The First State’s gambling scene dates back several decades, marked by efforts for expansion. Let’s trace the milestones that shaped the sports betting journey to its current position:
Early sports lottery (1976)
In 1976, the state introduced its Sports Lottery, the first form of gambling in the Chemical Capital. This initial attempt was unfruitful, and the sports lottery had been dormant for many years until 2009, when it was revived and expanded.
PASPA Exemption (1992)
With the passing of the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act (PASPA) in 1992, Delaware received a limited exemption because of its earlier sports lottery program. Nevada was the only state with single-game betting at that time. Peach State’s parlay-style NFL wagering game called Scoreboard ensured partial exemption from PASPA’s restrictions.
PASPA Repeal and launch (2018)
In May 2018, the Supreme Court repealed PASPA and Delaware was ready to act quickly. On June 5, 2018, Governor John Carney made the first legal single-game sports bet outside Nevada at Delaware Park. DE had operational land-based sportsbooks at its casinos. So, New Sweden became the first state to launch post-PASPA sports gambling.
Launch of retail sportsbooks – June–October 2018
After PASPA repeal, Delaware Park, Dover Downs, and Harrington Raceway opened betting windows and kiosks. These venues provided betting to tourists and local hotspots, taking advantage of Delaware’s developed casino infrastructure.
Besides sports, Delaware Park and the others continued to use simulcast racing tracks and on-site standard casino gaming: lottery, slots, and table variants. The offerings were comprehensive for gamblers and tourists across the state.
Delaware online sports betting launch (2023-2024)
In 2023, Delaware Lottery started looking for a provider of iGaming services. Rush Street Interactive was the chosen vendor, which received exclusive online sports betting and casino rights. A soft launch took place on December 27, 2023, followed by full operation on January 3, 2024. Delaware became one of the first states to start providing controlled iGaming and sportsbook services through a single, state-run digital partner. This was a significant milestone.
Legislative push for competition (2025)
In April 2024, House Bill 365 was introduced with the aim of allowing each Delaware casino to partner with two more online operators, potentially expanding the market with up to six platforms. Supporters of the bill pointed out that increased competition would improve user choice and boost the revenue of the state. But that was not enough for the bill to pass before the session ended.
Lawmakers are about to revisit the proposal next term. Market evaluations suggest that expanding the number of gambling operators could boost the betting handle by 5–15%, generating tens of millions in extra annual revenue. These are all serious reasons to act, but time will tell what happens next.