Playing Online Poker in Rhode Island: What You Need to Know

Top-rated online poker sites in Rhode Island

• 

  4.7

  #1

  4.7

  BetOnline

  Chico Poker Network

  

  Bonus

  100% up to $1,000

  

  Rakeback

  VIP

  ReviewSign up

  

  United States is accepted

  • Crypto accepted

  GambleAware.org

  Details
• 

  4.5

  #2

  4.5

  CoinPoker

  Independent

  

  Bonus

  150% up to $2,000

  

  Rakeback

  33%+

  Code

  WPD

  

  ReviewSign up

  

  United States is accepted

  • Crypto accepted

  GambleAware.org

  Details
• 

  4.7

  #3

  4.7

  ACR Poker

  Winning Poker Network

  

  Bonus

  100% up to $2,000

  

  Rakeback

  up to 65%

  Code

  WPDVIP

  

  ReviewSign up

  

  United States is accepted

  • Crypto accepted

  GambleAware.org

  Details
• 

  4.3

  #4

  4.3

  Ignition Casino

  Paiwangluo Poker Network

  

  Bonus

  150% up to $1,500

  

  Rakeback

  Not available

  ReviewSign up

  

  United States is accepted

  • Crypto accepted

  GambleAware.org

  Details

Online poker in RI is already legalized, but in practice it’s not yet available, as there are no licensed online poker sites. If you don’t want to wait, you can stick to live poker locally, which is fully legal, or play on an offshore site, but with fewer protections and more uncertainty. We’ve reviewed such platforms to help Rhode Island poker fans choose the safest option.

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ACR Poker

ACR Poker offers the largest tournament action available to players in Rhode Island. It’s where the state’s top pro, Aram Zobian, split heads-up in a Sunday tournament and scored his first six-figure result of $110,000 in 2017.

Today, the site features at least $9.3 million in weekly MTT guarantees, and winners of its flagship tournament, The Venom, become millionaires.

ACR Poker's ring games are equally strong.  The app supports the tables with stakes up to $200/$400, a wide range of formats—from the ever-popular 6-max NLH and PLO to unique offerings like 7-Day No Rathole.

ACR’s bonus system is aimed at regular players, placing a strong emphasis on a  meaningful rakeback, one of the key factors when choosing a poker room:

• A 100% first deposit bonus up to $2,000 provides 20% rakeback.
• The loyalty program provides a flat 27% rakeback or up to 65% as you progress through the Elite Benefits levels.
• Up to $500 per week for winning in one of three rake races.

CoinPoker

CoinPoker stands out as the most innovative option among the major poker rooms available to Rhode Island players. Consider its features: a blockchain-based RNG, its own CHP token, independent reserve wallets, and even MetaMask login support.

Players’ accounts and all games at CoinPoker are denominated in USDT, though deposits and withdrawals can be made in several other cryptocurrencies. The platform offers an exceptionally wide range of stakes in cash games and tournaments:   from 0.01/0.02₮ to 1,000/2,000₮, and from 2 cents to 5,000₮.

The most active games are 7-max Hold’em and Omaha, with additional short-handed formats available for more aggressive players. Most MTTs are relatively small, and the number of participants rarely exceeds a few hundred.

CoinPoker’s ongoing bonuses allow  players across all limits  to earn solid rakeback:

• A 150% first deposit bonus up to $2,000 provides 50% rakeback!
• The loyalty program awards a flat 33% rakeback each Monday.
• Up to $400 in 4-hour rake race leaderboards.

BetOnline

BetOnline is known across the U.S. primarily as a sportsbook with a wide range of betting options on local sports leagues, but the site has also operated a poker room for many years, featuring a modern multi-platform app and a notably weak player pool.

BetOnline Poker offers a stronger game selection than most rooms available to Rhode Island players. Hold’em comes in three formats: 6-max, 9-max, and the fast-fold Boost poker. Omaha is available in four formats: with 4-card, 5-card, 6-card, and Hi/Low.

The poker room also features several exclusive tournament formats, including OFC Spin & Go,  MTTs with Mystery Bounty and progressive jackpot for tournaments with similar buy-ins, and Sit & Gos with Bomb Pot.

BetOnline regularly experiments with new promotions, so it’s worth checking the Missions section of the app to keep up with the latest offers. Regular promotions include leaderboard races of various formats. The loyalty program provides 10% to 30% rakeback.

Our ranking criteria for choosing the best Rhode Island poker sites

When comparing poker sites, it's usually the details that make the difference: the availability of a mobile app, the selection of games, sufficient traffic during peak hours and the use of local payment systems. In Rhode Island, though, there are currently no state-licensed online poker rooms to pick from. So if you’re looking at offshore options, here are the key factors we at Worldpokerdeals use in our rankings:

• License. Since the room won’t be licensed in Rhode Island, it should hold a license from another reputable regulator with solid oversight, for example Isle of Man, Malta, or Curacao.
• Background and reputation. A license is a start, but track record matters. We give extra credit to poker sites with a long history, stable ownership and a proven presence on the market (many top brands have 10–20+ years behind them).
• Security. We look for a clean track record (especially around payout disputes), modern software, encrypted connections, clear privacy policies, and recognized payment partners.
• Cashier. The best options offer a reliable mix of classic methods (e-wallets, cards, bank transfers where available) and modern rails (crypto), with transparent fees and processing times.
• Traffic. Liquidity is key. We recommend rooms with 24/7 action and a variety of games and stakes to avoid empty lobbies.

