Rhode Island keeps raking in sports betting 💰

Fully vaccinated: 795,984 (of about 1.1 million residents)

New cases: 1,379 (on Thursday)

Test-positive rate: 5.7 percent

Currently hospitalized: 273

Total deaths: 3,018

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If you’re the kind of Patriots fan who also enjoys betting on your favorite team, Sunday just wasn’t your day.

Playing at home as one-point favorites, the Patriots got rolled by a Buffalo Bills team that once again looks like a contender in the AFC. 

On the bright side, your lost wager is kind of like a donation to the state’s coffers, and it’s already looking like Rhode Island is on track to rake in more sports betting revenue in the 2021-2022 fiscal year than ever before.

The state saw $145.5 million in in-person and mobile sports bets during the first four months of the 2021-2022 fiscal year (July-October), and had brought in $12 million in revenue during that same period, according to the Rhode Island Lottery.

At the same point last fiscal year, the state had brought in $8.5 million in revenue.

Remember, not all of that money goes directly to the state. Rhode Island gets 51 percent, IGT gets 32 percent, and Twin River gets 17 percent.

It’s difficult to pinpoint just how well the state will do with sports betting revenue this year, but it’s worth noting that there’s now an extra week of the NFL season (the sports that sees the most betting) and the playoffs are just around the corner.

As for the Patriots, the team has been remarkably solid against the spread. Its 9-6 record against the spread is good for a tie for fifth-best in the NFL, behind only Dallas, Green Bay, Indianapolis, and Detroit.

⚓ Don’t miss Amanda Milkovits’ touching story about the family of a 17-month-old Providence girl who finally made it home from the hospital. Read more.

⚓ What a hospital in crisis actually looks like, by my colleague Brian Amaral. Read more. 

⚓ If you’re looking for something to do on New Year’s eve in Rhode Island, here’s a list of some go-to spots. Read more.

⚓ This week’s Ocean State Innovators Q&A is with Julio E. Berroa, who helped establish the city’s first emergency shelter for LGBTQ+ youth. E-mail Alexa Gagosz with suggestions for this weekly interview.  Read more.

Here’s more Globe Rhode Island coverage.

⚓ Dave Barry offers his 2021 year in review. Read more.

⚓ Nearly a quarter of employers have reduced their office space since the start of the pandemic, and a few are downsizing drastically, investing the money they used to spend on square footage to strengthen their ability to operate with employees scattered far and wide. Read more.

⚓ The Patriots’ defense was a no-show on Sunday in a loss to the Bills. Read more.

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⚓ It’s National Visit the Zoo Day, so admission to the Roger Williams Zoo is free.

⚓ Speaking of the zoo, the Holiday Lights Spectacular continues tonight.

Governor McKee was slow to the punch, but his hybrid mask and vaccine policy to address COVID-19 is a reasonable approach. If you missed the column, you can read it here. And all of my columns are on our Rhode Island Commentary page.

Ed Fitzpatrick talks to Senate President Dominick Ruggerio about his legislative agenda for 2022. Listen to all of our podcasts here.

You can get alerts about Rhode Island news on the Globe’s app (iOS and Android). Just tap the gear icon, then “Edit Alert Settings,” and choose Rhode Island.

Thanks for reading. Send comments and suggestions to Dan.McGowan@Globe.com, or follow me on Twitter @DanMcGowan. See you on Monday.

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Dan McGowan can be reached at dan.mcgowan@globe.com. Follow him @danmcgowan.