• Delaware Online Gambling Laws
• Delaware Online Gambling Rules
• Delaware Online Casino Gambling

Assuming Delaware approves online sports gambling, then 888 Holdings is a likely partner. One of Europe’s largest internet bookmakers, 888 is already entrenched in the state. Delaware online casinos. Three regulated internet casinos run in Delaware—Dover Downs, Delaware Park, and Harrington Racecourse. Each site uses the 888 Holdings platform. Delaware Online Casinos. Delaware is the second smallest state in the country and one of the least populated, as well. The expectations for it to become a hub for residents in USA gambling for real money were not that high, given the starting premises. However, Delaware managed to surprise everyone with its obvious predilection towards legalizing and even promoting the expansion of gambling.

While small in size, Delaware has played a large role in the development of modern online poker. We’re going to further explore that role as we survey the status quo for a gambling in Delaware, touching upon legal issues facing online poker, the top sites for Delaware players and the future for online poker and gambling in Delaware.

• Can you sign up for online poker sites from Delaware?
• Is it legal to play at an off-shore site?
• How does the law address online poker in Delaware?

Those are just a few of the questions we hear from online poker players from the state, and we’ll tackle each – plus a few more – in this section of our guide to Delaware gambling.

Latest Updates through 2019

When Delaware first opened its online poker and casino game sites, the revenue was significant for the small state and its relatively small gambling sector. The first year brought in $595,580 in poker rake and fees alone in 2014.

That number dipped over time, however, as 2015 numbers showed only $392,401, a 34% decrease from the previous year. However, Delaware’s interstate relationship that went into effect in early 2015 to share player pools with Nevada helped stave off any further significant decreases in 2016. Even so, numbers dropped again in 2017 nearly 40% to $231,086, all while online casino games remained fairly strong.

Hope came in the form of a tri-state online poker liquidity agreement that was signed in October 2017, with Delaware and Nevada welcoming New Jersey into the shared player pool. While the online operator qualified to do so was WSOP/888, it was going to provide a lifeline for Delaware’s poker online. And that tri-state project did launch on the first day of May 2018. Improvements were seen right away, and revenue statements as the year progresses will give a fuller picture as to the health of online poker in the state of Delaware.

The Delaware Lottery released its 2018 revenue for online gaming at the start of 2019, and there were increases all around. Internet gaming, including poker and casino games, brought in $2,491,129 in revenue, which was a 4.15% increase over the previous year. Online poker alone delivered $255,695 of that amount, which was a solid 10.65% increase from 2017.

Upon the completion of the first half of 2019, numbers were up again for the state-regulated internet gaming market. All of online gaming brought in $1.677,072 in revenue from January through June, which was a significant 53% increase over the same period in the previous year. For online poker alone, its number was $141,839.78, which was up 17% from the 2018 first-half revenue.

The market remains small but steadily improving.

Is it Legal to Play Online Poker Legal in Delaware?

Yes. As of 2012, the State of Delaware legalized online poker and casinos. The Delaware Lottery operates and regulates online poker and casino games in the state. The regulations pertaining to internet poker are also updated each time Delaware’s governor signs a new interstate agreement with another state to share online poker liquidity.

In addition to the new laws, there are also other laws in the state statutes that pertain to poker and gambling. These laws may be overridden by the new online gaming statute, but they are important to note, nonetheless.

Delaware Poker

On February 25, 2014, Gov. Brian Sandoval of Nevada and Gov. Jack Markell of Delaware signed an interstate poker compact. The two states would share player liquidity between them. This allowed Delaware and Nevada to build a larger online poker community, which means more virtual poker tables can be filled at the same time. It also means tournaments can have larger prize pools. More gaming options and larger prize pools lead to more player interest; so greater player liquidity is the best way to develop a larger customer base.

At the time, Gov. Sandoval and Gov. Markell hoped (perhaps assumed) that more U.S. states would legalize and regulate online gambling. The language of the interstate poker compact stated that any US state which legalizes iPoker and wishes to uphold the standards set forth in the Sandoval-Markell compact would be able to sign on to the iPoker compact. Thus, the compact was designed to attract interest from a growing network of US states, including New Jersey. That has not materialized, even in the case of New Jersey, which led Gov. Sandoval to express his shock in recent weeks.

On March 24, 2015, Delaware and Nevada launched their program of shared online poker gaming. The shared player liquidity instantly showed increased player pools. Though the bump in interest was minor, it was touted by officials from both states and from 888 Holdings as a step forward. Perhaps one day, the interstate poker compact will become like the multi-state lottery associations, Powerball and Mega Millions. It took those associations decades to build into their current size, so it is not a pipe dream.

