Online Sports Betting in Delaware (2023)

Sports Betting in Delaware

After the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act (PASPA) was struck down in May 2018, Delaware was one of the first states in the United States of America to legalize sports betting. Fortunately, the First State beat New Jersey to it, NJ being the state that fought vigorously against PASPA in the courts. A month after the Supreme Court struck PASPA, the three racinos (racetracks that offer casino gambling services) in Delaware were officially opened for sports betting.

Even when PASPA was still in place, Delaware was permitted to provide quasi-sports betting that necessitated players to place a parlay bet on at least three NFL teams. This type of multi-game sports betting was only allowed under PASPA in Delaware because it had already been grandfathered in the state before the act came along.

Although online sports betting is legal in the state, sportsbooks are yet to go live due to the high cost of launching in the state. So instead, sports betting enthusiasts in Delaware can either place their bets in one of the three physical sportsbooks in Delaware or travel to neighboring states like Pennsylvania, Maryland, and New Jersey to bet on legal sports betting websites in the preferred state.

Delaware Sports Betting Laws 

In 2009, Delaware passed a law that added sports lottery to the jurisdiction of the state's lottery body, Delaware Lottery which was established in 1974. This law allowed Delaware Lottery to fully regulate the multi-game sports bets system in the state by selling parlay tickets to bettors. It also gave Delaware Lottery permission to regulate single-game bets, but this part of the law was passive at that time as a result of the federal ban.

Due to the sports betting legislation already passed in the state before PASPA was repealed, Delaware was poised to begin sports betting activities as soon as the federal ban no longer restricted it. On June 5, 2018, less than a month after PASPA was out of the way, Governor John Carney placed the first legal state's single-game bet at Delaware Park. 

The main guidelines and restrictions when it comes to sports betting in Delaware are:

• The Delaware Lottery regulates all legal sports betting activity in the state
• Gambling tax is 50% of gross revenue
• Licensing fee is $50,000
• Players must be 21 years or older and should reside within state borders. It is the agent's responsibility to ensure punters meet these criteria
• Delaware sports betting operates a revenue share model with Rhode Island sports betting
• Players are restricted from placing bets on high school teams, Delaware based teams, and some college teams

What is PASPA?

The Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act of 1992 (PASPA) effectively banned all forms of sports betting in the US, except in Nevada. When passing this law, Congress granted states that had previously operated licensed casino gaming the opportunity to legalize sports betting within a year. This opportunity was provided to allow New Jersey to legalize sports betting, but the state failed to do so within the stated one-year time frame. 

Besides Nevada, PASPA granted grandfather rights to three other states, offering specific types of sports betting. These states were Delaware, Oregon, and Montana. 

• In Delaware, bettors were allowed to only make three-team parlay bets on NFL games. 
• In Montana, residents or visitors could legally participate in sports pools and sports tab betting.
• Oregon was allowed to offer parlay bets until 2007.

Delaware Sports Betting Governing Body (Delaware Lottery) 

Delaware Lottery is the official body that regulates all lottery activities within the state. The legislature for its creation was made in 1974, and it began full operations in March 1975. Delaware Lottery offers lotto games, video lottery, table games, poker games, Keno, Sports lottery, and a wide variety of instant games. Sports Pick is the official brand name of the sports lottery regulated by the Delaware Lottery.

In 1991, Delaware Lottery, together with other lottery jurisdictions, created a multimillion-dollar jackpot that has become a favorite for many Americans. The game, which was first called Lotto America and now known as Powerball, is the highest-selling game in Delaware Lottery. This organization is also responsible for games such as Play 3, Play 4, Lucky For Life, Mega Millions, and Multi-Win Lotto.

The activities of the Delaware Lottery generate annual revenue of over half a billion dollars. Delaware Lottery is part of the Delaware Department of Finance, so it puts all the profits made into the state's General Fund. This fund goes towards the education of the Delaware youth, community security, clearing up pollution, providing quality and affordable healthcare, and maintaining infrastructure. Essentially, Delaware Lottery is the 5th most significant contributor to the state's total revenue.

Where to Bet In-Person in Delaware 

There are currently only three locations in Delaware where punters can place all kinds of sports bets. All three establishments are racetrack casinos or 'racinos' colloquially termed. They are, however, equipped with gambling infrastructures such as slot machines, table games, and poker rooms. 

Scientific Games, the gaming technology company Delaware Lottery is partners with, uses Caesars US sportsbook, and so that is the sportsbook used by the racinos in Delaware.

Although there are about one hundred sports betting retailers all over the state, these retailers can only perform NFL parlay wagers and are not authorized to perform fully-fledged sports betting. The three betting establishments where you can make your sports bets in Delaware are:

Delaware Park Casino 

Located in Wilmington, the biggest city in the state, Delaware Park Casino is a hub of entertainment where people go to have fun and play casino games for a shot at winning some money. Open every day except Fridays, this casino offers live betting options and does not request an entrance fee. 

Delaware Park Casino is under the jurisdiction of Delaware Lottery, and it uses Scientific Games as its betting operator. There are many sports games you can place bets on in this establishment, and a few of them are Football, Baseball, Hockey, and Basketball. In addition, you can make sports bets like single bets, parlays, teasers, round-robin, futures, and others at Delaware Park Casino.

Dover Downs Hotel & Casino

Also known as Bally's Dover Casino Resort, Dover Downs Hotel and Casino is the largest casino in Delaware. It is a luxurious 4-star spa hotel with 500 rooms and nine restaurants. They also have an exclusive pub where the race and sportsbook guests can relax and have fun. 

Delaware Lottery licenses their sportsbook, and they offer a wide range of possibilities for sports bets. You can place straight bets, futures, propositions, teasers, parlays, and round robins at this casino, and you can place them using the point spread or Moneyline system. There are many popular sports also available for you to bet on.

