Guide to Gambling in Delaware

Even though Delaware is not significant in size, it has much to offer America's gaming market because gambling options are plentiful here. Delaware has definitely earned its place in the market because it was one of the first US states to legalize and regulate all online gaming and sports betting, alongside traditional gambling forms like lotteries, commercial casino gaming, charitable gambling, and horse racing.

Thanks to its array of betting options and being one of a handful of American states that regulates internet gambling, Delaware has easily proved itself as a fierce competitor with other gaming giants like Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Maryland, which all have enormous gaming markets. Although Delaware is one of the most gambling-friendly states in the country, some variants are restricted, like tribal gambling, dog race betting, and daily fantasy sports.

As a result of Delaware's progress, the state also generates significant sums of money from gambling. The Delaware Lottery provides essential gaming revenue, and the amount of money the state obtains from casinos has also strengthened the economy considerably.

Delaware Gambling Laws

Gambling in Delaware goes way back. The first gambling laws came into effect in the 1700s, when people were betting on horse racing. Even though betting was prohibited, the first state race track was constructed in 1760, and the idea of being able to wager on the races spread radically. Pari-mutuel betting was enacted in the 1930s. By 1935, the lawmakers considered horse race betting legal if the race was licensed and adhered to state regulations. In 1957, bingo was permitted in Delaware, and in 1975 the state legalized the lottery.

In 2004, poker was allowed, along with charity gaming. The year 2009 brought a breakthrough for casino gaming which became legal inside gaming houses that held a license. In the beginning, only the race tracks were able to get a gaming license and offer casino-style gambling with games like poker, video games, and table games to play. As a result of the new gaming options available, these race tracks later became known as racinos.

Delaware legalized sports betting at racetracks but only the parlay style. When sports betting was legalized and gave individual states the power to set their own regulations, Delaware’s commercial casinos were able to obtain gaming licenses to offer wagers on sports betting.  The year 2012 meant a huge step forward for the US gambling industry because many states legalized internet casino gambling, and Delaware was one of the first.

Gambling Regulation Impending Amendment

The Department of Justice's Office of Legal Counsel opposes the wired transmission gambling spectrum and doesn't allow wagers outside of the state border. The Department questioned the Wire Act in 2018 and the dispute is still unresolved to this day. The Wire Act determines the approval of all categories of online gambling.

Delaware may be known for its liberal attitude towards gambling, but the rules are still governed by the state Constitution. It also determines the legal age for any gambling activities, which is 18.

Deposit Options at Delaware Gambling Sites

Today's gambling sites offer a variety of easy and convenient banking options, but unfortunately, Delaware online casinos are an exception here because banking methods are not as broad compared to other states. Most casinos allow deposits to be made using traditional bank debit, and credit cards like Visa or MasterCard. Another option is to deposit money via an ACH bank transfer. Sadly, there is no option to avoid sending the money other than through a banking institution in Delaware. While some offshore sites may advertise these options, Delaware online gambling banking methods do not allow for e-wallet payments like PayPal or cryptocurrency. Nevertheless, if you do plan to play at Delaware casinos, it is always best to check the deposit options before you sign up and play.

You have to create an account on the gambling website you want to play before you can make a deposit. Once you’ve registered an account and selected your preferred payment method, you can then choose the appropriate amount you want to deposit. Storing your bank or card information on a casino site is very safe because the State Lottery oversees and regulates these payment platforms. Because Delaware wants to benefit from online casino gaming economically, it needs to protect your financial information, so there is no need to worry about credit card fraud or your details being leaked to third parties.

Delaware Casinos

All that Delaware has to offer are three land-based casinos which are conveniently spread throughout the whole state. The biggest casino is Dover Downs which occupies the heart of Delaware. In the northern area, you’ll find Delaware Park Casino. Harrington Raceway and Casino is located in the south.

Even though Delaware has only three brick and mortar casinos, this state is a big fan of casino gaming. Delaware's casinos are called racinos because they are connected to the state's racetracks. This was legalized in 1994 by the Horse Racing Preservation Act, which later added slot machines and other video gaming terminals.

All three racinos have the license to manage both casino and poker sites. Delaware's casino scene counts over 7,500 slot machines and 146 table games, which offer a wide variety of games to play, such as Ultimate Texas hold 'em, blackjack, roulette, craps, baccarat, three-card poker and Pai Gow poker.

