Lincoln – “Good luck everyone.” That's what one of Bally's Twin River dealers said before dropping the ball on the roulette wheel. It spun for about three seconds before landing on 11 Black.
There were no winners in this bet, but there were no groans either – at least anyone in the casino could hear them.
Any gambler who bet on the game was doing so from his home, whether on his phone or computer.
Welcome to the future of gambling in Rhode Island. Nearly nine months after state Internet based gamblingor iGaming, Bally invited members of the media on Thursday to get a sneak peek at their expanded offerings ahead of their scheduled launch on Tuesday, March 5.
General Assembly approves iGaming and more
Before approval by the General Assembly Legislationlawmakers modified it so that table games could be simulcast online from within Twin River, thus avoiding having to put the proposed expansion before voters.
Craig Eaton, president of Bally's operations in Rhode Island, welcomed the change. Simultaneous streaming also allows people to continue the casino experience without having to leave their homes, he told reporters Thursday.
“People like comfort, people like comfort,” he said.
Bally's iGaming offerings will include blackjack tables, one roulette station and 170 slot games. Bally's plans to have virtual baccarat online later this month followed by “ultimate blackjack,” which has no maximum number of players, Eaton said.
But before iGaming officially comes online, the Providence-based casino giant on Friday will begin a four-day “technical launch” for a limited number of invited customers as a test to ensure any kinks are worked out early, Eaton said.
“It's very similar to what a restaurant does when it first opens,” he said. “We just want to make sure it's okay and everything is ready to go.”
Bally's also requires approval from the Rhode Island Lottery before its iGaming service can operate in the state, Eaton said. Based on feedback from lottery spokesman Paul Grimaldi, approval is likely.
“These people at Bally's have been partners with us for a very long time,” Grimaldi said in an interview. “We work well with them, and they understand our concerns.”
One such concern: More consumers may start turning to virtual gaming rather than turning to physical games or buying lottery tickets — sometimes referred to as “cannibalism.”
“We have to make sure that everything that is bet online will balance out what would have been actually bet at the casino,” Grimaldi said.
Bally's has no intention of abandoning its brick-and-mortar locations in Lincoln and Tiverton, Eaton said, pointing to the $60 million expansion of Twin River Casino last year.
“We're always looking for opportunities. If there's something that makes sense, can increase revenue, can increase revenue for the state, we'll look at it seriously,” he said.
Online gambling will bring $160 million in additional tax revenue to Rhode Island over the first five years, according to 2023 Report from Christiansen Capital Advisors, LLC – A consultant appointed by the Rhode Island Department of Revenue.
There is also a 1.45% discount for the cities of Lincoln and Tiverton from iGaming slots (and 1% from live table revenue). What Bally's own revenues are is unclear, as casino spokeswoman Patti Doyle told the Rhode Island Current that the company does not disclose those projections.
Is iGaming safe?
The launch of iGaming in Rhode Island coincides with National Problem Gambling Awareness Month — a fact not lost on Grimaldi.
Grimaldi said the concern mostly surrounds college-age students, who are the main market for online gaming.
“You're not likely to see a young tech bro tapping away at the video screen in the basement here,” he said. “It'll be on his phone.”
Legislation allowing iGaming requires casinos in Lincoln and Tiverton to offer programs such as a self-exclusion promotion for players and a gambling hotline. Bally's must also compensate the state lottery division at least $200,000 annually for compulsive and problem gambling programs. Grimaldi said there is no maximum limit on the casino giant's contribution.
“Bally's has to fully fund whatever problem gambling demand there is,” he said.
The safeguards in the Bally app include cooldown times, deposit limits and wagering limits. Eaton added that the service will require two-factor authentication and require new users to enter the last four digits of their Social Security number to prevent minors from gambling.
“These are protections that we have shown are effective,” Eaton said.