Dover Downs Hotel and Casino is open for sports betting every day.

Murphy's Race/Sports Book and Grill at the Harrington Raceway and Casino

Murphy's Race/Sports Book and Grill is an ideal place in Delaware to stop by, have a bite to eat, and place your sports bet. Located next to the Delaware State Fair, this sportsbook provides all types of sports bets and is open every day. 

Just like in any other establishment in America offering sports lottery, you need to be 21 years or older to bet on any sport at Murphy's Sportsbook. It operates under Caesars sportsbook, which partners with Scientific Games, the official gaming technology provider for Delaware Lottery. In addition, you can participate in the in-game betting at Murphy's and place live bets on a sports game as it happens.

Mobile wagering is not available yet at this sportsbook because the government of Delaware is yet to launch online sports betting in the state.

Online Sportsbooks in the Nearby States

Although fully-fledged sports betting being legalized in the United States has been exciting for sports betting enthusiasts in Delaware, it can be exhausting to always have to go to one of three physical casinos every time you want to place a bet on your favorite game. The good news is that a few neighboring states like Pennsylvania and New Jersey have launched their online sports betting.

A few of the online sportsbooks used by these neighboring states are listed below. We have rated and reviewed each sportsbook to enable you to make an informed decision on which to pick.

FanDuel 9.3/10

This online sportsbook has a clean, modern interface that most people can interact with easily on their first attempt. FanDuel put a lot of effort into ensuring that their site is accessible to everyone and responsive on all devices. In addition, they have frictionless Android and iOS mobile applications for bettors who wish to place bets on the go.

FanDuel gets high ratings from us because it checks all boxes for what should be available in an online sportsbook. It offers all types of sports betting options and an array of sports on which you can place your bets. They also provide decent odds and incredible bonuses for new users. Because there are many available options, payments and withdrawals never pose a problem to bettors.

DraftKings 9.1/10

DraftKings is one of the most popular destinations for online sports bettors in the United States. They initially stepped into the industry by providing daily fantasy games (DFS) services. Soon after PASPA was made unconstitutional, they expanded into a full sportsbook offering all kinds of sports bets.

This sportsbook is a licensed and frequently audited establishment, so you can rest assured that your bets are safe with DraftKings. In addition, their websites and mobile apps have an impressive user interface that is easy for new users to understand.

When it comes to actual odds, rates, and bonuses, DraftKings is one of the best online sportsbooks in America. They offer competitive rates and generous bonuses to new and old users alike. In addition, deposits and withdrawals in this sportsbook are almost always seamless, as there are multiple options through which punters can add money to their betting account and withdraw their winnings.

BetMGM 9/10

MGM International owns them. This sportsbook prides itself on being a household name in the American sports betting industry. It leaves no stone unturned in the pursuit of utmost satisfaction for the bettor, providing risk-free bets, welcome bonuses, deposit and withdrawal bonuses, and loyalty bonuses. 

It provides all the typical types of bets you expect to find in average sports betting websites, and then more. BetMGM partners with a few national sports teams such as the NFL and the NBA. This partnership gives them an added advantage over other online sportsbooks. Their website and mobile apps have a slick, well-thought-out design that is appealing to the user and easy to navigate.

Caesars Sportsbook 9/10

Caesars is an unstoppable force in the American sports betting space. They have a footprint in every legal sports betting market in the United States. Caesars have a unique loyalty rewards system called Caesar Rewards that allows loyal customers to enjoy discounts at Caesar's hotel and lounge. In addition, they offer multiple sports bets and casino bets and have interactive websites and mobile apps.

In 2021, Caesar's sportsbook purchased William Hill, the official sportsbook for all gambling activities in Delaware. Irrespective of whether you win or lose, betting with Caesars Sportsbook earns you reward points. You can exchange these points for anything from discounts in any of their establishments to a VIP getaway.

Betway 8.9/10

Established in 2005 and headquartered in Malta, Betway is a popular establishment that provides all kinds of gambling services. Betway gives other sports betting sites a run for their money as it is well-established internationally and is even partnered with many international sports teams. 

The large selection of sports available for you to bet on is where Betway shines. It offers the usual sports, leagues, and teams available on most other sports betting sites, with a few other games like table tennis and rugby. They also have numerous channels for withdrawals and deposits.

Although they only recently expanded into the US market and are currently available in only four states, they are already building a formidable fan base in the USA.

Why You Should Play on Legal Online Betting Sites Instead of Offshore Betting Sites

Beyond offering sports betting services, online betting sites are licensed by reputable regulatory bodies, so you can be assured of transparency and fairness when gambling on them. These regulatory bodies hold the online betting sites to strict standards and will not issue a license to a site that refuses to comply with the set standards.

Unlike offshore betting sites, legal online sportsbooks are trustworthy. However, since offshore betting sites are generally unregulated, they tend to partake in all sorts of shady activities. For example, they offer incredulous bonuses and promotions to lure in unsuspecting gamblers, only to render such bonuses void when the gamblers wish to make withdrawals. There have also been reports of late or denied payments from these offshore gambling sites.

Now and then, both old and new gamblers run into unprecedented issues on gambling sites. Thus, it's important for betting sites to have a responsive and reliable customer support system to resolve these issues as quickly as possible. Legal online gambling sites usually have various routes through which you can contact their customer support staff. They have a 24/7 customer support system to assist gamblers at any time of the day.

Unfortunately, this can’t be said about offshore betting sites. One of the many downsides of betting on offshore sites is the lack of responsiveness from their customer staff. As a result, many gamblers are usually left stranded when they encounter problems on offshore sites. And with no standard regulatory board to complain to, these gamblers are usually left alone to deal with their issues.