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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2025

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A N   A C T

RELATING TO STATE AFFAIRS AND GOVERNMENT -- VIDEO LOTTERY GAMES,

TABLE GAMES AND SPORTS WAGERING

     Introduced By: Senators Ciccone, Tikoian, LaMountain, Murray, and Felag

     Date Introduced: May 02, 2025

     Referred To: Senate Labor & Gaming

     It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

     SECTION 1. Purpose.

     The general assembly hereby finds that the casino gaming industry is an important source

of revenue and jobs for the State of Rhode Island. The purpose of this act is to position Rhode

Island as a nationwide leader in the online casino gaming industry, thereby creating additional jobs

for Rhode Island residents and strengthening the economy and profile of the state.

     SECTION 2. Chapter 42-61.2 of the General Laws entitled "Video Lottery Games, Table

Games and Sports Wagering" is hereby amended by adding thereto the following section:

     42-61.2-19. External online casino gaming.

     (a) Definitions. As used in this section, in addition to the definitions spelled out below,

terms referenced in this section shall have the meanings given them in § 42-61.2-1.

     (1) "External game play activities" means the operation and hosting by Twin River and/or

Twin River-Tiverton and/or their permitted assignees in external jurisdictions and the playing of

external online table games in external jurisdictions in accordance with the laws of the applicable

external jurisdictions, where: game-play outcomes are generated based on the images of gaming-

related activities livestreamed to external jurisdictions; electronic wallets are maintained in the

applicable external jurisdictions; wagers are placed, accepted, logged, and processed on servers

located in one or more external jurisdictions; prizes are paid and received in one or more external

jurisdictions; and the game play activities of players in the external jurisdictions do not affect in

any way the online table game activities in Rhode Island.

     (2) "External jurisdiction" means any jurisdiction located outside of the State of Rhode

Island which permits external game play activities, that is authorized by the division in accordance

with the provisions of this section; provided, however, it shall not include any jurisdiction that

competes with the revenue generating operations of the division, as determined by the division in

its sole discretion.

     (3) "External online table game" means a casino-style table game authorized by an external

jurisdiction made available to players in that jurisdiction through use of the Internet utilizing

computers, mobile applications on mobile devices, or other interactive devices, on which wagers

are accepted by a gaming system located in an external jurisdiction, and where the outcomes of

such games are generated by gaming-related activities taking place in a hosting facility.

     (4) "Gaming-related activities" means activities approved by the division, in its sole

discretion, for livestreaming conducted by a live person in a hosting facility and communicated via

the live studio RGS, for the purpose of generating information and outcomes to be used in the

operation of external online table games, including activities such as rolling dice, dealing cards, or

spinning roulette wheels.

     (5) "Live studio RGS" means a remote game server physically located in a hosting facility

which transmits, via livestream, gaming-related activities occurring in that hosting facility to an

external jurisdiction.

     (6) "Livestream" means the video imagery of gaming-related activities recorded on

cameras in a hosting facility and streamed live to external jurisdictions via a live studio RGS.

     (b) Authorization of external game play activities. Notwithstanding any provisions of the

general laws or regulations adopted thereunder to the contrary including, without limitation, the

provisions of chapter 19 of title 11, chapters 1 through 11 of title 41, and chapters 61, 61.2, and

61.3 of title 42, the division is hereby directed to permit Twin River, Twin River-Tiverton, or both

to livestream gaming-related activities to one or more external jurisdictions for the purpose of

facilitating external game play activities, subject to the conditions set forth in subsections (b)(1) to

(b)(4) of this section.

     (1) The division shall determine whether the external game play activities are permitted in

the external jurisdiction and any conditions related thereto in connection with authorizing the

livestreaming of gaming-related activities to an external jurisdiction. Twin River, Twin River-

Tiverton, or both, as applicable, shall be responsible for and reimburse the division for any costs

and fees, including, without limitation, attorneys' fees, associated with the division's compliance

with this subsection.

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     (2) Twin River, Twin River-Tiverton, or both, as applicable, shall indemnify and hold the

state harmless from and against any claims, costs, penalties, demands, losses, liabilities, damages,

judgments, fines, or fees (including reasonable attorneys' fees) related, directly or indirectly, to the

livestreaming of gaming-related activities to an external jurisdiction.

     (3) Twin River, Twin River-Tiverton, or both, as applicable, shall not assign, resell, pledge,

license, or otherwise transfer its permission to livestream gaming-related activities to external

jurisdictions to any other person or entity other than Bally's Corporation, a Delaware corporation,

or an affiliate of Bally's. For purposes of this subsection: "affiliate" means a person who or that

directly, or indirectly through one or more intermediaries, controls, is controlled by or is under

common control with a person; and "control" means the possession, directly or indirectly, of the

power to direct or cause the direction of the management and policies of a person, whether through

the ownership of voting securities, by contract or otherwise.

     SECTION 3. This act shall take effect upon passage.

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EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

A N   A C T

RELATING TO STATE AFFAIRS AND GOVERNMENT -- VIDEO LOTTERY GAMES,

TABLE GAMES AND SPORTS WAGERING

***

     This act would allow the two (2) gaming facilities in the state to livestream images of

gaming-related activities to one or more external jurisdictions for the purpose of facilitating

external game play activities in external jurisdictions where gaming is permitted.

     This act would take effect upon passage.

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