March 2024

The Best Rhode Island Sports Betting Sites

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Rhode Island has had legal online sports betting since 2019, but it’s a very small market. Bettors are limited to just one online sportsbook in Rhode Island, and that lack of competition has created some major issues. Currently, bettors in Rhode Island can only use “Sportsbook RI”, which is a combination of odds from Caesars and technology from the sports betting platform IGT. It seems highly unlikely that other sportsbooks will be joining the Rhode Island landscape any time soon, but the door is still slightly open.

Because of the limited selection, sports betting in Rhode Island is a much different experience than it is in other states throughout the country. However, even with fewer options available, there are still ways to play without having to travel to another state in New England to place your bets. 


Best Online Sportsbooks in the State

The following list is typically long for most states with online sports betting, but that’s not the case when it comes to Rhode Island. While only one Rhode Island sportsbook is accepting wagers as of writing, you will find a couple of top options when it comes to daily fantasy sports who may expand their foothold in the state in the future. 

SportsbookBonusPromo OfferSidelines Sportsbook Review Score
DraftKings DFS100% Deposit Bonus Up to $500– Free To Play Pools9.2/10
FanDuel DFSFree NBA Entry Voucher– Free Pools Available9.2/10

A Short Review of Each Sportsbook

Instead of sports bettors in Rhode Island having access to top online sportsbooks, it’s better to look at the top online DFS sites. There are two major leaders when it comes to that industry, and both are available in the state. 

DraftKings

DraftKings DFS has a nice welcome bonus available for new customers, and that money can then be used to enter the contests. DraftKings DFS is a proven and trusted name that continues to provide great contests. 

DraftKings Rhode Island
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Fanduel

FanDuel DFS is another one of the original options in this industry, and it offers a welcome bonus as well. FanDuel typically has more sports and more types of contests than DraftKings. 

FanDuel Rhode Island
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Best of the State

There is only one option in the state of Rhode Island, so it’s difficult to call it the “best”. Without options such as DraftKings or FanDuel, sports bettors in the state don’t have good options at all. 


Best Promos in the State

There are serious complications that come with having just one online sportsbook available in the state. One of those issues is the lack of promotions. Even though there are different DFS providers available, those types of sites don’t typically even have a ton of promotions.

With only one “true” betting option other than daily fantasy sports, there’s not a strong incentive to promote the book to increase player participation. A more diverse array of betting options would be favorable to bettors, as competition breeds a better product. However, Rhode Island does not seem overly concerned about this. 

DraftKings and FanDuel DFS  offer some promotions from time to time, but not what you would typically see from online sports betting operators. There are no active DFS promotions as of this writing, but promos tend to appear around big national sporting events. 


Best Sportsbook App in the State

Since there is only one option when it comes to Rhode Island online sports betting, there is nothing to really compare. Rhode Island residents can download two different apps when it comes to DFS, and both of those are terrific. 

DraftKings is known to have a great mobile app available, and it provides plenty of updates on the site. The green and black color scheme from DraftKings is one way in which the operator stands out.

FanDuel DFS has a mobile app that allows customers to quickly jump back and forth between the DFS games and other free-to-play contests. FanDuel is another operator that is proven to be successful. 


How We Rank Rhode Island Online Sports Betting Sites

These rankings of the Rhode Island sports betting sites are not just thrown together. There are certain criteria that we look at when coming up with the score. Since there is just one option in Rhode Island, that is going to have the best score in the state. 

Here are some of the categories we look at when trying to rank the Rhode Island online sports betting sites


Registration Process

Before you can bet on sports in Rhode Island, you have to complete the registration process. Rhode Island used to require all bettors to visit a retail sportsbook to create an account, but that is no longer the case. 

The best online sports betting sites have a registration process that is easy to complete and one that can be done in a matter of minutes. You will need a few personal identifiers, such as your name, address, and social security number, but this data is encrypted and kept securely. Furthermore, it is required for payout, as winnings from sports betting are taxable.

DraftKings Registration process Rhode Island

Another thing that is important during the registration process is not requiring bettors to submit a ton of information via mail or email, as that will delay the overall process. This is also less secure than either in-person registration or directly through the book. 


User Experience

The overall user experience is typically what most people tend to look at when choosing an online sportsbook. It’s also extremely important when putting together our rankings, as the user experience is what drives bettors to the site. 

