Rhode Island · RI · Money & taxes

Rhode Island: Does the state have a lottery?

Has a state lottery

Rhode Island has a state lottery, run as a division of the state Department of Revenue.

Voters approved a lottery by constitutional amendment in 1973, and the first ticket, for a game called The Lot, was sold in 1974. Lottery revenue goes to the state's General Fund. Rhode Island sells the multistate Powerball and Mega Millions games, and in 2026 they also went on sale through the lottery's website and app.

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What the law says

There is established a state lottery division within the department of revenue.

R.I. Gen. Laws § 42-61-1

Sources

R.I. Gen. Laws § 42-61-1 Official · webserver.rilegislature.gov
Rhode Island Lottery: Lottery Timeline Official · rilot.com
Rhode Island Lottery: About Us Official · rilot.com

Confirm with the state

Agency: Rhode Island Lottery
Phone: 401-463-6500
Website: rilot.com

How bordering states compare

Connecticut Has a state lotteryConnecticut runs a state lottery through the quasi-public Connecticut Lottery Corporation.
Massachusetts Has a state lotteryYes. Massachusetts runs a state lottery through the State Lottery Commission in the state treasurer's office.

Last verified Oct 21, 2026 · Confidence: High · How we research · Report an error

High confidence: an official source names this explicitly, and the quote above shows it.

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