It’s only fitting that the first state to ratify the U.S. Constitution was also the first to enter the legal sports betting fray (outside of Nevada, of course.)
Delaware took its first legal sports wager just over three weeks after the Supreme Court repealed the Professional and Amateur Sports Betting Protection Act. Yet, while lawmakers did well to make sports betting available to residents and visitors in short order, Delaware still hasn’t opened up its mobile wagering market.
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Easy transfers from DFS to sportsbook
Caesars is proving to be one of the most aggressively expanding brands in sports betting. Unfortunately, like all major U.S. sportsbooks, they are quick to limit you if you go on a tear and their odds boost promos offer low maximum bet limits.
BetMGM is one of the top-rated sportsbooks in the U.S. offering some of the best live betting odds in the industry. They’re also the largest iGaming operator across the U.S.
FanDuel reigns supreme right now as the No. 1 betting site in America. And it has largely earned that spot on the strength of superior brand recognition, an easy-to-use product, an overwhelming number of markets for North Americaβs most popular sports, and representation in every state in which it is permitted to offer legal sports betting.
DraftKings had a solid reputation as the leading DFS provider in the country, so the shift to legal sports betting felt natural. They offer one of the most voluminous collections of ongoing promos and odds boosts in the industry as they cater to the beginner crowd. However, their reputation has dwindled as outspoken CEO Jason Robins leads the charge of the anti-profitable bettor mentality that runs rampant amongst sportsbooks that are quick to limit winning players.
bet365 is one of the largest and most popular sportsbooks globally. With a well-received mobile app, popular same-game parlays, and a wide variety of sports leagues to bet on itβs no wonder 80 million sports bettors worldwide continue to use bet365.
Online since: 2015
PointsBet’s innovative nature shows that they don’t want to just be another book you place typical bets. Unfortunately, they are quick to limit bettors on a hot streak and limit the number of promos you’re able to take advantage of, making it necessary for you to shop at other books regularly.
With a large variety of ongoing promos and contests featuring Barstool personalities, Barstool Sportsbook is a solid option available for casual bettors.
While this book won’t wow you with its design, you won’t find many apps easier to navigate – or with the sheer volume of sports markets Betway offers. And although you'll find more generous signup offers elsewhere, Betway remains a strong global sports betting brand that deserves to be mentioned among the second-tier sportsbook options in the U.S.
Delaware sports betting law allows for mobile wagering – and has since its introduction in 2018. And yet, users in the first state in the union are still waiting for their first crack at online sports betting. It doesn’t sound like anything is imminent, either, with the state’s only current sportsbook operator citing sky-high start-up costs as a point of concern.
The addition of mobile sports betting in Delaware – should it ever come to pass – will mean plenty of bonuses and offers for anyone making wagers within state lines. We encourage everyone to maximize their bonus and offer exposure, since many of these first-time inducements result in real cash landing in sports bettors’ accounts, with little playthrough required (for the most part).
π Launch Date | June 5, 2018 |
π° # of Betting Sites | One |
π± Online Sports Betting | β No |
π° Retail Sports Betting | β Yes |
π₯οΈ Online Casino | β No |
π Retail Casino | β Yes |
π College Sports Betting | β Yes (but not on in-state teams) |
π 2022 Population (est.) | 1.01 million |
π΅ 2021 Betting Handle | $121.9 million |
πΈ Tax Rate | 50 percent (revenue share) |
When online sports betting is introduced in DE, you can consult our top list for the best sports betting options available to you. Our interactive list will allow you to sort sportsbooks based on a number of criteria, including banking options, bonuses and quality of customer service.
If you’re looking for more information before making your choice, be sure to check out our detailed, unbiased reviews for each of the top sportsbooks in Delawarea once online sports betting becomes a reality. This is especially important if you want to understand how each book’s bonus offers work.
Registration requirements will vary slightly by sportsbook, but most follow the same protocols. Be sure to have your personal information (name, address, phone number) and credit card details (number, expiry date, CVV) handy.
Once you’re comfortable with how your sportsbook’s new signup bonus works, it will be time to make your initial deposit and claim that sweet bonus. The majority of first-time offers for Delaware residents should come in one of two forms:
Congratulations! You’re ready to place a wager. Take some time to familiarize yourself with the app interface before diving in. Most mobile operators make it easy for new sports bettors to navigate, but it’s still a good idea to know where everything is.
From there, you can place any type of wager you like; the most popular bet types are the moneyline, spread or total. You can also dive into team or player props, or even kick things off with a futures bet.
Once you have the desired wager(s) in your betting card, take one last look to ensure you’ve made the selections you want. If everything is good, simply click the “Bet” button – and you’re off!
It shouldn’t surprise anyone to see Delaware sprint into the legal sports betting space given the state’s history.
Lawmakers had tried to legalize the practice nearly a decade earlier in 2009; The state Supreme Court ruled that Gov. Jack Markell’s expansion into single-game sports betting was legal, but the federal government did not share that sentiment, and Markell’s bid was effectively shut down by a U.S. Circuit court.
