Delaware sports betting
Do you want to know about sports betting in Delaware? Then, you have come to the right place. In this guide to Delaware Sports betting, you will learn about the different sportsbooks in the state, amongst other things.
Though there are no private sportsbooks available online, you can place bets only at the state’s three “racinos”. This guide will help you learn all about the status of sports betting legislation in the state.
Can you legally bet on sports in Delaware?
Sports betting has been legal in Delaware for over four years, with the first sports wager placed in June 2018, a month after PASPA was repealed.
Delaware moved so quickly after the court decision that it outpaced New Jersey, which had fought the case that ended PASPA, in opening its sports betting operation. In June 2018, the state’s three casinos began accepting bets.
However, Delaware governors have determined that it is too costly to launch at this time, and residents of the state are still waiting for online sportsbooks to become available.
Currently, three casinos accept sports bets, and this has been the case for some time. As such, none of the sportsbooks that are live in Delaware have launched an online betting platform at this point in time. But, the state lottery has a contract with Scientific Games, a partner of William Hill US. It provides sports wagering odds and risk management.
All in all, in-person sports betting is only available at Delaware’s three racinos, which are essentially racetracks with casino gaming. Each of these physical sportsbooks has a state license to accept sports wagers.
Sports you can bet on
Players from Delaware can place bets on a number of sports. Through the three casinos, one can place straight bets, round robins, periods, same-game parlays, quarters, player props, parlays, game props, teasers, and halves. Additionally, the NHL, NCAAB, NBA, WNBA, NCAAF, and MLB are some of the most popular leagues represented. The following sports are available at Delaware’s casinos:
Because of the state’s proximity to Philadelphia, Baltimore, and Washington DC, sports betting loyalty is spread throughout the state.
New Castle County, in the northern part of the state, has over a million residents, the majority of whom live in Delaware. Because Wilmington is also 30 miles(ca.48 km) south of Philadelphia, sports fans tend to prefer Philadelphia teams.
As a result, the Eagles of the National Football League are one of the state’s most-wagered teams. The Washington DC’s NFL and Ravens teams also see a lot of wagers.
Best sports betting sites in Delaware
There are many sportsbooks currently in the market that are working indirectly with Delaware. However, we can anticipate the state launching sports betting apps in the near future. Betting apps in Delaware will most likely be similar to those in other states.
The best sports betting apps will most likely be available for iOS/iPhone and Android devices. You can only use these apps if you live within the state’s borders, and you must also be of legal gambling age in your state.
On the app, you should be able to place the same types of wagers that you can on the website. Also, you should be able to check your account on the app in the same way that you can on the website. Some of the sportsbooks in Delaware include:
William Hill Delaware
The sportsbook serves as Delaware’s risk manager, which means it sets the odds and acts as a bookmaker for the state. The risk manager’s job is also to make decisions based on the bettor’s past performance. That is why gamblers can only wager up to $1,000 on a team. When a bet exceeds that limit, the bettor must wait for the amount to get approved by William Hill.
888 Delaware
Since 2013, the Gibraltar-based online gambling company has powered the state lottery’s online gambling platform. It all started with three racino operators: Delaware Park, Harrington Raceway, and Dover Downs. Hence, through this partnership, 888 has a monopoly in Delaware. It offers poker, casino table games, and casino slots to adults in the state.
BetWay Delaware
As of now, this sportsbook does not offer its services in Delaware. But players who want to check this sportsbook out can do so from any of the following states: New Jersey, Colorado, Pennsylvania, Iowa, and Indiana. They have great promotions and bonuses to offer their players. So players who are from the states mentioned above, do give Betway a try.
DraftKings Delaware
The sportsbook offers fantasy sports in Delaware. It is one of only a few states in the United States that has legalized and regulated daily fantasy sports. In 2017, Gov. John Carney signed DFS regulations into law.
That means anyone 18 years old or older can participate in real-money daily fantasy sports contests offered by DraftKings. It includes all college football and basketball contests.
