Is Online Gambling Legal in Delaware?
Gambling has a long history in Delaware, but for a long time, it wasn’t a state that welcomed betting. Over the last decade, however, it has become one of the leaders in the country—next to Nevada and New Jersey—that offer various legal gambling options.The Delaware Gaming Competitiveness Act was signed in 2012 and, among other things, it authorized online gambling. Resultantly, Delaware became a pioneer in that arena, being one of the first states to regulate internet-based gaming in anything close to a permissive manner. Not long after that, Delaware became the first state in the country, post-PASPA, to legalize sports betting.
Today, you can gamble online in Delaware, and there are a slew of online casinos where you can play your favorite games of chance legally and safely.
Top Online Casinos Delaware
| Ranking | Casino Name | Bonus Amount | Review | Payment Options | Minimum Deposit | Actions |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 |
|
USD $3,750 Bonus |
|
$20 Min Deposit | PLAY NOW | |
| 5 |
|
$2,800 Slots + Cards welcome Bonus Bonus |
|
$10 Min Deposit | PLAY NOW |
An Array of Enticing Bonuses And of Games
Ducky Luck, Wild, Ignition, Bovada, and Las Atlantis are among the top online casinos in Delaware. They offer a range of enticing bonuses and allow you to play an array of games: slots, table games, poker, etc. They also allow you to cash out quickly when you’re ahead and give you various methods for doing so.
If you enjoy the thrill of gambling but would rather not go to an actual brick-and-mortar casino, these five online casinos represent the next best thing that you can legally enjoy while sitting in Delaware.
Adjusting To The Modern Times
Delaware’s attitude toward gambling has undergone a shift over the years. What were once considered very draconian laws—prohibiting from very long ago any game of chance that involved a prize and “house consideration” (meaning the game had a “host” that took a cut in order to keep the game going)—have largely been reformed, and Delaware has become much more welcoming of gambling in its various forms.
The evolution of Delaware’s gambling laws seems to be part of an accommodating attitude toward a legal gambling framework in which states, such as Delaware, can both regulate and tax gambling activities.
Delaware Is Serious About Charities
Charitable gaming has always been part of the legal gambling scene in Delaware. The state allows law charities to raise money via poker “games,” and it has done so since 2004. The prize items must be worth no more than $5,000. Meanwhile, our charity game scene somehow has not evolved into pure Pay-to-Play.
Chari-table gaming still has an element of chance. Since 1975, Delaware has had a state-run lottery, which gives residents numerous ways to win, such as playing scratch-off cards or participating in the kinds of daily drawing you’d see in a typical state or national lottery. Plus, if you’re living in or visiting Delaware, there are a few different racetracks at which you can legally watch and bet on horse and harness racing.
They’re quite generous with the offering of types and events, too, since you can also bet on races held in other states while partaking in the exhilaration of a Delaware racetrack.
Bonuses, Bonuses and More Bonuses!
The market for gambling in Delaware has broadened dramatically and now features a diverse range of online options. If you want to place a wager or engage in a game of chance from your home, there are numerous online casinos with a wealth of opportunities, to say nothing of the bonuses and rapid payouts.
Here are just a few of the online casinos where Delawareans can legally place a bet: Ducky Luck Casino, which offers a 500% bonus up to $7,000; Wild Casino, with a bonus of up to $5,000; Ignition Casino, which serves up a bonus of $3,000; Bovada, extending a $3,750 bonus; and Las Atlantis, which shimmies down the virtual aisle with a $2,800 bonus.
All For The Better Good
Over the years, Delaware’s gambling laws have taken a decidedly friendlier turn. For a long time, the state had a legal framework that was tightly wound around a few fundamental, almost antiquated, precepts.
Chief among them was the notion that any game of chance that had few prizes and a “house consideration” was an illegal gamble, unless it was specifically exempted. And with that framework, charity gaming was allowed, but tightly constrained.
You could hold a poker tournament for a good cause, but a good cause couldn’t set you up to play a game of craps. That was against the law. And all this weirdness across the state made Delaware a pretty unfriendly place for legitimate gaming for a long time.
Delaware Lottery vs Online Gaming
Since 1975, the state of Delaware has been running a lottery that affords its residents the opportunity to win substantial sums of money through various games of chance.
In addition to the lottery, which offers such living-large gimmicks as scratch-off tickets and daily drawings, Delaware offers legal betting on two forms of horse racing at several different venues—in this case, “pari-mutuel” betting, where winners are determined after the race run.
Racing fans are further allowed to place interstate bets on horses in other states. Moreover, since 2012, Delaware has led the way in offering legally sanctioned online wagering, with the full spectrum of card and table games available, poker being the most popular option.
Delaware: The First To Offer Sports Betting
The Delaware Lottery, which operates under the aegis of the state, oversees online gaming in Delaware. This includes ensuring that the games are not only fair but also secure, which quite obviously is a condition players must have in order to feel comfortable wagering.
In the case of the Delaware Internet Lottery, a player must be within the borders of the state when he or she wishes to gamble. While most people think of casino games and poker when they hear the term “online gaming,” in 2012, Delaware was actually the first state in the Union to offer online sports betting.
Thousands Of Slot Machines
Delaware has three state-sanctioned casinos that offer land-based gaming, which are often referred to as “racinos” because they also have racetracks for horse racing. These gaming venues provide all of the familiar gambling options you’d find in Atlantic City or Las Vegas, and then some. Delaware definitely has a few East Coast casino destinations worth checking out. Here are some specifics about the state’s primary casinos:
- Delaware Park: This casino offers 2,300 slot machines, as well as table games and poker (with a room that often hosts tournaments).
- Harrington Raceway: This is a smaller casino with about 1,500 slot machines, but it makes up for its size with decent table game offerings and a horse racing schedule.
- Dover Downs: Even larger than Delaware Park, Dover Downs offers a huge array of both gambling and non-gambling entertainment options. And some of the gambling options here are pretty unique for a casino.
Open-minded and Responsible
Delaware’s relatively open attitude toward gambling has not prevented some law enforcement activity. Most of that activity seems to be directed at maintaining the integrity of the gambling industry and ensuring that all operators (legal and illegal) comply with the law.
For example, in January 2013, a raid on an illegal gambling operation resulted in the arrest of several individuals (and the operation’s owner). Another incident involved a state-licensed casino that was close to crossing the line into illegal territory.
Such events are relatively rare in Delaware, where law enforcement appears to have its hands full with two major casinos and an assortment of unregulated gaming devices, but they do suggest that the state’s commitment to the integrity of the gambling industry is serious.
Overview
Delaware is a state that has made itself a comfortable home for gambling. The allure of games of chance attracts both residents and visitors, making for a nice little economy. It’s not a huge one — Delaware has fewer casinos than other states that offer gambling — but it is nevertheless a profitable business for the First State.
As for laws governing the activity, they’re not all that complicated. If you’re in Delaware, you can bet on just about anything you want, in almost any format. And if you’re not in Delaware but are a resident of one of the many states that have legalized online gambling, you can bet on just about anything you want, in almost any format, too — as long as you do it from an appropriate location within the state.
Disclaimer: The information provided in this article is intended for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for legal advice. Gambling laws are subject to change, and for detailed, state-specific legislation, it is recommended to consult with a licensed attorney or legal expert.