Rhode Island’s sports betting market saw a significant drop in handle and revenue in December 2020.
According to the latest figures from the Rhode Island Lottery, bettors in the Ocean State wagered $22.8m on sporting events in December, a significant drop on the $35m wagered the month prior.
Revenue also dipped in December with sportsbooks in the state generating $2.5m in revenue down from the record $6.3m generated in November.
Mobile vs land-based
Mobile betting in Rhode Island made up the majority of the state’s handle and revenue in December.
Bettors in the Ocean State wagered $18.3m and after customers won back $16.1m from the state’s operator mobile sports betting revenue amounted to $2.3m.
The state’s land-based market took a massive hit in December with a combined $301,703 in revenue from $4.4m in total land-based bets. This marked a significant drop from the $19.4m wagered and $3.7m generated in November.
In December, the sportsbook at the Twin River Lincoln venue was the favourite land-based venue among bettors after processing $3.3m in bets and holding onto $64,027.
Meanwhile, the Twin River Tiverton venue managed to generate $237,676m in revenue from $1.2mm in bets.
Land-based closures hit market
The drop in sports betting handle and revenue can be attributed to the impact of casino closures in December.
Both of the state’s land-based casinos were forced to close between 29 November and 21 December due to a rise in coronavirus cases across the state.
Once they were allowed to reopen, the venues were limited to operating between 6am and 10pm from Sunday to Thursday, and until 10:30pm on Fridays and Saturdays.
