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.
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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.