Delaware

Sports Betting

It is interesting to find out that the state of Delaware, in particular, was the first one to launch sports betting and it was even established before the state of New Jersey which has become one of the synonyms for gambling scenes in the US. The three casinos based in Delaware initially started taking sports bets in June 2018 after the previous restrictions were lifted.
However, online sports betting has not been established as of yet and residents of Delaware are required to place sports bets online in nearby Pennsylvania or New Jersey. The main reason for the delayed launch of online sports betting is believed to be the cost of launching. Even though there are no state-run sports betting platforms, players are not restricted from betting online at offshore online sportsbooks which have been a widely used option during the pandemic since all on-site sports betting was closed down. Unfortunately, there are no future predictions as to when will online sports betting be launched on the premises of Delaware but we will keep you updated as soon as we have more information on the matter!

Licensing, Fees, and Taxes

The governing bodies of the state of Delaware are the lottery, a division of the Department of Finance, and the Video Lottery Regulation. Racetracks are allowed to operate a video lottery, table games, and sports betting. Before the law of 2018 was enacted, there was a $13.25m licensing fee that was required from all video lotteries. The Delaware State Lottery Office is responsible for managing tax rates at the three racetracks in the state and is distributing the proportions of the revenue accordingly. Of course, the biggest percentage which is estimated at 42% is paid to the three tracks as commissions for operating and distributing the casino games.

History of Gambling in Delaware

Delaware is known for being the second smallest state of the US which borders New Jersey and Pennsylvania. The state has three racing venues that were established gradually including Delaware Park Racetrack and Slots, Harrington Raceway, and Dover Downs. The first type of gambling activity to ever occur on the premises of the state was horse racing dating back to 1760 in the town of Newark. At this time, betting was considered illegal but private wagering was something common and horse racing was a big thing in the area until World War I. After the Great Depression, the first light in the tunnel for passionate gamblers was the Delaware Racing Commission that was established in 1933. After a few years of passing legislation and striking deals, the racetrack in Delaware has its grand opening in 1937. Even post World War II the Racetrack continued being extremely profitable.

Another type of casino game that was legalized in 1957 thanks to a Constitutional Amendment was Bingo which also turned into a beloved game and was launched online. The Delaware Gaming Control Board was created in 1981 in order to regulate sports and gambling activities.

Delaware Legal Gambling Summary

The state of Delaware has completely legalized online casinos and sports betting which is not a common thing for the US casino market. Even though this is one of the smallest states in America, gambling is properly established and regulated. Not only does Delaware provide a variety of casino games and sports betting activities but it is also looking out for players’ protection so you can be sure your data is safe from third parties or any fraudulent activities. The controlling body is the Delaware state lottery, combined with the Delaware Division of Gaming Enforcement. The only disadvantage is that online sports betting is not available from in-house sportsbooks and players need to search for an offshore online venue that they can bet on their favorite sports and teams. However, in order to help you out, our team at CasinoDaddy.com has provided a recommended list of online casinos and sportsbooks that you can safely have fun at!