Licensing and regulation: Can we get a licence?

Sports wagering in Rhode Island is licensed under R.I. Gen. Laws § 42-61.2, durable primary legislation that vests rule-making authority in the Division director to promulgate regulations governing sports wagering. Under current law the vendor cap is fixed at one, held by IGT. S3118 Substitute A, a fragile legislative instrument still in progress, passed the Senate 30-6 on June 4, 2026, and proposes to raise that cap to up to six vendors; it was transmitted to the House as companion to H8186, introduced in January 2026, with House action outstanding this cycle. A legislative-tracker source separately reported the original Senate bill text held for further study by committee on May 20, 2026, a status not fully reconciled against the reported floor passage of Substitute A. Until the House acts and any resulting law takes effect, the licensing structure remains a single-vendor regime as a matter of enforceable law.