The Rhode Island Lottery reported a slight year-on-year decline in sports betting revenue – but month-over-month growth – for September, as retail continued to outperform mobile wagering.
Sports betting revenue in September reached $2.4m, down 4.0% from $2.5m in the same month last year, but 71.4% higher than the amount posted in August this year.
Players wagered $31.3m on sports during September, which was 41.0% more than the same month last year and also 35.5% higher than the amount spent this August.
There was a particularly packed sporting schedule during the month, with Major League Baseball and the National Basketball Association both playing – following their novel coronavirus (Covid-19) suspensions as well as the National Football League’s traditional kick-off.
Retail was again the main source of income for operators, despite the Twin River casinos in Lincoln and Tiverton being subject to capacity limits as a result of the pandemic.
Land-based sportsbooks partially reopened on June 8 after the Covid-19 shutdown, but restrictions remain in place.
Revenue from land-based betting in September reached $1.5m, compared to $855,910 from bets placed via mobile. Consumers spent $17.2m betting on sports at retail venues in September, while $14.1m was also wagered via mobile during the month.
The Tiverton casino was the main source of revenue, with its sportsbook bringing in $787,307 from handle of $5.7m at its sportsbook.
However, Twin River Lincoln moved to be the more popular venue among punters, with consumer spending $11.5m on sports betting, though the casino posted lower revenue, of $713,571.
In terms of the state’s year-to-date performance, revenue from July to the end of September was $4.1m, up 64.0% from $2.5m at the same point in 2019, with players having wagered $61.1m on sports, an increase of 65.6% from $36.9m last year.