Gambling in Delaware has been approved by the Supreme Court which makes it legal. There are various gambling platforms that you can participate in, but the two major ones are casino gaming and sports betting. When it comes to online gambling laws, Delaware is the most liberal state in the United States (Real Money Action, 2021).
Delaware was the first state to allow online gambling in the US. The state legislature of Delaware adopted the online gambling framework in 2012, even though the legislation properly took effect in 2013. This framework was adopted for all legal-age players in the state. This regulation was welcomed by all online gamblers because the regulation also allows a variety of online casino games like roulette, video poker, blackjack, amongst others.
How to Gamble Legally in Delaware
Delaware was also the first state to use the decision taken by the Supreme Court in 2018 to its advantage. The court decision ended the prohibition of federal sports betting which makes it legal in the state. Concerning the United States, Delaware is regarded as one of the best states to participate in online sports betting. This is because it has some great features that are beneficial to casino games and sports bettors.
But there is one important fact to note about online gambling in Delaware…
For you to be able to partake in legalized online gambling activities in Delaware, you must be 21 years or older.
Delaware has a legal online casino that they regulate; but for an online casino to operate lawfully, it must be connected to a physical casino property within the state. There are only three casinos in Delaware that offer full-service wagering Delaware. They are Dover Downs Hotel & Casino Race & Sportsbook, Delaware Park, and Harrington Raceway & Casino Murphy Race Sportsbar & Grill (Delottery, 2021).
As an online gambler, you can choose to play at a casino based offshore, as far as Delaware is concerned. This is because there is no recognized penalty in the law for unauthorized online gambling. But there are penalties in the law available for online casinos not regulated by the state. You can also gamble on almost any sport that is played in any of these three casinos. Delaware, along with some other states were granted partial exemption from the federal ban on online sports gambling and betting that began in 1992. The other states were Montana, Nevada, and Oregon (WSN, 2021). The ban was called the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act (abbreviated as PASPA), but it ended in May 2018. The repealing of PASPA made Delaware be able to immediately pass a bill to allow legal betting on individual games and parlays.
Future of Online Gambling in Delaware
Delaware has been regarded as a state having a progressive attitude towards gambling especially given the legal steps they have taken. With this, the future of gambling in Delaware is certainly very bright. Delaware was not only the first state to legalize sports betting after the repeal of PASPA, but the progressive congress was the first to push for legal gambling (WSN, 2021).
Next for Delaware is to introduce online sports betting options. This is a big step as gamblers will not need to go to the land-based centers in Delaware to place bets.
Delaware Legal Gambling FAQ
What is the legal payout percentage in Delaware?
Delaware has a legal payout percentage (RTP) that ranges between 87% and 95% on online casino games
Who regulates online gambling in Delaware?
The Delaware Lottery is in charge of regulating online gambling in Delaware. The Lottery is overseen by the Division of Gaming Enforcement.
References
- Delaware Gambling (2021). Guidelines to online and offline gambling. https://www.delawaregambling.info/
- Delaware General Assembly (2021). https://legis.delaware.gov/SessionLaws/Chapter?id=17349