Delaware Sports Betting Updates

Delaware Legal Sports Betting Overview

Delaware Sports Betting Summary

Delaware launched sports betting without any new legislation being needed after the US Supreme Court struck down the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act of 1992 (PASPA) in 2018. That’s because Delaware is one of the four states – alongside Montana, Nevada, and Oregon – with a history of legal sports betting during the PASPA era. Delaware already had a legal framework for betting following the first attempt to launch Sports Pick in 1976. Although the lottery-operated football parlay system failed, DE was excluded from the PASPA ban. This exclusion allowed then-Governor Jack Markell to sign legislation to relaunch Sports Pick in 2009 when other states weren’t allowed to legalize sports betting.

When the US Supreme Court overturned PASPA, Attorney General Matt Venn and the Delaware Department of Finance determined that sports betting was free to launch full-scale without introducing new laws. Gov. John Carney placed the first legal retail sports bet on June 5, 2018, at Delaware Park. Delaware lived up to its nickname, and the First State became the first US jurisdiction to accept single-game wagers outside of Nevada.

DE has three land-based casinos, each operating a retail sportsbook. These sportsbooks use odds powered by Caesars. You can also visit one of the 112 lottery retailers where Sports Pick is available. However, unlike residents in neighboring states New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Virginia, Delaware residents do not have online sportsbooks available to them, despite betting sites being legal.

Read our complete guide to wagering in Delaware for the latest information on legislation, how to wager, and the best DE sportsbooks.

Delaware Online Sportsbooks Summary

Although online sports betting is legal in Delaware, no online sportsbooks currently operate in the state. Officials of the Delaware Lottery have said it would be too expensive to set up an online betting market in a state with such a small population, which is the sixth smallest in the US. In addition, the availability of retail sportsbooks and lottery retailers offering parlay betting makes it more unlikely betting sites will launch in DE.

However, you can play Daily Fantasy Sports (DFS) games online. Gov. Carney signed HB 249, or the Delaware Interactive Fantasy Contest Act, on July 26, 2017. This allowed operators like ESPN, Boom, Yahoo!, FantasyDraft, DraftKings and FanDuel to offer DFS games for all the major sports to anyone in Delaware over the age of 18.

Delaware residents eager to try their hand at wagering with an online sportsbook can make a short trip across the border to states where betting sites have launched. The likes of BetMGM, DraftKings, and FanDuel are available in Pennsylvania, while Caesars is among the offerings in New Jersey and Virginia. To bet with NJ, PA, and VA sportsbooks, you must turn on your mobile device’s geolocation services to allow their sites and apps to identify you are within state borders.

How to Place a Bet in Delaware

If you want to start betting on sports in Delaware, read our beginner’s guide below. We take you through the step-by-step process you need to follow to place legal wagers:

1. Choosing what bets to place is exciting, so do your research before you get to the retail sportsbook. That way, you can place smart bets quickly.

2. Visit one of the state’s three casinos that contain retail sportsbooks with a valid photo ID to prove your age. These sportsbooks use odds provided by Caesars.

3. Ensure your bets are correct before you place them. You won’t be able to get a refund if you make a mistake while making your selections.

4. Place your wagers by going to the betting counter or by using a betting kiosk.

5. You will be given a bet ticket or sheet with your wagers. Keep hold of this, as you’ll need it to claim your winnings if your bets are successful.

6. Return to the betting window or kiosk if you win and follow the instructions to claim your payout. Be sure you’ve got your bet ticket.

7. Your bet ticket is eligible at any retail sportsbook, so you don’t have to return to the same casino. You can also redeem payouts for wins on Sports Pick wagers made at lottery retailers at any retail sportsbook.

Who is Eligible to Bet in DE?

The legal gambling age in Delaware is 21, and you don’t have to live in DE to visit its sportsbooks and place bets. However, some people are restricted from betting in Delaware. Those are listed below:

• Players, coaches, employees, or members of any professional or college sports team.

• Officials, referees, or umpires of professional or college sports leagues.

• Any individual who has professional or regulatory authority to influence players.

