Twin River Casino Sports Betting App
Posted By admin On 08/04/22Hode Island launched mobile sports betting at one casino and plans to add it to a second casino next week. The mobile application launched Wednesday at Twin River Casino in Lincoln, according to the state revenue department. The department said Thursday there were no major issues, although some gamblers found the casino application slow to load. ROCK ISLAND, Ill. – Twin River Holdings is now in a position to join the Illinois sports betting market with its $120 million acquisition of Jumer’s Casino & Hotel in Rock Island. This will make Jumer’s an official subsidiary of Twin River, and allow the Twin River sports betting app to operate in the Prairie State. By gaining a New Jersey license, Twin River will kick open the NJ sports betting door. Plus, there is a robust online casino market. Each license holder is permitted to have up to three mobile sportsbook skins and five online casino apps in NJ. FILE - In this Jan. 28, 2019, file photo, patrons visit the sports betting area of Twin River Casino in Lincoln, R.I. Rhode Island has launched mobile sports betting. The Rhode Island state revenue department says the mobile application launched Wednesday, Sept. 4, 2019, at Twin River Casino.
PROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP) — Rhode Island launched mobile sports betting at one casino and plans to add it to a second casino next week.
The mobile application launched Wednesday at Twin River Casino in Lincoln, according to the state revenue department. The department said Thursday there were no major issues, although some gamblers found the casino application slow to load.
Paul Grimaldi, spokesman for the revenue department, said that from the state’s perspective, things went well.
“This is a milestone for us,” he said Thursday. “We promised to get this done by the start of the NFL season and we’ve accomplished that.”
Several hundred people signed up, Grimaldi said, and he’d “bet” that a lot of gamblers will create accounts on Sunday before the New England Patriots take on the Pittsburgh Steelers in the regular-season opener Sunday night.
Gamblers have to activate their mobile accounts in person in Lincoln so the casino can verify they’re at least 18 years old and that they and aren’t banned from the property for a past violation. Then, they can place wagers from anywhere in Rhode Island.
The state’s goal is to launch mobile betting next week at the other Rhode Island casino offering sports betting, Twin River’s Tiverton Casino Hotel, after testing is complete. The casino is in Tiverton, Rhode Island, near the Massachusetts border.
The app is being tested this week near the Massachusetts and Connecticut borders to ensure bets can’t be placed across states lines, as required by law, and that the service is available from as many locations within the state as possible, Grimaldi said. Rhode Island is the only New England state currently offering sports betting.
Since the late November launch of sports betting, gamblers have wagered nearly $136 million in Rhode Island and about $128 million was paid out on winning bets, according to the state lottery. The state gets 51% of the $7.7 million profit after expenses are subtracted.
Republican activist Daniel Harrop sued over sports betting in May , arguing that the state should have sought voter approval before legalizing and launching sports betting. Lawyers for the state lottery and Twin River argue that Harrop isn’t hurt by sports betting and lacks standing to sue. The town of Tiverton requested a quick ruling last week.
Legal bets on the game can be placed in 13 U.S. states: Arkansas, Delaware, Indiana, Iowa, Mississippi, Nevada, New Mexico, New Jersey, New York, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island and West Virginia. This time last year, it was only legal in five states.
Sports betting has been approved through laws or regulations but is not yet running in five additional states: Illinois, Montana, New Hampshire, North Carolina and Tennessee, as well as the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico. Colorado voters will decide in a November ballot question whether to allow sports betting there.
The delayed and messed-up launch of sports betting in Rhode Island is making lawmakers take a look into expanding into mobile gaming. Rhode Island’s Senate President has introduced a bill that would make it legal to place online or mobile bets on sporting events.
The sports betting vendors Twin River and IGT were very late starting the state’s sports gambling program and the forecasted revenue amount for the year had to be downgraded from $23.5 mill to $11.5 million, with the numbers likely falling further.
Visitors to Twin River’s sportsbook found long lines and small crowds due to the slowness in processing bets by the staff. The first week’s data means it will even be hard to meet the $11.5 million revenue number for the state.
Senate President Dominick Ruggerio Weighs In
Dominick Ruggerio (Dem-4th District) has a totally different view of what’s going on at Twin River. Ruggerio claimed that the popularity of sports betting created the long lines and a need for mobile betting:
“The new in-person sportsbook that opened in November has been very popular, with lines stretching out the doors. It is an entertainment option that many Rhode Islanders enjoy, and visitors from outside the state are also flocking to our gaming facilities to place their wagers on sporting events. Expanding to mobile gaming would provide a convenient option for those wishing to enjoy this form of entertainment, and open up the economic benefits beyond the walls of Twin River.”
Ruggerio continued his thoughts on the topic by describing a scenario where he can envision friends spending time at a restaurant or sports bar where they can eat, enjoy good company, watch a game and place a wager. With that said, the Senate President doesn’t lack empathy for those who have to wait in the long lines.
Ruggerio’s spokesperson, Greg Pare, explained that Ruggerio is aware of the wait times and long lines at Twin River.
“The Senate President shares the frustration of consumers regarding long lines and wait times for sports wagering at Twin River. He has expressed these concerns both publicly and to Twin River officials. New Kiosks are expected to be active in March, which will help alleviate backups, as will mobile sports gaming should his legislation be approved.”
According to News Talk 630am WPRO, Ruggerio said more regarding the waits at sportsbooks, and how mobile betting could help:
“With the big crowds that are going up to Twin River, I think we need some kind of an app because people are getting disenchanted with the long waits up there, and a lot of people have walked out of there without placing bets. We don’t want that.”
Ruggerio went on to declare that now is a good time to put a bill through:
“A lot of people do DraftKings and things like that, but what you’re seeing now is lot of these young people do this and they do it on offshore, and obviously we want to capture that money here and we have a golden opportunity because right now we’re the only one in New England that does this, so we’ve got to get it right.”
Ruggerio’s Potential Legislation
The Senate President’s legislation would allow for the creation of a sports gaming app that bettors could use to access any sports gaming offerings at the Twin River casino from anywhere in Rhode Island.
Twin River Casino Sports Betting Application
The bill would require anyone wishing to set up an account to do it in person at the casino and, after that, they could place a wager from anywhere within the state’s borders. The system would use technology to locate a person within RI before allowing them to place a wager.
He says that when residents and visitors to the state can place mobile bets, the crowds at Twin River will thin out and greatly increase the amount of revenue the sportsbooks could take in, thus increasing the tax and fee revenue that would go to the state.
House Speaker Nick Mattiello Agrees
Rhode Island’s Speaker of the House also shared his thoughts with GoLocalProv:
“I am aware the legislation is a priority of Senate President Ruggerio’s, so that makes it an important issue when he introduces it. If his proposal enhances the gaming experience for Rhode Islanders while providing additional revenue for the state, it is certainly an idea worthy of a thorough review.”
Mattiello’s sentiments are echoed by many other state leaders looking to capitalize on the potential tax revenue from sports betting. However, there are still some dissenters in the Legislature that might prove to be difficult to persuade.
House Minority Leader Representative Blake Filippi Disagrees
Filippi questions if mobile betting is even a legal option:
“The preliminary and central question is whether this proposal is even constitutional. The People through ballot question approved casino gambling at Twin River in Lincoln, and subsequently, in Tiverton. To start, the proponents need to produce a well-reasoned legal opinion regarding this proposal’s legality.”
Rep. Filippi gets his way and makes this go to a vote, then Rhode Island could have to wait another year before allowing mobile sports betting within the state. That would be a massive fail by the state’s leaders if it goes that way, because they will be losing out on millions of dollars in tax revenue.
