Bally’s Rhode Island iGaming: What Should Players Expect?

What Will the Bally’s iGaming Rollout Look Like in RI?

As 2023 began, it seemed that it would be the year for new states to enter the online gambling industry of the United States. Early on, we saw Rhode Island lawmakers reviewing S 948 with a chance to extend the state lottery’s relationship with the Bally brand. The casino operator already controls two retail casinos and wanted a shot at offering iGaming as well.

Last month, we saw Governor Dan McKee officially sign the bill into law. The legal deadline for iGaming to begin in Rhode Island is March 1, 2024, but we expect services to launch sooner rather than later. So, what will Bally’s offer residents and visitors to the state?

Expectations are High for Bally’s

Bally’s already offers online casino gaming in New Jersey and recently launched in Pennsylvania (June 2023). The brand is experienced, and players in Rhode Island have high expectations of what will be offered.

We expect that the brand will include a quality platform on desktop and mobile devices. The existing online platforms include table games, slots, live dealer, and jackpot slots. The platform also includes the Bally Rewards program so that players can earn incentives via gameplay.

The desktop site is easy to navigate and offers instant play via a web browser. It’s a great option for beginner players due to its simplistic design. We believe the same white and red design will be used for players in Rhode Island, with the same games and similar promotions.

For app users, the RI option should be stellar. A dedicated app for the state is expected from Bally’s and may include games not offered on the website. Bally’s works with the best software developers to ensure it offers a wide content selection, including Scientific Games.

Because Bally’s will be the only provider of iGaming in RI, it is expected to be inundated with new signups after going live. The brand may test a few unique features or titles via the smaller market before adding such options to NJ or PA, to see how players react. The smaller market is a great pathway for testing if Bally’s chooses to use it in that manner.  It will be interesting to see what the brand provides once it is operational.

Bally’s Performance in PA and NJ

Bally’s began its foray into the online casino sector in early 2022 with a launch in New Jersey. The Garden State has been receptive to the brand, though it is one of the lower performers by way of revenue earnings.

As of June, Bally’s has earned just over $74.7 million in revenues in New Jersey. The operator offers slots and table games. Just over $11.2 million has been paid in tax payments. This year, Bally’s has averaged around $5-$6 million monthly in earnings in the NJ iGaming sector.

The site launched in Pennsylvania in early June, so there are no revenue reports to review at this time. We should have a better idea of how Bally’s stacks up against the competition in the Keystone State once a few more months pass. Around September or October, we will have several revenue reports to see how Bally’s is stacking up.

In Rhode Island, Bally’s will have zero competition. We expect thousands of players to sign up once services are live to take advantage of the new iGaming option. The population of RI is much smaller, though, compared to Pennsylvania and New Jersey. Rhode Island has just over one million people, NJ has nine million, and PA has almost 13 million.

The market is much smaller, but the demand is there. We expect the brand to hopefully reach the one million mark with monthly earnings once the industry is established.