• Any individual employed by a sports league who can create or influence rules for that sport (e.g., NFL, NCAA).

• Any individual employed by an organization with licensing from the Delaware Lottery. This includes key staff members, officers, and owners.

• Any individual who has an ownership stake in a sports team.

• Any individual with access to non-public information about a sports team (e.g., player medical records).

• Any individual prohibited from betting at a state or federal level (e.g., due to criminal history).

• Individuals that have voluntarily excluded themselves from gambling activities.

Latest Delaware Sports Betting Updates

Timeline for Sports Betting in Delaware

• January 20, 2020: Delaware Lottery Director Vernon Kirk says the “substantial additional costs” of an online betting market prevent the state from pursuing it. However, he indicates the situation is being monitored “very carefully”.

• June 5, 2018: Delaware becomes the first state outside of Nevada to accept legal single-game wagers. Three sportsbooks launch at the state’s land-based casinos.

• May 18, 2018: AG Venn and the Delaware Department of Finance agree Delaware sports betting can launch without any further legislation.

• May 14, 2018: The US Supreme Court strikes down the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act of 1992 (PASPA), ending Nevada’s effective monopoly on full-scale sports betting.

• August 2009: A federal court limits the effectiveness of Gov. Markell’s lottery sports betting bill, restricting the state from offering parlay cards on NFL and college football games.

• May 14, 2009: Gov. Markell signs legislation to legalize lottery sports betting.

• October 28, 1992: PASPA is passed, and sports betting is outlawed in every state where there are no existing sports betting laws. Delaware’s parlay card betting system, along with operations in Montana, Nevada, and Oregon, is exempt from this ruling.

• December 12, 1976: Delaware Lottery Director Pete Simmons stops all bets on Sports Pick after widespread reports of players, coaches, and media involvement in match-fixing.

• March 4, 1976: The Delaware Lottery introduces a parlay cards betting system called Sports Pick.

Delaware Sports Betting Background

The Delaware Lottery failed to launch an NFL parlay cards betting system called Sports Pick in 1976, but the attempt earned Delaware a standing legal betting status along with Montana, Nevada, and Oregon. The four states were therefore excluded from PASPA because they had sports betting legislation in place before the law passed, thus allowing them to continue offering sports betting under their existing legal framework.

Delaware was legally allowed to relaunch its Sports Pick betting platform in 2009 after the Federal Court limited the Delaware Lottery from offering more broad sports betting options. This regulation also meant DE did not need to pass any additional legislation to launch sports betting after the US Supreme Court struck down PASPA in 2018.

Future of Delaware Sports Betting

Delaware Lottery Director Vernon Kirk said on January 20, 2020, that the “substantial additional costs” stop the state from pursuing an online betting market. However, he also indicated the situation is being monitored “very carefully.” There have been no recent changes to the First State’s online sports betting status. But given it is legal to offer online betting in the state, we may see the launch of a DE online sportsbook in the future.

Delaware Sports Betting Locations

The Delaware Lottery licensed the state’s three casinos to provide legal wagers with one joint license in 2018. That joint license means you can place a bet at one retail sportsbook and claim your rewards at another. The Delaware Lottery partnered with Scientific Games Corporation (now known as Light & Wonder Inc) and William Hill (now operating as Caesars in the US) to provide sports betting facilities and odds to retail sportsbooks. This partnership also operates all the parlay cards games available at Delaware Lottery retailers.

Delaware Park Casino

• Address: 777 Delaware Park Boulevard, Wilmington, DE 19804

• Website: https://delawarepark.com/sports-betting/

• Phone Number: (302) 994-2521

• Operator: Delaware Lottery

You can find the Delaware Lottery-operated sportsbook at Delaware Park on the second floor Casino Side. Most betting takes place here, but you can also find betting windows and self-service kiosks at Track Side by Club 2. NFL, NBA, MLB, NHL, soccer, boxing and MMA and racing all available for betting on at the sportsbook. You can also bet on college football, but not on teams in DE. If you sign up for a Player Rewards Card, you can get exclusive promotions and notifications to book seats for big games and fights. A sports bar is next to the sportsbook that provides drinks, beers, and food like sandwiches and burgers. There are also nine other restaurants across the casino.

