination of the smoking exception, citing the inconsistency between public health goals and business interests in the gaming sector.
Nevada approves Apollo's $6.3 billion IGT–Everi merger
More good news is coming IGT’s way: the Nevada Gaming Commission approved Apollo Global Management's $6.3 billion acquisition and merger of IGT's gaming business and Everi Holdings. The regulatory green light is a big step in Apollo's effort to consolidate gaming technology companies.
By a 4-0 vote, the commission approved Apollo for gaming, opening the door for IGT's re-entry into Nevada. IGT exited the market in 2015. Apollo will operate the combined businesses under the Voyager brand, but at this time, branding will be under IGT's brand name.
The transaction follows IGT's corporate restructuring in 2024, when it divided its business into two segments: gaming and digital operations, and global lottery services. Apollo's purchase is only for the former, and IGT's lottery segment will be renamed Brightstar Lottery.
The agreement still needs approval from other states, including New York, where the state gaming commission will vote on it in the next couple of weeks.
