General Assembly approves legislation for collegiate sports betting

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WLNE) — The Rhode Island General Assembly adopted legislation Wednesday that would enable wagering on in-state collegiate sports teams.

The legislation, which comes a week after the passage of an iGaming bill in the Senate, specifies that wagering can only be on teams taking part in tournaments consisting of four or more teams.

Bets can be placed on collegiate tournaments that take place in Rhode Island or which involve Rhode Island collegiate teams, regardless of where they occur.

“This legislation will enable Rhode Islanders to wager on their favorite local college teams when they are participating in highly anticipated events like March Madness,” Senate President President Dominick Ruggerio said. “Ultimately, when residents of our state seek to place wagers during college tournaments, we shouldn’t be forcing them to go to Massachusetts or Connecticut. We want to keep those fans, and those dollars, here at home.”

The bill was sponsored by Ruggerio in the Senate and Rep. Jacquelyn Baginski in the House.

It also keeps the prohibition on individual performance statistics of collegiate athletes in place.

The bill will now be considered by Gov. Dan McKee.