Rhode Island close to sports betting legalisation
A full Senate vote to legalise sports betting in the state is expected to take place this week.
US.- The Senate Finance Committee of Rhode Island has helped pave the way for a full vote that would allow the state to become the third to offer sports betting. A Senate vote is expected to take place this week.
A positive vote would send the bill to Governor Gina Raimondo for approval, who is expected to sign it as she has already included US$23 million in revenue from legal sports betting in her next budget.
If the bill becomes law, Rhode Island would join Delaware and New Jersey as the first three states to legalise sports betting after the US Supreme Court determined that the ban that was in place was unconstitutional and that states deserved the chance to see if they wanted the benefits that sports betting brings.
If passed, Twin River casino in Lincoln and its new facility in Tiverton would offer sports betting. Both are tribal-owned facilities. Revenue would also be distributed between the state (52 per cent), International Game Technology (32 per cent) and Twin River (17 per cent), Moreover, the bill does not include an integrity fee for sports leagues and determines that the payment to professional leagues is prohibited.
