Delaware Online Casinos – Delaware Online Gambling
If you want to learn more about online gambling in Delaware, you’re on the right page. Although the options are quite limited in the Blue Hen State, internet gambling still exists. All three major verticals (casino, sports betting, poker) are currently legal in Delaware, but the choice is relatively small. Let’s take a closer look.
What kinds of online gambling is legal in Delaware in 2021?
Let’s explore which online gambling options are currently available in Delaware.
Online casinos in DE
The situation with online casinos is complicated. Online casinos have been legal since 2012, after the Delaware Gaming Competitiveness Act (DGCA) was passed. However, only the three land-based racinos in the state are allowed to operate online casinos, and all of them happen to have the same online provider.
Online poker in DE
Delaware is widely regarded as one of the poker states, as the residents and visitors of the state can play online poker for real money. Poker was legalized after the DGCA was passed, and you can play it in one of the three available online casinos. The player pool is combined, given that all three online casinos have the same operator. Moreover, Delaware is part of the interstate agreement with Nevada and New Jersey, meaning the three states can share the player pool.
Online horse racing in DE
Horse racing is popular in Delaware, given that there are three racinos. Therefore, pari-mutuel betting on this type of race is available on the web in the state, meaning DE residents are free to visit a racebook or a sportsbook to place wagers.
Online sports betting in DE
Since the federal government lifted the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act (PASPA) in 2018, Delaware has been offering legal sports betting options. Some of the first online sportsbooks became available the very same year.
Daily Fantasy Sports in DE
Paid Daily Fantasy Sports (DFSs) were legalized in Delaware in 2017. Everyone 18 or older can enter a real-money DFS competition in one of the available DFS providers, such as DraftKings, FanDuel, and Yahoo.
Online bingo in DE
The situation is somewhat different with bingo, as none of the local providers offer bingo on the web, nor are there any dedicated bingo platforms at the moment. Moreover, bingo is considered a charity game in Delaware, so there are some limits to it.
Are any forms of land-based gambling legal in Delaware in 2021?
Yes, there are some forms of brick-and-mortar gambling in Delaware right now, so let’s check them out.
Casino gambling in DE
Delaware currently has three active casinos, which all fit the category of racinos. They are Casino at Delaware Park, Dover Downs, and Harrington Raceway & Casino. We’ll cover the three facilities in detail later in this article. You need to know that all of them offer slots, table games, and other popular casino titles.
Poker in DE
Poker is licensed and available in Delaware, meaning Delawareans have access to a range of cash games and tournaments offered by a wide array of poker rooms in the state. The biggest rooms are part of the three racinos we mentioned in the paragraph above.
Horse racing in DE
Since all three casinos in Delaware are racinos, it’s quite clear that the residents of the Blue Hen State have more than enough betting options when it comes to horse races. Dover Downs and Harrington have harness racing tracks, whereas Delaware Park Racetrack features a Thoroughbred horse racing.
Sports betting in DE
Sports betting became available in Delaware shortly after the PASPA ban was lifted, and there are currently three land-based sportsbooks. Each of them is located in one of the three casinos in DE, and visitors can place wagers on a wide range of popular sports in the US.
What are the largest brick-and-mortar casinos in Delaware?
The three largest casinos are Casino at Delaware Park, Dover Downs, and Harrington Raceway & Casino. As it turns out, they are the only three casinos you’ll find in Delaware at the moment.
Delaware Park
Delaware Park (also called DelPark) is mainly a Thoroughbred horse racing track, but it also features a wide array of other amenities, with the most prominent one being a casino. In addition to that, there’s a big golf course. The casino features more than 2,500 slot machines, in addition to plenty of table games, including blackjack, craps, roulette, poker, and more. There’s also a sportsbook that features an array of popular sports. It’s located at 777 Delaware Park Blvd, Wilmington, DE 19804, United States.
Dover Downs
Dover Downs is also a racetrack, but the complex also includes a hotel and a casino. The harness horse racing track is surrounded by the Dover International Speedway, used for NASCAR racing. The casino features more than 2,700 slots and 40 table games. Moreover, there’s a sportsbook, an 18-table poker room, and plenty of other great options. Dover Downs is located at 1131 N Dupont Hwy, Dover, DE 19901, United States.
Harrington Raceway
Harrington Raceway & Casino is also a racino that’s located at the Delaware State Fair in Harrington, Delaware. The casino was formerly called Midway Slots and featured more than 1,800 slots. In addition to that, there’s an array of table games, simulcasting, and sports wagering options. The facility is operated by Harrington Raceway Inc, which is also the owner. Harrington Raceway Inc is owned by the Delaware State Fair, which is a non-profit organization. The exact address of Harrington Raceway & Casino is 18500 S Dupont Hwy, Harrington, DE 19952, United States.
Which nearby states have legalized online casino gambling?
Delaware’s legal gambling offer is quite small. The good news is that states with a much bigger range of online gambling options are all located close to DE.
New Jersey
New Jersey is the oldest online gambling market, as online casinos have been legal since 2013. More importantly, the offer of online casinos is much larger than any other state. There’s also a substantial offer of land-based casinos if you don’t mind driving to Atlantic City. Either way, New Jersey is usually the #1 option for many Delaware gamblers. The distance between Dover, DE, and Atlantic City is 130 miles, so you’ll be there in no time.
Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania is another country that made all forms of gambling on the web legal. Even though its online market is much newer compared to NJ, it has a big potential, and PA already has plenty of online casinos, where you can enjoy slots, table games, live casino games, and more. It’s also very near Delaware, as there’s no need to go all around Delaware Bay to gamble (as for New Jersey). Philadelphia is hour-and-a-half away from Dover, and it’s a go-to place for many DE gamblers.
West Virginia
West Virginia is another state that legalized online casinos, but its offer is still not that big compared to Pennsylvania or New Jersey. If you don’t mind driving more than seven hours to reach Charleston, you’ll be able to access some great online casinos and sportsbooks. Still, New Jersey and Pennsylvania are more likely to be your choice.
History of Gambling in Delaware
Here’s a quick overview of important dates in Delaware’s gambling history.
A racing commission was created, eventually spliting into two separate entities: The Delaware Thoroughbred Racing Commission and the Delaware Harness Racing Commission.
The Delaware Lottery was founded, under the control of Delaware Gaming Enforcement.
The first attempt to offer sports betting was attempted in Delaware but was declined by the US Supreme Court.
The Delaware Gaming Competitiveness Act was passed, and the state lottery was allowed to offer online gambling options, including slots, table games, and lotto tickets.
Delaware becomes the first state after Nevada to offer full-scale sports wagering.
Delaware gambling FAQs
Future of Online Gambling in Delaware
Delaware has a bright future when it comes to online gambling. The state has already legalized most of the gambling verticals, and DE residents and visitors can access them via one of the three online gambling platforms.
The only issue is that Delaware might not be able to attract many tourists looking for online gambling options, as they will probably go to New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and New York (when it legalizes gambling). Still, Delaware is pretty self-sufficient, meaning things shouldn’t get worse in the future.