Sports wagering revenue in Rhode Island slumped 71.6% year-on-year in May as the state continued to feel the impact of the novel coronavirus (Covid-19) crisis, though this marked a significant improvement on April’s figures.
Revenue for the full month amounted to $163,472 compared to $574,703 in the same month last year, while the state’s handle also fell 89.7% from $14.6m to $1.5m.
The state’s bricks and mortar casinos were closed throughout the month, meaning the only revenue reported was from bets placed before the shutdown being settled.
As mobile betting did not launch in the state until September 2019, there are no year-on-year comparable figures, but on a month-on-month basis, revenue from mobile sports wagering rocketed 475.8% from $28,202 in April to $162,408.
Casinos in the state were forced to close on March 14 due to the Covid-19 pandemic, with players only able to place bets on mobile. However, the continued suspension of most sports events in May severely limited betting options for punters.
Casinos reopened on June 8, but the venues, are currently operating at a limited capacity, with sportsbooks remaining closed.
Twin River’s Lincoln casino posted $1,032 in land-based revenue in May, from wagers placed at the venue before lockdown. The facility also reported $2,130 and paid out $1,098 in winning bets.
Meanwhile, its sister Twin River venue in Tiverton generated just $32 in land-based revenue in May, paying out $281 in winnings on $313 in pre-lockdown wagers.
For the state’s financial year to date, total sports betting revenue amounted to $18.6m, with wagers totalling $198.2m and players winnings $179.6m.
In term of mobile year-to-date, revenue came in at $3.6m, with wagers standing at $47.7m and player winnings at $44.1m.