The Rhode Island Lottery has reported a month-on-month increase in sports betting revenue in August after punters spent over $10m (£8.1m/€9.2m) on legal wagering during the month.
Overall revenue from regulated sports betting amounted to $851,788 in August, up from $827,579 in July. Consumers wagered a total of $10.6m, compared to $8.3m in July, winning a collective $9.2m in the process.
The Twin River Casino in Lincoln remained the primary destination for sports betting in August, with the facility posting revenue of $607,836 for the month. This was down from $607,836 in July, but punters spent more at the casino, with total bets up from $6.6m to $7.4m.
In contrast, the Twin River Tiverton site saw revenue increase 18.7% from July to $243,952, with the overall amount wagered by players rising from $1.5m to $2.1m.
For the financial year to date, covering July and August, sports betting revenue amounted to $1.7m, off a handle of $18.4m. Punters won a total of $16.5m in the first two months of the financial year.
Despite the improvement in revenue during August, Rhode Island was still some way off its monthly record, which it set in June this year when it posted revenue of $2.2m off $14.7m in stakes.
However, revenue is likely to improve for September following the soft launch of mobile wagering in the state at the start of last month. Rhode Island opted for a phased launch of the new service, with the Twin River-branded offering going live on September 4 and Twin River Tiverton following later in the month.
Players that wish to bet on mobile must first visit the casino to activate their mobile accounts, after which they will be able to place wagers from anywhere within Rhode Island’s borders.
Image: Taber Andrew Bain