News Summary
Rhode Island’s Senate Bill 1017 allows its casinos to live stream games beyond state lines, enhancing job retention and gaming revenue. This move enables casinos to enter a competitive online market without the need for physical studios, aligning with evolving gaming legislation. The law also opens opportunities for international streaming, providing a pathway for expanded earnings while navigating diverse legal frameworks. However, efforts to reform Rhode Island’s sports betting system fell short, indicating a complex landscape for future gaming expansions.
Rhode Island has approved Senate Bill 1017, enabling its two retail casinos to live stream casino games beyond state borders, including internationally. This legislative move is aimed at retaining jobs and gaming revenue within the state while enhancing Rhode Island’s reputation as a center for live streaming casino games.
The bill, introduced by Senate Majority Leader Frank Ciccone, aligns Rhode Island’s gaming legislation with the evolving landscape of online gaming, allowing for live dealer games to be streamed without the requirement for physical studios inside the state. This regulatory change positions Rhode Island to enter a competitive market, amidst similar provisions in other states.
Most states that permit live dealer online casino games, such as New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Michigan, require these games to be streamed from studios located within their borders. However, states like West Virginia and Delaware have taken a different approach, not imposing this in-state streaming studio requirement. Delaware collaborates with Pennsylvania for its streaming needs, while West Virginia partners with New Jersey, which may complicate Rhode Island’s ability to access these partnerships in the gaming ecosystem.
Although Rhode Island’s Bally Casino has recently partnered with Evolution Gaming, a leader in the live dealer market, this current collaboration is limited to slot games. For Rhode Island to benefit fully from the live dealer gaming market, negotiations need to occur aimed at including these live game options and reducing streaming costs associated with the service. Such steps are crucial if Rhode Island seeks to engage with online casinos in Delaware and West Virginia, potentially enhancing its market presence.
The new law also allows Rhode Island casinos the opportunity to stream live games internationally, catering to markets where such operations are sanctioned. This additional avenue could significantly expand the earning potential for Rhode Island’s casinos. However, entry into international markets will necessitate adherence to local gaming laws and licensing protocols, which vary from one market to another.
Evolution Gaming’s broad international footprint could further assist in making this expansion into the global market a reality, particularly if the company establishes live dealer studios in Rhode Island. This strategic step could position Rhode Island to capitalize on international gaming markets that are increasingly favoring online live dealer options.
In related developments, Ciccone’s other legislative efforts aimed at revamping Rhode Island’s sports betting framework were not as successful. A proposal to expand the state’s sports betting from a single operator model to a multi-operator system—up to five potential operators—failed to advance in the House. The Senate supported this reform, passing SB 748 with a 30-3 vote, but House Speaker K. Joseph Shekarchi announced a reluctance to discuss market expansion until 2025, citing the existing contract with IGT, Rhode Island’s current sports betting operator.
The passage of Senate Bill 1017 is expected to enhance Rhode Island’s gaming infrastructure and economic standing. By facilitating live streaming of casino games beyond its borders, the state hopes to solidify its place in the competitive landscape of both the national and international gaming markets, thus promoting economic growth and job retention within the state.
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Author: STAFF HERE PROVIDENCE WRITER
PROVIDENCE STAFF WRITER The PROVIDENCE STAFF WRITER represents the experienced team at HEREProvidence.com, your go-to source for actionable local news and information in Providence, Providence County, and beyond. Specializing in "news you can use," we cover essential topics like product reviews for personal and business needs, local business directories, politics, real estate trends, neighborhood insights, and state news affecting the area—with deep expertise drawn from years of dedicated reporting and strong community input, including local press releases and business updates. We deliver top reporting on high-value events such as WaterFire, Rhode Island International Film Festival, and Rhode Island Comic Con. Our coverage extends to key organizations like the Greater Providence Chamber of Commerce and Providence Warwick Convention & Visitors Bureau, plus leading businesses in finance and manufacturing that power the local economy such as Citizens Financial Group and Textron. As part of the broader HERE network, we provide comprehensive, credible insights into Rhode Island's dynamic landscape.
