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Delaware became the first state to introduce sports betting outside of Nevada following the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act (PASPA) being removed on May 14, 2018. The state is at the forefront of jurisdictions that decided to legalize sports betting.
Delaware moved with such pace that it beat New Jersey to launch sports betting, including single-game bets and future bets. The three casinos in Delaware were authorized to begin accepting bets on sports in June 2018. Delaware Park Casino, Dover Downs, and Harrington Raceway now host retail sportsbooks where Delaware residents can legally bet on sports if they are 21 or older.
Sports betting in Delaware was already legal when the PASPA Act was in place. In 2009, the state approved a law allowing the lottery to expand some of its parlay products. Federal law blocked any movement on this until the US Supreme Court struck down PASPA and the power went back to the state.
Those looking to place a bet online in Delaware, or mobile will need to travel across the border to NJ, or PA where you can wager online using one of these recommended, legal online sportsbooks. There are currently no Delaware sports betting apps available. It is hoped bettors in the state will soon have online sports book sites live, which is the case in nearby states such as New Hampshire.
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Horse racing betting is prominent in Delaware’s gaming industry as each casino is attached to a horse track. Bettors can place wagers in-person or online via US-based horse betting sites. Daily fantasy sports (DFS) has been legal in Delaware since 2017. State law dictates that DFS operators need to apply for a license, so they adhere to rules and regulations that protect customer information. Operators that currently offer daily fantasy sports in Delaware include:
Both DraftKings and FanDuel are among the best sports betting apps around with generous free bets and a wide range of wagering options. There are other forms of gambling in Delaware that are legal such as online poker. As per state law, every land-based casino is permitted to offer online games and poker to players within state lines. We will however have to wait for Delaware sports gambling to be available legally online. When it does launch, expect DraftKings and FanDuel sportsbook to instantly offer a Delaware betting app.
Delaware Sports Betting Details
Delaware football betting has a long history, with the state having offered pro-football parlay betting for a long time. The state wasted no time in becoming the first place post-PASPA to offer legal sports betting. Vernon Kirk, director of the Delaware Lottery, said Delaware was uniquely placed to offer sports betting as the state was already set up to do so in 2009 before it was blocked. According to Kirk, this means all that was needed was an upgrade in technology and staff to be trained before people could bet on sports in the state.
Delaware has been synonymous with horse racing and gaming for hundreds of years. Nowadays, all forms of gambling in the state fall under the Delaware lottery. In 1976, the Delaware football lottery was created, implementing a parlay system for betting on the outcomes of several football games. It was only live for one season before being resurrected in 2009. Under the sports lottery, Delaware NFL betting limits bettors to parlays of a minimum of three NFL games, including some teaser games.
Delaware North casinos announced in 2021 that IGT would be its new sportsbook partner. The deal between the two parties allows IGT to power retail and mobile sports betting in West Virginia at Mardi Gras and Wheeling Island. This means they could launch an online casino in Delaware when online gambling kicks off.
The federal ban on sports betting in Delaware has been removed now, and the state has expanded to accept single-game betting. Residents are now waiting for DE sports betting apps to launch in the state.
Where to bet on Sports in Delaware
Legal sports betting is available at Delaware’s three ‘racinos.’ These are racetrack locations with gambling facilities, which could include table games and slot machines. All three racinos have a poker room.
The Delaware lottery has an agreement with Scientific Games, which is partnered with Caesars Sportsbook (previously William Hill US) for its sports betting operations. Additionally, there are over 100 retail locations that have taken NFL parlay wagers in the past, including on the Super Bowl. Still, they cannot offer the full range of sports betting options available at the three racinos.
The Delaware Park Sportsbook, Harrington Raceway, and Dover Downs sports betting locations all provide in-person wagering options. There are no sports betting app options currently available in the state.
Legal Betting Options in Delaware
All of the traditional sports betting markets are available in Delaware, but college betting is limited. Sportsbooks cannot accept any sports wagering action on any in-state colleges. This means bettors can bet on sports involving local teams such as the Delaware State University Hornets and University of Delaware Blue Hens.
As we have mentioned, all sports betting must be done at the three casinos in Delaware as there are no legal Delaware betting apps available. Some websites may claim that they offer online betting in Delaware, but they are not licensed, only retail sports bets are regulated. Players would have no protection when betting on these sites, so it is a risk not worth taking. Even if they offer mobile betting, it is dangerous to sign up for any mobile sports betting app that isn’t licensed. Offshore sportsbooks could decide not to pay out for a sports bet, and you wouldn’t be protected.