Here’s a look at the rest of Delaware’s sports betting history:
If this were a 100-meter sprint, Delaware would have been the fastest state out of the blocks – even quicker than New Jersey.
Within a week of the decision to repeal PASPA, state officials ruled that no further legislation was required to move ahead with legal single-game sports betting. Gov. John Carney announced at the end of May that the state would move ahead with a June 5 launch – and that’s exactly what happened.
The State saw immediate dividends, with four straight months of $20+ million in handle to end the year (resulting in roughly $9.4 million in tax revenue).
Did the bloom come off the rose in Delaware?
The COVID-19 pandemic certainly didn’t help matters, with the North American sports calendar grinding to a virtual complete stop. The state didn’t report any handle from April through June, and pulled in just over $200,000 in July.
Yet, while most states saw significant make-up handle in the final four months of 2020, Delaware didn’t quite bounce back to its 2019 levels. The state took in just $64.7 million in that span, down from $72 million the previous year.
The 2021 calendar year opened with optimism (thanks to a $15.6 million showing in January) but never really gained steam. Delaware saw just one month with more than $16 million in handle, and actually lost nearly $1 million in revenue in December.
Delaware’s downward sports betting spiral continued into 2022, with January seeing just $12.6 million in handle. The next three months were equally as disappointing, producing a combined $131,000 in tax revenue.
Like most U.S. states, Delaware has put safeguards in place to ensure that bettors have a way out of any potential trouble spots.
The Delaware Council on Gambling Programs is the state’s main resource for players looking to deal with their gambling issues. The site features several resources, including a self-assessment quiz, access to counselors and other options for those interested in helping loved ones who might be struggling with gambling problems.
Visit the Delaware Council on Gambling Programs site.
It will come as no surprise to see a rather extensive list of major professional and amateur sports available to Delaware bettors – a list that includes (but is not limited to):
That doesn’t leave much off the table, but there are three major markets in which wagering in Delaware is prohibited:
Sports bettors looking to scratch their single-game wagering itch in Delaware have only three options to choose from – and all use the same sportsbook. The trio of casinos use William Hill lines and markets thanks to an agreement between the global gaming giant and the Delaware Lottery.
Here are the places where you can bet in person in Delaware:
Delaware Park Casino (Sports Book, 777 Delaware Park Blvd, Wilmington, DE, 19804)
Bally’s Dover Race and Sportsbook (Sports Book, 1131 N Dupont Hwy, Dover, DE, 19901)
Harrington Raceway & Casino (Sports Book, 15 West Rider Road, Harrington, DE, 19952)
Hereβs a look at Delawareβs monthly sports betting handle beginning in 2018:
Month | Handle |
June | $7 million |
July | $8.2 million |
August | $8 million |
September | $23.3 million |
October | $21.2 million |
November | $24.2 million |
December | $23.4 million |
Total | $115.3 million |
Month | Handle |
January | $14.1 million |
February | $8.7 million |
March | $10.5 million |
April | $6.1 million |
May | $5.9 million |
June | $6.3 million |
July | $3.9 million |
August | $4.7 million |
September | $18.8 million |
October | $16.1 million |
November | $16.9 million |
December | $20.5 million |
Total | $132.5 million |
Month | Handle |
January | $11.2 million |
February | $7.3 million |
March | $3.9 million |
April | --- |
May | --- |
June | --- |
July | $0.2 million |
August | $3 million |
September | $12.4 million |
October | $17.1 million |
November | $19.5 million |
December | $15.7 million |
Total | $90.3 million |
Month | Handle |
January | $15.6 million |
February | $7.5 million |
March | $6.7 million |
April | $5.5 million |
May | $7.1 million |
June | $6.0 million |
July | $4.1 million |
August | $5.3 million |
September | $13.7 million |
October | $22.2 million |
November | $15.6 million |
December | $12.6 million |
Total | $121.9 million |
Month | Handle |
January | $12.6 million |
February | $5.4 million |
March | $5.2 million |
April | $4.2 million |
May | $5.1 million |
June | $3.5 million |
July | $2.7 million |
August | $2.9 million |
September | $8.9 million |
October | $13.5 million |
November | $10.2 million |
Total | $74.2 million |
Yes! Sports betting has been legal in Delaware since June 2018; the state was the first outside of Nevada to offer legal sports wagering via its three casinos.
You can create an account, deposit, make bets and even withdraw using any active sportsbook in Delaware, as long as you are within state borders. Be sure to complete all of your transactions before you leave; once you’re outside the state, you will no longer be able to access your account(s).
Only DC, Alaska, North Dakota and South Dakota have fewer people than Delaware, which boasts a population of just under one million (2022 estimate).
The Delaware Lottery oversees sports betting regulation in the state.
Don’t hold your breath, folks. With only one operator in the state – and a local one at that – it’s highly unlikely that we’ll see a betting expansion of any kind in Delaware, let alone one that allows for large-scale online wagering.