Dover Downs

• Address: 1131 N. Dupont Highway, Dover, DE 19901

• Website: https://www.doverdowns.com/race-sports-book/

• Phone Number: (302) 674-4600

• Operator: Delaware Lottery

Dover Downs Casino is operated by Bally’s, but the sportsbook is run by the Delaware Lottery. Dover Downs Sportsbook covers the most popular sports but also has markets for niche sports like MMA. The hotel has five restaurants and two bars where you can enjoy food and drink between betting, but refreshments are not allowed in the sportsbook. Dover Downs also has its own horse racing betting facility, which lets you wager on live racing or place simulcast wagers.

Harrington Raceway and Casino

• Address: 18500 S. Dupont Highway, Harrington, DE 19952

• Website: https://casino.harringtonraceway.com/sports-book/

• Phone Number: (302) 398-4920

• Operator: Delaware Lottery

Harrington Raceway and Casino provides a retail sportsbook called Murphy’s Race and Sportsbook. The Delaware Lottery operates the sportsbook through its partnership with Caesars and Light & Wonder Inc. You can visit the sportsbook to wager on professional football, baseball, basketball, hockey, golf, soccer, and auto racing. You can also bet on college football and basketball. The sportsbook is complete with its own sports bar where you can watch the latest action while trying Sous Chef George Parker’s famous food.

Delaware Lottery Locations

The Delaware Lottery operates sports betting in the state, and you can use its sports betting services at 112 retailers. Delaware’s parlay sports betting laws protected the operation from the PASPA ban. It re-started its parlay card service in 2009, almost a decade before the US Supreme Court struck PASPA down.

You can only place parlay wagers on professional and college football, specifically bets with three or more selections. You can collect your parlay cards for upcoming games on Wednesdays.

Off-Track and Stadium Betting Locations

The only locations licensed to provide sports betting in DE are land-based casinos. Therefore, you can’t place legal bets at sports venues. Horse racing in Delaware is overseen by the Delaware Department of Agriculture Thoroughbred Racing Commission. Delaware has no off-track betting locations, but each horse racetrack provides simulcast wagering and other horse racing betting facilities. You can also wager at retail sportsbooks at every horse racing track at the licensed casinos.

Delaware Responsible Gambling Resources

• Delaware Problem Gambling – Provide programs and services for problem gamblers, including support meetings, a helpline, and online live chat. (888) 850-8888

• Gamblers Anonymous – Organizes support groups across Delaware with in-person meetings and Zoom calls. You can also call its hotline 24/7. (855) 222-5542

The Delaware Lottery operates a self-exclusion program where you can prohibit yourself from wagering at any of the state’s three casinos. This includes sports betting, gambling, and lottery draws. You must submit this form in person to the Delaware Lottery Office. If you gamble while on the self-exclusion list, you are committing a Class A misdemeanor, and all winnings will be forfeited.

Sportsbooks are encouraged to give further support to players. You can find contact information for problem gambling resources at the casinos that provide retail sportsbooks, and staff members are trained to spot and handle problem gambling.

Teams to Bet on in Delaware

• Pro Sports

There are currently no major league sports teams in Delaware. DE has the sixth smallest US population, with just under a million residents. While the state doesn’t have the size to support its own major league franchise, it is blessed by being close to teams in neighboring states. Check out the most popular sports teams in DE below.

• Minor League Sports

As Delaware doesn’t have professional sports teams, minor league teams in the state draw the attention of sports fans. Baseball fans can watch the Wilmington Blue Rocks play in the South Atlantic League’s North Division. The team is an affiliate of the MLB’s Washington Nationals and has won five league titles and six division titles. While the team’s main mascot is a blue moose called Rocky Bluewinkle, the team also has a stalk of celery mascot, Mr. Celery, who dances to “Song 2” by Blur for every run scored.