The highest number of table games and slot machines are offered at Dover Downs Casino, which hosts 3,200 slot machines and 41 table games. The second contender is Delaware Park which houses 2,500 slots and 63 table games, while Harrington Raceway and Casino has 1,800 slots and 42 table games.

Don't be fooled by Delaware's small land area; there is always some significant casino action happening near and around the state. Delaware is a full-fledged partner to New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Maryland and other surrounding states that all advocate gambling.

Delaware Poker

Delaware’s poker scene offers live poker rooms in all three racinos in the state. You can choose from various game options, including 7-card stud, Omaha, Omaha Hi-Lo, limit hold'em, Texas hold'em, and mixed games. The largest poker room, which contains 45 tables, is Delaware's smallest casino, Delaware Park. This amount of poker tables is more than the other two casinos have together as Dover Downs has 18 tables and Harrington Raceway & Casino only has ten tables.

Even though Delaware is very open-minded about gambling, there are still some law restrictions regarding poker tournaments. There can only be five poker matches in a year which can only be hosted by organizations that hold a license. For every two games, there must be a 70-day break inbetween. The earliest time each one can commence is 1:30 p.m., and the participants are allowed to play for a maximum of 6 hours. The latest time for finishing the game is 1 a.m.

There are always some exceptions for Delaware, like in 2012 when a particular poker match was recorded in the Guinness Book of World Records. The tournament was called Iron Man, and the players played poker constantly for more than 36 hours without any pauses. The champion of the game won $27,160.

Delaware Sports Betting

Thanks to its exception from the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act of 1992, Delaware is one of four US states that hasn’t banned sports gambling on a federal level. Delaware is allowed to have sports betting because it was also carried out before 1992.

Until 2018, Delaware and Nevada were the only two US states that could actively provide sports gambling, but since 2009, there has been a limitation that means they can only offer 3-team parlays on The National Football League games. You fill 3 NFL betting lines on a ticket, and to win a bet, you need to score on all three selections.

Delaware Daily Fantasy Sports

As one of the few gambling options that isn’t permitted, you won't find any options for gambling on daily fantasy sports in Delaware. The state is progressive as far as online gaming goes, but the people aren’t interested in allowing daily fantasy sports.

Leading daily fantasy sports companies Yahoo!, FanDuel, and DraftKings received a notice in 2016 from the Delaware Department of Justice. The notice said that actual money gaming is not allowed in Delaware state and only online gaming and sports betting is permitted. The Justice department's demand was agreed by all three companies, and since then, Delaware's existing legislation has not been changed.

Delaware Lotteries

The year 1974 was crucial for the Delaware Lottery because the state finally authorized the activity, and in 1975, the first lottery tickets began to sell. In 1976, the first game was launched under the name “Diamond Instant Dollars.” In 1994, the video lottery bill was passed, and video lottery terminals started to appear at Delaware's racinos. 2009 was the year that saw Delaware launch the first sports lottery. The multi-state game Mega Millions was initiated in Delaware in 2010. From 2012, the Lottery began to appear on social media like Twitter and Facebook; and, little over a year later, it created its first mobile application for smartphones, giving players even quicker access to winning numbers and jackpots.

The State of Delaware counts the Lottery as the fourth-largest source of earnings. Nowadays, the state lottery covers games like Powerball, Lucky for Life, Mega Millions, scratch cards, Hot Lotto, Pick 3, and Pick 4. The Delaware Lottery plays a big part in leading other forms of the state's gaming scene too, like the video lottery, sports betting (sports lottery), and table games.

The Delaware Lottery is a proud government organization. Every year since 2002, it’s received the Certificate for Excellence in Financial Reporting.

Delaware Esports

Delaware approved eSports betting in June 2012 when the iGaming Bill was authorized. There are no established rules about offshore eSports exchange sites, meaning Delaware citizens can gamble at them freely without restrictions. In 1992, Delaware was acquitted from the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act, and the sports lottery was permitted. When the Supreme Court gave them the green light, the Delaware Lottery quickly authorized single-game sports betting, and traditional sportsbooks kicked into action at the state’s commercial casinos.

New laws haven’t been needed to allow sports betting in Delaware yet, and the Delaware Lottery decides what types of wagers are and will be accepted. Esports betting is not mentioned in the Delaware law system, but to this day, the Delaware Lottery has no interest in introducing bets on esports competitions.