Delaware Casinos

Dover Downs Online, Harrington Racecourse Online, and Delaware Park Online all use 888casino and 888poker software. 888 Holdings is one of the finest online gambling companies in the world, as it’s trusted and has invested lots of money in developing games. I would prefer to have seen Dover Downs, Harrington, and Delaware Park to have offered different online casino games from each other.

One can see why they three racetracks chose the same software package. Each seems more interested in building up its online poker customer base, so Delaware and Nevada can build on its interstate poker compact. It makes sense to have the same software, for compatibility and customer usability. The problem is, 888’s designers designed the exact same online casino pages for all three sites, right down to the FAQ and the games selection.

That being said, online gamblers in Delaware have their option of a downloadable online casino software client, instant play casino games, and mobile casino gaming. The mobile gaming appears to support iPad and iPhone, but not Android smartphones and tablet computers. It is possible Android gaming apps were included later, but not advertised. If not, I recommend a mobile casino app for Android as the next update for all three.

Delaware Sports Lottery

The Delaware Sports Lottery continues to operate legally, under terms of the 1992 PASPA law. Wagering on the sports lottery is available throughout the year at Delaware Park, Dover Downs, and Harrington Raceway, as well as 80 off-track betting retailers throughout the state. The NFL season is the major period of activity for the Delaware Sports Lottery, generating in its 4+ months of games about half the sports lottery revenues each year.

Facts About Gambling in Delaware

The first type of recorded gambling in the first state took place in horse races all the way back in the 1700s. In fact, the first race track in Delaware was built in 1760. Betting wasn’t legal, but remained widespread regardless.

Residents would have to wait another 300 years or so before additional forms of regulated gambling were on the table; while pari-mutuel betting got the nod from lawmakers in the 1930s, lottery didn’t make its debut until 1975 and casino-style games weren’t present at the state’s racetracks until 2010.

Regulated Gambling Options in Delaware

It may be a small state, but there is a ton of regulated gambling packed into that space. There’s a state lottery and legal betting on horse races, but the explosive growth in Delaware gambling has come at the state’s “racinos” (race tracks that offer casino gambling) where you can play poker, table games and video lottery terminals. Delaware also offers one option you won’t find in many other states: sports betting (parlay only) at state racetracks.

Delaware FAQ

Which companies hold online gaming licenses in Delaware?

There are only three casinos/racinos in Delaware, and each of them hold a license but share the same online gaming platform:

Delaware Online Gambling Laws

• Delaware Park and Casino for DelawarePark.com/iGaming
• Dover Downs Hotel and Casino for OnlineGaming.DoverDowns.com
• Harrington Raceway & Casino for HarringtonGamingOnline.com

What games are available?

Online poker in Delaware offers cash games and tournaments, with mostly Hold’em games available.

Online casino games include slots and table games like blackjack and roulette. There are few other games available as the casinos in Delaware are fairly limited in scope as well.

What are the taxes, licensing fees, etc.?

Each internet casino in Delaware is required to pay an annual license fee of $50,000. There is a provision, however, that the casinos are taxed at a rate of 100% of all gross gaming revenues until each meets a threshold of $3.75 million. After that point, they will pay 43.5% on internet slots revenue and 34% on poker and other table games. But five years after the launch of the sites, they have yet to meet that requirement.

All Poker and Gambling Laws by State

• Three states have been offering legalized, state-licensed online poker within their borders for more than five years. Nevada doesn’t provide public information about the revenue generated, but New Jersey and Delaware do through their in-state regulators. This gives analysts the opportunity to track online gaming success and poker ups and

  Read Full
• November 6th, 2018

  The idea that Delaware is actually celebrating the five-year anniversary of launching its online poker sites might be a bit of an exaggeration. Even so, those who have been watching the new United States market can take a moment to recognize the achievement. Delaware may be a small state and

  Read Full
• July 10th, 2018

  When Delaware legalized online poker, no one expected the little industry’s revenue to substantially impact the state. The state has a population of less than one million people, ranking it 45th out of all 50 states in America. It was a boost for the new legalized framework for online poker

  Read Full
• July 7th, 2018

  The World Series of Poker organizers took their online poker offerings to a new level this year. The build-up has been slow, with one in 2016 and three in 2017. The 2018 WSOP had four of them, this time with a new feature of combined player pools with New Jersey

  Read Full

Delaware Gambling Information

It can be difficult to find quality, credible information regarding poker and gambling in Delaware. For those seeking objective, verified information on the topic, here are three resources that should dramatically improve your understanding of Delaware’s gambling industry and the law that surrounds it.

