Rhode Island Lawmakers Introduce Bill to Bring High-Stakes Bingo to Bally's Casinos
Rhode Island lawmakers introduced the Non-Charitable Bingo Act as Senate Bill S2742, a measure designed to permit and regulate high-stakes bingo games at the state's two Bally's casinos for players of legal gambling age, and the proposal comes at a time when officials seek ways to maintain revenue streams ahead of major regulatory changes.
The bill targets Twin River Casino in Lincoln and Tiverton Casino, both operated under the Bally's umbrella, where current restrictions limit bingo exclusively to charitable organizations across the state, and sponsors frame the expansion as a direct response to anticipated revenue pressures from the statewide casino smoking ban scheduled for 2027.
Details of Senate Bill S2742
Under the Non-Charitable Bingo Act, the two casinos would gain authority to host bingo sessions with higher stakes than those allowed at charitable events, while participants must meet the state's legal gambling age requirements, and the legislation outlines specific regulatory frameworks to oversee game operations, prize structures, and venue compliance.
Revenue allocation follows a fixed split that directs 84 percent to Bally's, 15 percent to the state general fund, and 1 percent to the host communities of Lincoln and Tiverton, a distribution model that lawmakers designed to balance operator incentives with public benefits while addressing potential shortfalls from reduced smoking-area play after the 2027 ban takes effect.
Current Restrictions and Proposed Changes
Bingo operations in Rhode Island remain confined to nonprofit and charitable groups under existing statutes, a framework that has shaped the game as a community fundraising tool rather than a commercial casino offering, and the new bill would carve out an exception specifically for the Bally's properties without altering rules for other venues or organizations.
Observers note that the measure keeps age verification and responsible gaming standards aligned with broader casino regulations, yet it introduces commercial-scale bingo as a distinct product line that could attract different player demographics compared with traditional charity events.
Connection to the 2027 Smoking Ban
The proposal explicitly ties bingo expansion to offsetting projected losses once the smoking prohibition begins in 2027, a policy that will eliminate designated smoking areas inside the casinos and potentially shift player behavior or reduce visit frequency, and legislative sponsors have cited internal revenue forecasts as motivation for adding new gaming options like high-stakes bingo.
State budget discussions in early 2026 highlighted similar concerns about gaming revenue stability, with May 2026 committee hearings expected to examine detailed impact projections before any floor votes occur, and the timeline allows lawmakers to assess pilot data or adjust terms if initial implementation reveals unforeseen effects.
Revenue and Community Impact Projections
Proponents project that regulated casino bingo could generate supplemental income streams that partially cushion the effects of the smoking restrictions, while the 1 percent allocation to host towns provides direct support for local services in Lincoln and Tiverton without requiring separate tax measures.
According to the WPRI coverage of the bill introduction, sponsors emphasized the measure's role in preserving overall gaming contributions to state coffers, and similar revenue-sharing structures appear in other regulated gaming expansions across the Northeast region.
Industry reports from the American Gaming Association indicate that ancillary games like bingo often complement core offerings by increasing dwell time and ancillary spending, though actual results in Rhode Island would depend on implementation details and player response after the 2027 changes.
Legislative Timeline and Next Steps
The bill entered the legislative process through the Senate, where committee review will determine amendments and public testimony opportunities, and lawmakers have scheduled preliminary discussions that extend into the May 2026 session window to allow input from regulators, casino operators, and community stakeholders.
Passage would require approval in both chambers followed by gubernatorial signature, after which the Rhode Island Department of Business Regulation would develop operational rules before any casino bingo sessions could begin, a process that aligns with standard procedures for new gaming formats in the state.
Conclusion
Senate Bill S2742 represents a targeted policy adjustment that links bingo expansion directly to revenue management ahead of the 2027 smoking ban, and its revenue split structure aims to distribute benefits among operators, the state, and local communities while maintaining existing charitable bingo channels elsewhere.
Further legislative action in the coming months will clarify whether the proposal advances, with May 2026 serving as a key period for refining details based on updated fiscal data and stakeholder feedback.