Is online poker legal in Rhode Island?

Yes, it was legalized in 2023. The bills created a framework that can include online poker under the state’s iGaming system, with Bally’s as the state’s exclusive operator. The law was set to take effect on March 1, 2024, and Rhode Island’s iGaming program began with a technical trial starting March 1 before the public launch on March 5, 2024. Unfortunately, no poker sites have launched yet, so there are no legally available online poker rooms for real-money play.

Many industry observers say poker may come later, but the thing is that the state has a relatively small population, so it would likely need a larger shared liquidity network, like the MSIGA interstate compact (or a similar shared-liquidity agreement).

As long as you play on a state-licensed platform, are 21+, and you are physically located in Rhode Island, you can legally play online poker. But with zero legal online poker websites available, players try to search for alternatives, which are commonly offshore websites.

In this situation, gambling is in the gray area. Operating or promoting online platforms that offer services without a license can face felony charges: up to 2 years in prison or a fine of up to $2,000. People who frequent illegal gambling places can also face penalties: up to 30 days in jail.

As of January 2026, Rhode Island still hasn’t announced a launch date for a regulated online poker room, so a 2026 rollout remains possible but unconfirmed and likely depends on shared-liquidity arrangements.

Poker-related taxes

Any money won from poker, whether you play live poker at Bally’s Twin River or future online poker earnings, is considered taxable income. The IRS treats poker winnings the same as any other gambling winnings, so you will have to report them as income. For certain large wins, the payer (casino/operator) may issue Form W-2G to report the winnings, but players must report all winnings regardless of forms. 

The state income tax ranges from 3.75% to 5.99%, and it will depend on your total annual income. Federal tax withholding can be 24% in certain cases (it depends on the type of win and reporting thresholds), so keep that in mind before you start gambling. Especially considering that failure to pay taxes can lead to unpleasant consequences.

Payment methods for RI poker players

Rhode Island hasn’t rolled out a regulated online poker cashier yet, but if (and when) it does, expect the usual U.S. "compliance-first"  mix: debit cards (Visa/Mastercard), ACH/bank transfer, PayPal, and sometimes prepaid cards (often deposits-only).

For RI players using offshore poker sites today, crypto is often the only option. Traditional e-wallets like Skrill and Neteller generally aren’t available to U.S. players for gambling transactions, so many grinders end up funding accounts with BTC/ETH/USDT and cashing out the same way.

Live Poker in Rhode Island

Offline poker is also available and legal in the state. Players can visit Bally's Twin River Casino, which has a dedicated poker room. It has approximately 23 tables in its smoke-free second-floor area. Players can enjoy games like No-Limit Texas Hold’em (and other formats depending on demand). There are also regular tournaments held at Twin River.

You don’t need to be a resident of Rhode Island to visit, but the casino will check your age at the entrance/cage. So, having a government-issued photo ID, such as a driver’s license, is necessary to enter and play. You must be 18+.

Famous poker players from Rhode Island

TOP-5 players:

1. Aram Zobian — $6,7M+
2. Soukha Kachittavong    — $2,2M+
3. Anna Wroblewski — $1,2M+
4. Bradley St. Vincent —  $720K+
5. Bob Ricciuti — $680K+

After turning 21, Aram Zobian headed to the WSOP. On his second trip, he recorded the biggest result of his career. Zobian won sixth place in the Main Event and earned $1.8 million. By his own admission, however, he lost most of those winnings soon after.

Backed by Ali Imsirovic and with a renewed focus on online grinding, Zobian managed to rebuild his bankroll. In 2020, he won his best online cash, earning $529,005 for a fifth-place in the $25K WSOP Online event on GGPoker.

Since then, Zobian has added more than a dozen additional six-figure results and continues to pursue his goal of becoming a full-time high-stakes player.

Responsible gambling

The issue of responsible gaming is taken very seriously in Rhode Island. Any poker site that wants to get a license must offer main responsible gambling tools like self-exclusion and limits. Moreover, casinos and lottery together must contribute at least $200,000 annually to fund multiple responsible gambling programs.

Problem Gambling Services is one of the main in-state resources for treatment and support. If you or someone you know needs help, here are the key contacts:

• Rhode Island Hotline: 1-877-9GAMBLE;
• Problem Gambling Services: 401-499-2472;
• Gambling Help;
• National Problem Gambling Helpline;
• Gamblers Anonymous.

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