104 Regulations Governing Texas Hold’em Poker. As the name suggests, this is a document (from the state) that covers just about every aspect you can imagine of running a Texas Hold’em game legally in the state of Delaware. A good read for the curious or those planning to operate a game.

UNLV Center for Gaming Research – Delaware Report . An excellent overview of the current gambling industry in the state of Delaware, including financials and brief historical timeline of gambling expansion.

The Costs and Consequences of Gambling In the State of Delaware. A report from the state government that takes an even handed look at the benefits and drawbacks brought about by regulated gambling in Delaware.

Notables: Poker and Delaware

While Delaware will never be confused for Texas or California when it comes to poker prominence, the state does have a few poker-related claims to fame. One that will likely be well-known already to online poker players is that Jennifer “Jennicide” Leigh, a famous name from the early days of Internet poker, was born in and resides in Delaware. Delaware claimed a more recent place in poker history in the summer of 2012, when a tournament at the Delaware Park poker room ran for 36+ hours straight – a feat substantial enough to make the Guinness record book.

Sources & Citations For This Article on Delaware Online Poker

History of online gambling in Delaware

The Diamond State boasts a progressive attitude towards internet gambling. Along with New Jersey and Nevada, it was one of the first states to begin serious discussions on online gambling.

These talks helped produce the Delaware Gaming Competitiveness Act. HB 333 passed the State House and Senate with little trouble in 2012.

The bill then moved to Gov. Jack Markell’s desk. Markell officially made Delaware the first state to legalize internet gambling with his signature on June 28, 2012. Delaware now features legal online casinos and online poker as a result.

The state also moved quickly on sports betting following the repeal of PASPA (a federal gambling ban) in May 2018. It became the first state to begin accepting legal sports wagers in June 2018.

DE online sports betting hasn’t received approval from the state yet. No official timeline exists on when internet betting could become legal in Delaware.

Legalities behind DE online gambling

Only Delaware’s three racinos can offer internet gambling in the state:

• Delaware Park Casino
• Dover Downs Hotel & Casino
• Harrington Raceway & Casino

In most states, land-based casinos/racinos partner with different online software providers. Delaware, however, only features one online platform.

888 Holdings runs the online casino and poker platforms for all three racinos. Therefore, each internet casino and poker site offers the same feel and navigation.

Who regulates the Delaware online gambling market?

The Delaware Lottery oversees this state’s internet gambling market. It maintains the following online gambling responsibilities:

• Collecting relevant fees and taxes.
• Ensuring that operators adhere to the Delaware Lottery’s standards.
• Issuing fines for any operator that doesn’t follow the rules.

Typically, the DE Lottery would also be responsible for vetting applicants and issuing licenses. However, the online market hasn’t progressed outside of 888 Holdings so far.

Delaware online betting

The Diamond State began offering sports gambling in 1976. It featured a parlay-style lottery game that only lasted one year.

Nevertheless, this one instance of sports gambling earned Delaware an exemption from PASPA. Regulators never felt comfortable allowing anything beyond sports lottery parlays, though.

Politicians didn’t take any serious action towards land-based and online sports betting until PASPA fell. As covered earlier, Delaware became the first state to fully legalize sports wagering in the aftermath.

All three racinos feature retail sportsbooks. They can legally accept wagers from gamblers in person.

However, the state has yet to approve internet sports gambling. Delaware doesn’t even feature an online/mobile wagering partner yet.

The Blue Hen State used existing legislation to offer sports betting as quickly as possible when PASPA was repealed. This dated regulatory framework doesn’t account for online wagering.

Politicians must tack on additional legislation to approve internet betting. This approval may come in the near future.

Assuming Delaware approves online sports gambling, then 888 Holdings is a likely partner. One of Europe’s largest internet bookmakers, 888 is already entrenched in the state.

Delaware online casinos

Three regulated internet casinos run in Delaware—Dover Downs, Delaware Park, and Harrington Racecourse.

Each site uses the 888 Holdings platform. Therefore, you get a similar experience when playing at any of the three Delaware online casinos available.

DE gaming sites also feature the same software providers. 888 and WMS are the available developers.

Using proprietary software, 888 has produced the following hit slots:

• A Nightmare on Elm Street
• City Life
• Millionaire Genie
• Oktoberfest Spins
• Saved by the Bells
• Steampunk Nation

WMS has been in the gaming business for decades. Its biggest online hits include:

• Amazon Queen
• Black Knight
• Fire Queen
• Heidi’s Bier Haus
• KISS
• Kronos
• Zeus (trilogy)

Delaware also features legal social casinos. For example, Chumba Casino is one of the most popular social gaming sites.

