Bill
HB 6388
Rhode Island allows Twin River casinos to livestream live-dealer table-game activities to external jurisdictions for online table games, under regulatory approval and safeguards.
HB 6388 Summary — External Online Casino Gaming Livestreaming (Rhode Island)
Overview
- Bill: HB 6388, An Act Relating to State Affairs and Government — Video Lottery Games, Table Games and Sports Wagering
- Status: Signed by Governor on June 30, 2025
- Introduction/Referral: Introduced January 23, 2025; subsequently advanced through House Finance and related committees; enacted to permit external online gaming livestreaming
- Purpose: To position Rhode Island as a nationwide leader in online casino gaming by enabling Rhode Island’s two casinos to livestream gaming-related activities to external jurisdictions for external online table games
Key Provisions
- New authority: Creates 42-61.2-19 (External online casino gaming)
- External game play activities: Livestreamed gaming-related activities conducted at Rhode Island facilities (Twin River and Twin River-Tiverton) to external jurisdictions, with outcomes generated by activities in the hosting facility and processed in external jurisdictions
- External jurisdiction: A jurisdiction outside Rhode Island that permits such external game play, subject to the division’s approval; excludes jurisdictions that compete with Rhode Island’s revenue
- External online table games: Casino-style table games offered online in an external jurisdiction, where wagers are managed and outcomes are tied to activities in that jurisdiction
- Gaming-related activities: Livestreamed activities (e.g., rolling dice, dealing cards, spinning roulette) conducted by a live person at a hosting facility and transmitted via a remote game server (Live Studio RGS)
- Live Studio RGS and Livestream: A remote game server located in a hosting facility that streams real-time gaming activities to external jurisdictions
- Authorization and oversight
- Division of Gaming must determine external jurisdiction permissibility and related conditions
- Twin River and/or Twin River-Tiverton must reimburse the division for costs and fees associated with compliance
- Indemnification: Twin River and/or Twin River-Tiverton must indemnify the state against claims, costs, penalties, liabilities, damages, and attorney fees arising from the livestreaming activities
- Transfer restrictions: Rights to livestream external gaming activities may not be assigned, resold, pledged, licensed, or transferred to others, except to Bally’s Corporation (Delaware) or an affiliate of Bally’s
- Effective date
- Take effect upon passage
Definitions and Scope
- The act clarifies key terms (external game play activities, external jurisdiction, external online table game, gaming-related activities, live studio RGS, livestream) to ensure clear regulatory boundaries and operational parameters
- Applies specifically to the two Rhode Island gaming facilities (Twin River and Twin River-Tiverton)
Impact and Implications
- Economic impact: Potential expansion of Rhode Island’s online gaming footprint and cross-jurisdictional revenue opportunities; alignment with modernization goals in the state’s gaming sector
- Regulatory impact: Increases regulatory duty on the Division of Gaming to evaluate external jurisdictions, manage costs, and ensure compliance and consumer protections
- Operational impact: Casinos must establish livestreaming capabilities, host facilities, and relationships with external jurisdictions; cost reimbursement and indemnification obligations are imposed on the casinos
- Risk considerations: Requires careful attention to cross-border regulatory compliance, anti-money laundering (AML) and know-your-customer (KYC) processes, data security, and consumer protections in both Rhode Island and external jurisdictions
Legislative History (highlights)
- Introduced: January 23, 2025; later reflected as June 4, 2025 version
- Committee activity: Referred to House Finance; advanced through committee and floor votes in June 2025
- Final status: Governor signed on June 30, 2025
Notes
- The act is designed to broaden Rhode Island’s gaming ecosystem by enabling external livestreamed gaming activities, contingent on regulatory approval and contractual safeguards with the casino operators and Bally’s affiliation.
Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.
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