Delaware Bingo

Bingo in Delaware is allowed thanks to the constitution's charitable gambling clause, which permits licensed organizations to host games of Bingo as a means of fundraising money for charitable purposes. As a result of this special annexe, Delaware created the opportunity for organizations like the veteran's associations, volunteer firehouses, and fraternal societies to open up bingo playrooms all over the state to raise money for charities.

To supervise the issuing of bingo licenses and the procedure of bingo games, the Delaware Bingo Control Commission was assembled. The Bingo Control Commission was formed under the Division of Business and Occupational Regulation in 1969 to oversee all gambling activities, amusements, and sports. The Delaware Gaming Control Board was established in 1981 and overtook the tasks and commitments of the Bingo Control Commission. In 1986, the Gaming Control Board changed its name to the Division of Business and Professional Regulation.

Delaware residents are big bingo lovers, so they always look for original and unfamiliar ways to play the game. There is an open window for the Delaware online bingo market to develop so people can enjoy it more frequently. Delaware citizens also have more options to enjoy their beloved games of bingo than the ones which licensed state-regulated organizations casinos can arrange. Offshore sites specialize in providing unlimited legal possibilities for bingo, making the games highly accessible. International laws allow these offshore websites to operate globally so that even the American bingo market can bloom thanks to these regulated bingo sites.

Horse Race Betting

The State of Delaware also offers Horse Race Betting. At Delaware Park Racetrack, you’ll find the only thoroughbred horse racing track in the state. Delaware Park hosts races from April through to November and holds Grade II occasions at Delaware Oaks. Harness racing is also possible in the State of Delaware, namely at Dover Downs and Harrington Raceway.

Sine 1969, harness racing has been in full operation at Dover Downs Racetrack. Live harness racing at Dover Downs is organized from late October to mid-April, and the venue consistently hosts exciting races such as the Delaware Standardbred Breeders Fund, the Classic Series and the Matron Series. Harrington Raceway holds the title of Delaware's oldest racetrack, and since 1946, they have hosted a racing event every single year. You can bet on live horse races at Harrington from Sunday to Thursday and at 5:30 p.m. post time from August to October.

Land-Based Casinos in Delaware

As the second-smallest US state, Delaware can't compare with its neighbours in terms of size, which is why there’s only enough space for three land-based casinos. But even though land-based gambling options are limited, they all provide excellent standards of service. This is because, as racinos, they can offer customers both breathtaking horse racing competitions and thrilling casino games. Delaware gambling facilities are rated as the top in their category, and it doesn't matter which of these casinos you choose because you will have access to a wide variety of games in every one of them.

Harrington Raceway & Casino

Harrington Raceway & Casino is a harness racetrack with a casino alongside and a fully-operational sportsbook on the premises. It is located south of Harrington and close to Rehoboth Beach, where you’ll find one of the country’s most stunning award-winning boardwalks. Harrington Raceway & Casino features a 130,000-square-foot gaming floor where players can choose from top table game variants like craps, blackjack, roulette and a separate poker room facility. The facility also stages harness racing which is active approximately 70 days per year, and the races take part in the first three days of the week.

Dover Downs Hotel & Casino

Dover Downs is a huge complex containing a racing track, casino and hotel. The establishment is located in Dover, the capital and the second-largest city in Delaware. The harness horse racetrack is a 625-mile long area surrounded by a 1-mile long track called the Dover International Speedway which is used for car races by The National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing. The hotel is equipped with a spa and endless dining choices to try out while you spend the evening playing your favorite game of roulette, poker, and blackjack in the casino. Dover Downs is also attached to the Rollins Center, a ballroom with an 18,000-square-foot conference space where banquets, seminars and concerts are held regularly.

Casino at Delaware Park

Delaware Park, also known as DelPark, combines a thoroughbred horse racetrack that opened in 1937. Decades later, it incorporated a gambling facility, a golf course, and a fully-equipped sportsbook. It is located in Stanton, close to the greatest and most populous city in Delaware – Wilmington. The casino offers visitors many gambling choices like video keno terminals, Mississippi Stud, Spanish 21, Pai Gow poker, craps, roulette, blackjack and slot machines. The White Clay Creek Country Club is also on-site which features an 18-hole golf course with a dedicated bar for sipping a cocktail or two while you play.