Rhode Island Legalizes Online Poker; Expected to Launch in March 2024
Rhode Island is set to become the latest state in the US to offer online poker after lawmakers passed two bills legalizing online poker and casino gaming.
Rhode Island lawmakers passed identical bills in the House and Senate instructing the State Lottery Division to "implement, operate, conduct, and control iGaming, at the Twin River and the Twin River-Tiverton gaming facilities."
The bills give control of igaming to Bally’s Corporation, which owns the Twin River Lincoln Casino Resort and Tiverton Casino & Hotel.
Rhode Island Governor Daniel McKee signed the bills earlier this month, which are set to go into effect on March 1, 2024.
The legislation makes Rhode Island the eighth state to legalize online poker more than a decade after the nationwide shutdown of online poker on Black Friday. The other states are Nevada, New Jersey, Michigan, Delaware, Pennsylvania, West Virginia and Connecticut.
Find Out More About Playing Online Poker in the US
As one of the least populated US states, Rhode Island will likely join an interstate compact, allowing for a shared pool of online poker players across state lines. The Multi-State Internet Gaming Agreement (MSIGA) currently consists of New Jersey, Nevada and Delaware.
Rhode Island lawmakers previously legalized sports betting back in 2019. Soon, the state's 1.1 million residents also have the option to play online poker and casino games.
Check out our guide to the Best Online Casinos around the world. For US players, online real money casino is available in Pennsylvania, Michigan, New Jersey and West Virginia. If you're looking to start playing Online Casino right now, then we recommend FanDuel Casino. If you’re in a State where real money online casino isn’t an option, then you still have the chance to play via Social Casino sites such as Chumba Casino and LuckyLand Slots.