If you prefer basketball, you can follow the Delaware Blue Coats, an affiliate of the NBA’s Philadelphia 76ers. Founded in 2007, the Blue Coats first moved to Delaware in 2013. The Blue Coats won a conference title in 2022, so there could be exciting times ahead for fans of this NBA G League team.

• College Sports

Delaware Fightin’ Blue Hens: The University of Delaware Fightin’ Blue Hens once boasted a Division I football team, which won the national championship in 2003 by crushing the Colgate Raiders 40-0. However, the team is now in the second tier of US college football, the Football Championship Subdivision (FCS). The team has also won NCAA Championships for women’s field hockey and lacrosse.

Delaware State Hornets: The Delaware State University Hornets joined the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference in 1970 and play in the division for most sports. Its football team won the MEAC football championship in 2007. Its women’s basketball team reached an NCAA Tournament in 2006, losing in the first round to Vanderbilt University.

• Women’s Sports

There are no professional women’s sports teams in Delaware, but the Division I college teams field many successful women’s sports programs. Along with the NCAA Championship-winning field hockey and lacrosse teams for the Fightin’ Blue Hens, the women’s basketball team won the CAA tournament in 2012 to earn a place in the NCAA Division I Tournament.

How Does Delaware Compare to Other States?

• Market Coverage

Delaware’s sportsbooks provide coverage of major professional sports in the US like the NFL, NBA, MLB, and NHL. You’ll also find niche betting options like the MLS and MMA. College sports betting is legal, but you can’t wager on teams from DE. This is more restrictive than other states like Michigan and West Virginia, where there are no limitations on college sports betting. Typically online sportsbooks offer a wider range of niche sports to bet on, so while there is a large market already in Delaware, it has the potential to expand further if online sports betting becomes available.

• Competitive Odds & Prices

All of the retail sportsbooks in Delaware and the Delaware Lottery-backed Sports Pick use odds provided by Caesars. Caesars is available in 17 states across the US and has to compete with some of the biggest brands, so its betting odds are competitive. Betting lines for parlays on the NFL are particularly generous, and you can place these wagers at retail sportsbooks or at 112 lottery retailers. However, retail sportsbooks don’t offer odds boosts, or promotions like online betting sites do in other states.

• Gambling Revenue

The Delaware Lottery signed a deal with the three casinos and the operators providing sports betting and collects 50% of the revenue. The other 50% is split between the casinos, Caesars, and Light & Wonder Inc. In addition, Delaware claims 90% in taxes from any Sports Pick wagers placed at lottery retailers.

Delaware has a sports betting handle of $487,347,188 as of April 2022, and sportsbooks have kept $72,391,098 in revenue. At 14.9%, this is the highest percentage revenue hold of any US state. The state has collected $47,737,086 in taxes. This is a huge amount of tax compared to other states with much higher betting handles. For example, Virginia has a handle of $5,329,639,580 as of May 2022 but the state has only collected $33,675,796 in taxes. However, with nearby New Jersey making 11% more in revenue per person with online sports betting available, Delaware is missing out on the complete benefits.

• Betting Taxes

Any gambling winnings are taxable, and you must declare all your sports betting winnings to the IRS. If you win more than $600, you may be asked to fill out a W-2G. Your sportsbook should send you this form if you qualify. Sportsbooks can also keep up to 25% of profits for tax purposes.

Your sports betting winnings are also included in your income tax. This ranges from 2.2% to 5.55% for anyone on an annual income lower than $60,000. The maximum income tax on a salary over $60,000 is 6.6%.

The Internal Revenue Code dictates that all sportsbooks pay $50 for every employee involved in taking sports wagers. In addition, sportsbooks pay an excise tax of 0.25% of each betting handle.

Who Oversees Sports Betting in Delaware?

The Delaware Lottery oversees sports betting in Delaware. The lottery provides the license for the three retail sportsbooks in the state while also operating its own parlay betting system, Sports Pick. The lottery is responsible for ensuring every sportsbook has strong safety measures to protect your personal and financial information. The regulatory body also collects and distributes taxes. The lottery operates the state-wide self-exclusion program, which supports responsible gambling measures in DE too.