A recent University of New Hampshire survey has revealed notable differences in sports betting participation across New England.
Eight major gambling companies have submitted feedback to the Rhode Island Lottery about the potential of opening up the state’s betting market.
The responses, from Bally’s, Fanatics, Kambi, DraftKings, BetMGM, OpenBet, FanDuel, and IGT, will inform a forthcoming request for proposals (RFP) that could be issued later this month, as officials assess whether adding more sportsbook operators to the market is feasible.
While neighbouring Massachusetts and Connecticut have adopted multi-operator systems, at present Rhode Island continues to rely on a single app run by International Game Technology (IGT), under contract through November 2026.
In response to the call for feedback issued this summer, industry representatives expressed varying degrees of interest in expanding into the Ocean State.
Bally’s confirmed its continued enthusiasm for a potential sports betting RFP, while Fanatics publicly supported an open and competitive marketplace.
DraftKings also indicated that it continually explores new opportunities, though it did not detail its submission.
The possibility of market liberalisation builds on recent legislative momentum, after a bill introduced by Senate Majority Leader Frank Ciccone earlier this year sought to authorise between three and five additional sports betting vendors by July 2026.
The proposal cleared the Senate but stalled in the House after its companion bill failed to advance out of committee.
Supporters of reform argue that Rhode Island risks losing ground to its neighbors.
Massachusetts, which launched online sports betting in 2023, generated more than $11m in taxable revenue from seven licensed apps in August 2025.
Connecticut’s three operators brought in approximately $13m in the same period, while Rhode Island’s single app generated just under $3m.
Opening the market could alleviate stagnation in revenues and align Rhode Island with the competitive models proving successful nearby.
Survey shows lower betting participation in Rhode Island
A recent University of New Hampshire survey has revealed notable differences in sports betting participation across New England. It highlighted relatively modest engagement in Rhode Island, despite the state’s early entry into the market.
The Rhode Island Current reported that the poll was conducted from 17 to 23 September among 3,671 residents of Connecticut, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and Rhode Island.
It found that 18% of Massachusetts respondents reported placing bets at least occasionally, followed by 17% in Connecticut. Rhode Island registered 15%, while New Hampshire trailed with 10%.
Rhode Island and New Hampshire were the first two of the four states to launch sports betting, in 2018 and 2019, respectively.
Connecticut followed in 2021 and Massachusetts in 2023.
The survey offers a broad snapshot of sports wagering behaviour in the region’s legalised markets.
The findings highlight a disparity between Rhode Island’s tightly controlled monopoly model and the broader, more competitive environments flourishing in neighbouring states.
The comparatively lower engagement rate may signal a conundrum for regulators amid the need to balance control with competitiveness.