Rhode Island Lawmakers Push for Bingo in State Casinos

^{Bingo Halls like this one could soon fill up in Rhode Island's casinos upon approval by the state's lawmakers. (Photo: Arclight / Alamy)}

Rhode Island lawmakers are set to consider a bill that would allow the state’s two casinos to offer bingo games, a move some hope could offset potential losses from a statewide casino smoking ban that will take effect at the start of 2027.

The Non-Charitable Bingo Act, which has been sponsored by State Sen. John Burke (D-West Warwick), would authorize bingo games much larger than those that are currently legal in the state.

Competing with Foxwoods for Bingo Dollars

Right now, bingo in Rhode Island is confined to charitable organizations like senior centers and churches. All players must be at least 55 years of age, with number callers being at least 60. Prizes are limited to a maximum of $400 per day, making these games more about the social events than the money that can be won.

But the new bill would allow Bally’s Twin River Casino and Bally’s Tiverton Casino to offer the same kinds of large, real-money bingo games that are offered at Foxwoods Casino in neighboring Connecticut. It could also help those casinos compete with the growing number of casinos in the region, including Connecticut’s Mohegan Sun and the three commercial Massachusetts casinos.

Senate Majority Leader Frank Ciccone (D-Providence), who has co-sponsored the bill, says that it could keep those who travel to Foxwoods for bingo in state.

“How many buses do we see fill up and go do bingo at Foxwoods?” Ciccone told reporters. “Why are they going out of state? They should be in state.”

Under the proposal, Bally’s would get to keep 84 percent of revenue from bingo, while the state would get 15 percent, with one percent set aside for the towns of Lincoln and Tiverton. And with concerns about revenue losses on several fronts, lawmakers argue that anything that can add to government coffers is worth considering.

“Loss of revenue to the state means we have to find it elsewhere,” Ciccone said during a hearing of the Committee on Labor and Gaming on March 18. “With the lack of money coming in from Washington, the outlook is not very bright at this point.”

Rhode Island Lottery Opposes Casino Bingo

But not everyone is in favor of bingo expansion. The Rhode Island Lottery submitted a letter of opposition ahead of the Labor and Gaming Committee hearing, laying out several reasons why the bill might not be a smart move.

“The Act is likely unconstitutional because it appears to delegate operational authority of a lottery game to a non-state entity,” Rhode Island Lottery Director Mark Furcolo wrote. “Section 15 of Article VI of the Rhode Island Constitution requires the State to operate all lotteries, including the game of Bingo.”

Furcolo also points out that since the state lottery already has the legal right to offer bingo, it could work with the casinos in order to offer the game there. He also shared concerns that the legislation could conflict with the lottery’s contract with Brightstar, which is the exclusive provider of traditional lottery products, which currently includes a bingo-style game.

Furcolo also expressed concern that in-person bingo could cannibalize revenues currently being captured by the state lottery’s bingo games, which are available at more than 1,000 retailers in Rhode Island.

“Based on the foregoing, the Rhode Island Lottery respectfully urges you not to pass the Act and stands ready to answer any questions you may have with respect to the concerns laid out above,” Furcolo’s letter concludes.

Those concerns have caused Ciccone and Burke to acknowledge that the bill might be held up to make changes, while holding out hope that amendments won’t have to be too extensive.

“If it’s just some grammatical changes, then we’ll try to fix them,” Ciccone told the committee. “If it’s a substantive negotiation between two companies, then it appears this bill may not be going anywhere, and the state will be losing money.”