Rhode Island has two pari-mutuel facilities which both feature video lottery terminals (VLT's). These machines are the same as regular video gaming devices but are called lottery terminals  because they are regulated by the state's lottery commission which receives a share of each machine's revenue. The machines accept cash but don't pay out in cash; instead, they print out a receipt which must be taken to a cashier.

All VLT's are programmed to play at least six different games: blackjack, keno, slots and three versions of poker (jacks or better, joker poker and deuces wild).

The Rhode Island Lottery does not provide figures to determine the actual paybacks on its VLT's, however, according to Dennis Tripodi, finance administrator for the Rhode Island Lottery, the VLT's are programmed to pay back the following amounts over time:

Blackjack - 99.1%
5¢, 10¢, 25¢ Video Poker - 95%
50¢ Video Poker - 96.5%
$1 Video Poker - 98%
5¢, 10¢, 25¢ Slots - 92%
50¢ Slots - 94%
$1 Slots - 96%
25¢ Keno - 92%
50¢ Keno - 94%
$1 Keno - 96%. 

The minimum gambling age in Rhode Island is 18. For information on visiting Rhode Island call the state's tourism division at (800) 556-2484 or go to: www.visitrhodeisland.com.

Lincoln Park
1600 Louisquisset Pike
Lincoln, Rhode Island 02865
(401) 723-3200
Web Site: www.lincolnparkri.com
Map: #1 (10 miles N. of Providence)

Toll-Free Number: (800) 720-7275
Restaurants: 3
Hours: 9am-1am Daily
Admission: Free
Valet Parking: Free
Overnight RV Parking: No
Special Features: Live dog racing (Mon/Wed/Fri/Sat) throughout the year. Daily (except Tuesday) simulcasting of horse and dog racing.

Newport Grand
150 Admiral Kalbfus Road
Newport, Rhode Island 02840
(401) 849-5000
Web Site: www.newportgrand.com
Map: #2

Toll-Free Number: (800) 451-2500
Restaurants: 1
Hours: 10am-1am Daily
Admission: Free
Valet Parking: $1.50
Overnight RV Parking: No
Special Features: Daily simulcasting of horse  racing, dog racing and jai-alai.