Rhode Island Statewide Rule

Rhode Island Bans All Private Social Gambling

Heavy RestrictionsApplies statewide across Rhode Island (2026)

Key Facts

Governing statute: R.I. Gen. Laws § 11-19-1
Offense class: Felony
Max penalty: 2 years prison, $2,000 fine
Private-game exemption: None currently codified
Only exceptions: State lottery; licensed charitable Bingo/raffles
2026 exemption bill (H 7197): Held for further study, not enacted

Last verified: August 21, 2026

Summary

Rhode Island's core gambling statute, R.I. Gen. Laws § 11-19-1, makes it a felony to set up, promote, or draw any lottery, chance game, or device "publicly or privately." Unlike many neighboring states, Rhode Island has no statutory carve-out for casual, non-commercial games among friends: a home poker night or office pool falls under the same felony ban that covers a professional operation.

Every person who shall, directly or indirectly, set up, put forth, carry on, promote, or draw, publicly or privately, any lottery, chance, game, or device of any nature or kind whatsoever, or by whatsoever name it may be called, for the purpose of exposing, setting for sale or disposing of any money, houses, lands, merchandise, or articles of value, or shall sell or expose to sale lottery policies, purporting to be governed by the drawing of any public or private lottery, or shall sign or endorse any book, document, or paper whatsoever, for the purpose of enabling others to sell, or expose to sale, lottery policies, except as authorized in this chapter and in title 41 and chapters 61 and 61.2 of title 42, shall be deemed guilty of a felony and shall be imprisoned not exceeding two (2) years or be fined not exceeding two thousand dollars ($2,000).

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Full Breakdown

" The word "privately" is doing the work here: Rhode Island drafted its ban to reach games held in a private home, not just commercial or public operations. The statute carries only two carve-outs, both narrow. 2. Second, licensed "permitted games of chance" under § 11-19-30, Bingo, Beano, raffles, and the "twenty (20) week club" lottery, but only when conducted by a qualifying charitable, religious, fraternal, or civic organization holding a State Police license. Neither exception reaches a private card game, a fantasy pool, or a friendly bet among individuals with no charitable license and no lottery authorization.

Lawmakers have twice tried to add a private-game exemption and failed: 2024's H 7572 and 2026's H 7197 both proposed language allowing social gaming in private residences, taverns, or private clubs when it is "incidental to a bona fide social relationship" and no one but the players profits. The House Judiciary Committee held H 7197 for further study in 2026 rather than advancing it, so as of this writing the exemption other states use to distinguish a living-room card game from illegal gambling does not exist in Rhode Island law.

Violations & Penalties

A violation of § 11-19-1 is a felony, punishable by up to two years' imprisonment, a fine of up to $2,000, or both. There is no administrative citation, warning, or permit track for a private game: the statute sits in Title 11, Criminal Offenses, and is prosecuted like any other felony. The State Police Charitable Gaming Unit licenses only the § 11-19-30 exceptions; it has no mechanism to authorize or register a private social game.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is it illegal to play poker for money at home in Rhode Island?

Under the literal text of § 11-19-1, yes. The law bans running or promoting any "game or device" "publicly or privately" for money or anything of value, and the only exceptions are the state lottery and State Police-licensed charitable bingo, raffles, and twenty-week clubs. A private poker night among friends fits none of those exceptions.

Does Rhode Island have a "social gambling" exemption like some other states?

No, not as codified law. A 2026 bill, H 7197, would have added an exemption for gambling "incidental to a bona fide social relationship" in a private residence, tavern, or club, but the House Judiciary Committee held it for further study instead of passing it. A near-identical 2024 bill, H 7572, also failed to become law.

What gambling can happen without a state license in Rhode Island?

Very little outside the state-run RI Lottery itself. Section 11-19-30 lets only qualifying charitable, religious, fraternal, or civic organizations run licensed Bingo, Beano, raffles, or a "twenty week club" lottery. There is no separate lane in the statute for private, for-fun games among individuals with no organizational license.

Who enforces § 11-19-1 against a private card game?

It is an ordinary criminal statute, so enforcement runs through local police and the county prosecutor's office like any other felony charge, not through an administrative fine or licensing board. The State Police Charitable Gaming Unit's authority extends only to licensing the § 11-19-30 charitable exceptions, not to policing or permitting private games.

Sources

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