By Steve Klamkin WPRO News

Rhode Island – based gaming giant Bally’s Wednesday proposed introducing online casino gambling on slots and table games.

Bally’s said that what it calls iGaming would help it remain competitive in the New England gaming market, while generating an estimated $200 million in tax revenue to Rhode Island over five years.

The company unveiled the proposal Wednesday during a forum with state legislative leaders.

“It’s just to start the conversation with the General Assembly this session about the possibility of online casino gaming,” said Bally’s spokeswoman Patti Doyle. “We’ve seen it in other jurisdictions, we believe it is the wave of the future, and we know that we have to constantly shore up the revenue to the state and remain competitive in the competitive New England market.”

“I’m very much interested in expanding gaming in Rhode Island,” said Senate President Dominick Ruggerio, a long-time supporter of casino gaming. He said Rhode Island needs to offset flagging revenues from Bally’s existing brick and mortar Twin River Lincoln and Tiverton casinos.

“We need the revenue,” Ruggerio said. “Especially, that’s our third (largest) source of revenue, gaming hasn’t been going as well as it used to be because of the pandemic and everything, we had a little loss. I think iGaming would be convenient for people, they could do it at home. I think that’s the route to go right now.”

In a statement, Bally’s said it would be effectively giving the state complete regulatory control over online gaming.