While DraftKings and FanDuel provide a generally positive user experience that is easily navigable, pleasant to look at, and operates smoothly when transitioning from one page to the next, Rhode Island bettors won’t get the full taste of what these operators can do until the state expands the available sportsbook options. 

User experience FanDuel Rhode Island

The sportsbooks with the best ratings have a mobile app that is easy to use as well, and can be accessed on both Android and iOS devices. 


Bonus & Promos

The online sports betting sites with the best grades are going to be loaded with great bonuses and promotions. Most bettors tend to focus on the welcome bonus that is available from each site, but there is so much more to it than that. 

Best Promos DraftKings Rhode Island

The best sports betting sites should have a series of bonuses and promotions that are always available and/or frequently offered to keep users interested and engaged.


Variety of Betting Options

Having a variety of betting types is an important factor for sportsbooks, as different markets will appeal to different users based on betting experience, sport familiarity, and a multitude of other factors. Betting against the spread or moneyline betting is always popular, but some bettors prefer making different types of wagers.

DraftKings Variety of types of betting options Rhode Island

With the best sportsbooks, bettors should be able to make parlays, round robins, prop bets, pleasers, teasers, or futures on any sport or game they want to bet on. 


Features

The top online sportsbooks offer more than just a way to bet on sporting events, especially in states with a ton of competition. The best sports betting sites continue to try and push the envelope and come up with new ways to bet. 

Live streaming has become a popular feature in the online sports betting industry, and the best sportsbooks have that option available. Having the option to cash out a bet early is another great feature that only the best sportsbooks will provide. 

DraftKings Functions_bet builder, live streams, cash out Rhode Island

The odds and betting lines are extremely important when it comes to online sports betting, but the sites that tend to go the extra mile are going to get the best score. 


Banking: Deposit and Withdrawal

One thing that tends to get overlooked when reviewing an online sportsbook is the banking portion of each site. Banking is so important, and the top online sportsbooks have a number of different banking options available. 

Not only is it important for online sports betting sites to give users as many options as possible for deposits and withdrawals, but it’s also important to process those deposits or withdrawals quickly. Bettors aren’t going to want to wait long for money to transfer.

Banking is one thing that has really improved over the last few in online sports betting, especially with the best and most popular sportsbooks. 


Customer Support

The best sports betting sites have plenty of customer support options as there are times when customers need answers or help. The top online sportsbooks have a couple of different ways to get support, and providing support 24/7 is important.

FanDuel Customer support Rhode Island

A responsive 24/7 live chat is the most valuable form of support, but it’s also important to be reachable by email or phone. If a sportsbook operator provides an FAQ section on the website, that is also beneficial. 


Security and Trust

It’s important to find an online sports betting site that is safe and trustworthy as you are going to be depositing money. Because personal identification and banking information are used, you have to be able to trust that the sportsbook you’re using will keep that data safe and secure.

There are some online sportsbooks that have an additional layer of security added, such as data encryption or using an SSL to keep hackers at bay, and those are the sportsbooks that have the top score. The biggest names in the online sports betting industry are also going to come with the most trust.


Rhode Island Legal Information

Rhode Island might not be a huge sports betting market, but it was one of the first states with legal sports betting. It didn’t take lawmakers a ton of time after the federal ban on sports betting was lifted to pass a law to allow sportsbooks to launch in Rhode Island. 

Retail sports betting was the first to be legalized in 2018, and online sports betting was added a year later. All retail sports betting is done at the casinos in the state, and online sports betting is run by the Rhode Island Lottery. 

This state does have a high tax rate when it comes to online sports betting, and that rate would be a reason that some operators would stay out of the state even if the opportunity was there. 

FAQs

Yes, Rhode Island sports betting has been available since 2018, and online sports betting came in 2019. There are very limited options for bettors when choosing Rhode Island betting sites.

Mobile betting is best done through a mobile sports betting app, but there isn’t a great option in Rhode Island. Rhode Island doesn’t allow the top operators to apply for a license, and that keeps bettors from using an app that is easy.

No, DraftKings is not offering any online sports betting in Rhode Island as there hasn’t been an opportunity for that operator to apply for a license. DraftKings does offer DFS action in Rhode Island, and it’s a top option when it comes to that industry.

Betting on college games is legal in Rhode Island, but there is a ban on wagering on in-state college teams. There are similar rules put in place in other states that have online sports betting available.