A social casino looks and acts like a traditional gaming site. However, you play for sweepstakes entries rather than real money.

Delaware poker sites

Online poker went live in Delaware in November 2013. Due to the state’s tiny population (996k residents), though, internet poker didn’t initially generate much traffic or revenue for the state.

On Feb. 25, 2014, Gov. Jack Markell signed an interstate poker compact with Nevada Gov. Brian Sandoval. Both governors wanted to generate more liquidity by sharing player pools.

This initial compact noticeably affected both states’ internet poker traffic. Nevada and Delaware brought New Jersey into the fold through an expanded compact on May 1, 2018.

Even with these deals, Delaware online poker remains lowkey. More states must join the multi-state agreement for any significant liquidity to be achieved.

Delaware daily fantasy sports (DFS)

Gov. John Carney approved a daily fantasy sports (DFS) bill in 2017. As a result, Delaware features completely legal DFS.

DraftKings and FanDuel are the undisputed leaders in this market as the only DFS sites that draw any considerable traffic in the state.

How to deposit at Delaware online gambling sites

You can deposit at DE internet gambling sites through the following steps:

1. Register for an account.
2. Visit the banking section.
3. Select a deposit method.
4. Enter the desired funds.
5. Confirm the amount and wait.

Delaware gambling sites offer multiple ways to fund an account. These options include:

• Credit card: Instantly fund your account through Visa, Mastercard, or another credit card.
• E-check: Send an e-check from your bank account to a gambling site.
• E-wallet: Use Neteller to fund an account.

Online gambling bonuses in Delaware

Given the absence of online betting, Delaware’s internet gambling bonuses are currently limited to casino and poker sites.

No-deposit bonus

You receive a no-deposit bonus just for completing registration. You keep anything left over from the offer—plus potential winnings—after satisfying terms and conditions.

Here’s an example of how a no-deposit bonus works:

• You register for an account.
• The gambling site gives you a $20 no-deposit bonus.
• Playthrough is 20x.
• You must wager 20 x 20 = $400.
• You satisfy playthrough and have $10 left over.
• You can either cash out the $10 or keep gambling with it.

Match deposit bonus

A match deposit bonus matches a percentage of your deposit (usually 100%). Gambling sites cap your potential bonus at a specified amount (e.g., $500).

Here’s an example of how deposit bonuses work:

• A gambling site offers a 100% match bonus worth up to $500.
• You deposit $300.
• You now qualify for a $300 bonus.
• Playthrough on the bonus is 20x.
• You must wager 300 x 20 = $600.
• You can cash out the $300 bonus upon meeting playthrough.

Cashback

This offer pays back a percentage of your losses over a specified period. You must then earn the bonus (cashback) by satisfying T&Cs.

Here’s an example:

• A gambling site offers 20% cashback for the first seven days after your deposit.
• You lose $200 during this time period.
• 200 x 0.2 = $40 in cashback.
• Playthrough is 5x.
• You must wager 200 x 5 = $1,000 to get the $40.

Free spins

Free spins let you play real-money slots for free. You get to keep the winnings after meeting T&Cs.

Delaware Online Gambling Rules

Here’s an example:

• An online casino awards you 50 free spins.
• You win $30 through the spins.
• Playthrough is 10x.
• You must wager 30 x 10 = $300 to withdraw the $30

Loyalty rewards

Delaware gambling sites also feature loyalty programs, which deliver rewards based on your overall betting volume.

Here are some rewards that you can expect:

• Cashback
• Free spins
• Free meals (at participating land-based casinos)
• Match deposit bonuses

Delaware Online Gambling FAQ

Yes. The Delaware Gaming Competitiveness Act of 2012 makes both online casinos and poker legal.

No. You just need to be within state lines to play real-money casino games and poker. Each DE gambling site uses geolocation software to pinpoint your location.

No. Delaware doesn’t withhold gambling winnings for state tax purposes. Of course, you should file annual gambling profits on your federal tax return.

Yes. The Delaware Lottery oversees the state’s internet gambling market to ensure that racinos/operators behave responsibly.

You must be at least 21 years old to gamble online in the Diamond State.

Delaware Online Casino Gambling

No timeline is available on when Delaware will feature online sports betting. The state quickly launched retail sports gambling under older legislation.
Politicians would need to amend current legislation or even introduce an entirely new bill to legalize online betting. This scenario should happen at some point in the future—especially with neighboring Pennsylvania and New Jersey offering internet betting.