Sports betting boost ahead of Super Bowl LIII

Fans across New England are hoping for a sixth Super Bowl title for the New England Patriots, and fans headed to Twin River are also hoping to cash in on the win at the Sportsbook. 

Sports betting in Rhode Island started back in November, a month later than planned, having lawmakers worried the state would only earn half of its expected revenue for this fiscal year.

The state was looking forward to the revenue to help fill a $200 million budget hole.

But several lawmakers were optimistic a Patriots run could help close the gap.

House Speaker Nick Mattiello told ABC 6 that although this industry is new to the state, and he believes it’s hard to predict, he finds it hard to believe that even in the best case scenario the state could make up that lost revenue.

“You’re not going to get such a surge that you’re going to make up for past revenues,” Mattiello said. “We’re at this point in time [and] we move forward.”

Mattiello said that his priority now, alongside Senate President Dominick Ruggerio is to get mobile gaming into the program. The Democrat said he’s been hearing of incredibly long lines, and he would like to give more people the chance to play.

“People have to wait hours in line to place a sports bet,” he said. “It seems to me that a mobile option would be very appropriate.”

Another thing to think about is that the state gets 51% of losing bets. So, if the Patriots loyal bet on their team and New England takes home its sixth Lombardi Trophy, the state won’t see that money.

Gov. Gina Raimondo’s budget for the 2020 fiscal year has $30 million from sports betting, with $3million of that coming from the mobile option.