BetMGM Delaware
Currently, this sportsbook offers online poker within Delaware. This is because New Jersey and Delaware are two states that have signed the Multi-State iGaming Agreement (MSIGA), which allows them to share player pools across state lines.
The Agreement allows players in any signatory state to engage in online poker against their counterparts in other states. So, for example, someone in New Jersey can log on to a regulated poker site and compete with bettors who are not only from New Jersey but also from Nevada and Delaware. Of course, this assumes that the poker site in question operates in both New Jersey and one or more of the other MSIGA member states.
A timeline of online sports betting in Delaware
The state has been working on a variety of rules and regulations pertaining to US sports betting and gambling in general. Here is a brief history of sports betting and gambling in Delaware.
All in all, sports betting was illegal in Delaware until 2009, when the state approved legislation that allowed it through lottery-style parlay offerings. The next significant step taken was three years later, in 2012 when Delaware approved both online casino gaming and online poker.
It took another six years for wagering to become fully legal in the state, after the Supreme Court’s decision overturning the federal ban on sports betting, shortly after PASPA was repealed (PASPA). Even though this happened more than four years ago, the state has yet to launch any online services. It could be introduced to the Diamond state in the coming years when state governors believe the time is right.
Latest online sports betting news in DE
In April, player spending on sports betting fell to a nine-month low, with the state’s handle reaching its lowest level since July of last year. Bettors wagered $4.2 million (£3.4 million/€4.0 million) on sports in the four weeks ending April 24, a 23.6% decrease from $5.5 million in the same month in 2021 and a 19.2% decrease from $5.2 million in March of this year.
According to Delaware Lottery figures, this was the lowest monthly total since $4.1 million was wagered in July 2021. Revenue in April was $314,336, a 64.5% decrease from $895,299 in July of last year and a 43.2% decrease from $553,465 in March 2022. Delaware Park maintained its market-leading position, earning $151,674 in revenue from $2.1 million in wagers.
Dover Downs came in second with $95,059 in revenue and a $1.2 million handle, while Harrington Raceway came in third with $67,603 in revenue from $853,005 in wagers. During the month of April, players won a total of $3.8 million from sports betting, placing 142,465 bets.
Brick-and-mortar sports betting places in DE
As previously stated, Delaware sports betting is not yet available online. It is also not legal. However, a few Delaware casinos have launched their own online casinos.
This means we can examine these casinos to see what we can expect from legal sports betting. And, when Delaware online betting becomes a reality, we can expect these operators to jump in. These are:
Delaware Park Racetrack: This sportsbook already has online casino and poker tables online. It also offers online sports betting, where your winnings and rewards are directly deposited into your account. As a result, you can expect this top online sportsbook to go live statewide when it can.
Dovers Down Gaming: Dover Downs Gaming also has an online poker room and an online casino. You can also wager on NASCAR, harness racing, and some professional sports. So, when it comes to online sports betting, this is one operator to keep an eye on.
Harrington Raceway INC: The bookie already has online horse race betting apps. As a result, it is expected to launch an online sportsbook as soon as it can. Customers will also be pleased to return to a site they have previously trusted.
For players who want to know the location of these casinos, here it is:
Delaware Park Casino
Dover Downs
Harrington Raceway and Casino
Overall, if you want to bet on horse racing or other sports, you must go to one of these three licensed and regulated casinos.
Taxes on online sports betting wins in DE
In Delaware, the current tax rate on sports betting is 43%. Delaware taxes sports betting and casinos in the state. The bad news for gamblers is that they do have to pay taxes if they win. Delaware’s taxation system appears to be exploitative. For starters, operators must pay for a license.
After that, the state takes its entire gross annual revenue unless they earn more than $3.75 million. If they reach this figure, the state will only receive 43% of the total annual revenue.
Also, if you win more than $5,000 in gambling, the payer (the casino) will generally withhold 24% for taxes. In addition, depending on how much you win, the casino will issue you a Form W-2G. Even if you don’t, the IRS expects you to pay your taxes.