Rhode Island approves sports betting, expected for Q4 2018

Gov. Gina Raimondo on Friday signed the state's fiscal year budget, which includes provisions for the state's two Twin River casinos -- located in Lincoln and Tiverton -- to offer sports betting through the Rhode Island lottery.

Rhode Island is the third state this year to pass sports betting legislation, with casinos targeting the fall to begin offering sports betting, being Oct. 1 a potential opening day.

Delaware and New Jersey are already up and running, and Mississippi and West Virginia are poised to be next to offer Las Vegas-style sports betting.

Rhode Island sports betting will be restricted to in-person wagering to start, with no mobile options allowed.

Without any mobile wagering option, research firm Eilers & Krejcik Gaming projects Rhode Island sports betting could generate $25.6 million in annual revenue off roughly $395 million wagered.

Rhode Island Senate president Dominick J. Ruggerio said in a statement that the budget "provides Rhode Island with the highest percentage of state revenue in the nation for sports wagering."

Mississippi and West Virginia adopted sports betting regulations Thursday and plan to be up and running before football season.

A comprehensive sports betting bill in New York did not make it through before the legislative session ended earlier this week. The New York State Gaming Commission, however, is working on regulations that could allow the state's four casinos to offer sports betting. A gaming commissioner spokesperson told ESPN on Thursday that the commission hopes to finalize the regulations "in the short term."