The Rhode Island Department of Revenue reached an agreement this week with Providence-based technology vendor IGT and IGT’s commercial partner William Hill U.S. to manage sports betting services in the state’s two casinos. As with all gaming in the state, sports betting will be overseen by the Rhode Island Lottery. IGT was chosen as the sports-betting vendor as the result of its response to a request for proposals issued by the Lottery on April 3.

Following the development of the sports betting technology by IGT, the Lottery has contracted with GLI, an international gaming IT consultant, to perform third-party, independent testing before the system is implemented. GLI will issue a letter of certification that the system developed by IGT meets all necessary requirements before go-live. As a result, the Rhode Island Lottery expects the start of sports betting services to occur in mid-November.

Rhode Island lawmakers approved the Lottery’s request to offer sports betting with passage of the Fiscal Year 2019 state budget, which the Governor signed into law in June. Following adoption of the budget, the Lottery entered into negotiations with IGT. Those discussions concluded successfully this week, with the execution of a contract with a five-year initial term that also includes two, five-year, options.

The contract maintains the budget-mandated revenue allocation formula for sports betting of:

State: 51 percent

Vendor: 32 percent

Casino: 17 percent

Questions regarding the agreement should be directed to Paul Grimaldi, Chief of Information and Public Relations, by e-mail at paul.grimaldi@revenue.ri.gov or by phone at 574-8766.