Mobile Betting in Delaware
Although the New Jersey sports betting industry is believed by many to be the first to go live after the Supreme Court lifted the federal ban, that is incorrect. Delaware became the first state to legalize sports betting apps after the repeal of PASPA. You can legally place a wager in three separate gambling locations right across the state of Delaware, but all bets must be placed in-person. It was hoped you could use a Delaware sports betting site to wager on college football or the NFL by now, but it has taken much longer than anticipated. There are currently a few horse racing betting apps that are available, and these apps should also be able to become a fully-fledged sportsbook soon.
Delaware has already enjoyed some notable success with sports betting. Therefore, most believe the launch of sports betting sites will see that success grow and bring more money into the state.
When will Delaware Online Sports Betting Launch?
There is currently no official timeframe for online sports betting or mobile sports betting apps to launch in Delaware. Now, residents need to travel to nearby states New Jersey and Pennsylvania, to legally bet on sports online. The NJ sports betting market allows bettors to place wagers via their mobile devices as long as they are within state lines. The same applies to PA online sportsbooks regarding sports betting online.
Although online sports betting is legal in Delaware, it has been determined that it is too expensive to launch. That could change following the effects of the coronavirus pandemic, as sports betting shut down as well as the casinos in the state. As there are no online sport betting options available, the industry took a massive hit.
The state has promised to look into mobile sports betting and online sports betting in Delaware following the financial difficulties caused by the pandemic. Many industry insiders believe it is a matter of time before operators launch in Delaware as they will bring much needed revenue into the state.
Once online sports betting launches in Delaware, expect to see numerous brands introduce their sportsbook and mobile sports betting app so customers can gamble on the go. It is likely that bettors will be rewarded with a free bet when they register with a Delaware sports betting app in addition to other incentives.
Delaware Daily Fantasy Sports
Delaware is among a small number of states that have legalized and regulated daily fantasy sports market. Gov. John Carney signed the legislation to approve DFS into law in 2017. This means that anyone who is at least 18 years old can participate in real money daily fantasy sports contests.
Operators such as DraftKings and FanDuel offer fantastic competitions Delaware residents can get involved with. All operators who wish to enter the Delaware sports betting market must cough up a $50,000 licensing fee and pay more than 15.5% in DFS taxes. DraftKings and FanDuel took this option, and now both sites accept players from Delaware.
All of the daily fantasy sports contests in the state are overseen by the fantasy division of the Delaware Division of Gaming Enforcement. This body is responsible for allowing DFS providers to operate in Delaware, ensuring all rules and regulations are followed. Consequently, when you sign up to a sports betting site your information is protected as a sports bettor.
Delaware Horse Betting
Betting on horse racing is legal in Delaware. There are two harness racing tracks in the state, which are:
- Delaware Park
- Dover Downs
Delaware has three casinos that also have racebooks. Betting on horse racing online is also legal in Delaware. Operators such as AmWager, BetAmerica, TVG, and TwinSpires can all legally accept wagers from Delaware bettors. Racing fans can check out a list of the best free horse racing bets available for DE bettors. Additionally, a dedicated betting site for horse racing may launch when online gambling gets underway in the state.
Delaware Sports Betting FAQS
When does Delaware park sports betting start?
The retail sportsbook at Delaware Park Casino began accepting legal wagers on sports in 2018.
What type of sports betting does Delaware offer?
Delaware residents can bet on a range of sports in the three casinos in the state. All of the significant sports betting markets are available, such as football (NFL), baseball (MLB), basketball (NBA), Soccer (MLS, EPL, Ligue 1), and ice hockey (NHL). All of the common bet types are offered, such as money line bets, futures, parlays, and over/under.
Is sports betting legal in Delaware?
Yes, it was the first state outside of Nevada to take a single-game wager. The retail sportsbooks now accept all standard sports wagering options.
Latest Delaware sports betting news
Delaware Sports Betting FAQs
Is sports betting legal in Delaware?
Yes, the state approved legislation in 2009 giving permission for the Delaware lottery to conduct sports wagering. Following the repeal of PASPA in 2018, Delaware’s three casinos opened physical sportsbooks.
Is online sports betting legal in Delaware?
No, Delaware has yet to legalize online sportsbooks. However, this could change soon as the DE Lottery Director has stated that an online sports betting industry in the state “is inevitable.” This means bettors could soon be able to take advantage of mobile sports betting bonuses and all the flexibility online wagering brings.