Sports Betting In Dover
Sports betting in Dover – and the rest of Delaware – is finally allowed, thanks to the Supreme Court’s overturn of the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act (PASPA, 1992). Interestingly, Delaware was the first state post-PASPA to allow full-service sports betting at in-state brick-and-mortar venues. This is because the Delaware Lottery – which was in charge of the state’s limited NFL parlay card betting program for several years – simply expanded their gambling offerings without any need for congressional action once allowed by federal law.
As a result, PASPA was overturned on May 14, 2018, and just three weeks later on June 5, DE governor John Carney placed the first legal sports bet in the state. In fact, he did so in Dover, at Dover Downs Hotel & Casino, putting $10 on the Phillies to beat the Cubs that very evening. For the record, Carney’s bet was a winner, as the Phillies won in Chicago by a score of 6-1. And though Carney was the first person with a winning ticket for sports betting in Dover, he’s far from the last, as hundreds of thousands of bettors have won big – and will keep winning big – at Dover Downs every single year going forward.
- Dover Downs Hotel & Casino
- https://www.doverdowns.com/
- Address: 1131 N Dupont Hwy, Dover, DE 19901
- Phone: 302-674-4600
The first thing you’ll notice when reading any Dover Downs review is that the venue – like Harrington Raceway 20 miles to the south – is strictly a harness horse racing venue. (If you want to take in or bet on a Thoroughbred race, you’ll have to drive about 45 miles north to Delaware Park, as that’s the only Thoroughbred track in the state.) Of course, Dover Downs – aka Dover Downs Hotel & Casino – is also a full-fledged racino. In addition to more than 2700 slot machines, Dover Downs has over 40 table games to choose from (craps, blackjack, roulette, baccarat, etc.), a dedicated poker room with 18 tables, a 500-room hotel on the premises, an upscale shopping area called The Colonnade, 9 restaurants (including the renowned, award-winning Michele’s steakhouse and the Pearl Oyster Grill), and 5 bars.
All in all, Dover Downs is the biggest casino venue in the state, and – as the site of many major NASCAR events at its Dover International Speedway (which surrounds its harness racing track) – it pulls in the most spectators and gamblers of the three gambling hotspots. With sports betting in Dover now on full offer, of course, Dover Downs Hotel & Casino is due to host more guests than ever before.
What To Expect When Betting At The Dover Sportsbook
As it has only recently been made available, newcomers to sports betting in Dover might not know what to expect when betting at the Dover sportsbook. Fortunately, the folks at the best casino in Delaware have made things simple. The Dover Downs sportsbook is located just off the main casino floor, and it has been added onto the existing racebook section. As such, the new gambling product is called the Race & Sports Book, and – run by the Delaware Lottery – it offers the same lines and odds (and prices) as the other two racino venues that accept legal sports betting in Delaware.
At the Dover Downs Race & Sports Book, you’ll be able to bet on all the major US professional and collegiate sports, with the NFL, NBA, MLB, NHL, NCAA, and NASCAR leagues all fully represented. Sports betting in Dover also offers action on boxing, MMA, soccer, tennis, golf, and more, and the bet types on hand run the gamut, from spreads, straights, and totals to props, futures, specials, and more. And of course, you can make parlays to increase your payout potentials.
The Dover Downs sportsbook allows bettors to place their wagers at the normal ticket windows, but there are also automated digital kiosks at the facility, and these allow for quick picks and live betting. However, if you want to take advantage of the Dover sports betting bonuses on offer, you’ll need to place your wager with a book cashier (aka a ticket writer), as the $25 Table Game Match Play bonus applies only to wagers placed in person at the ticket counter.
Sports Betting In Dover Hours Of Operation
Each different wagering venue in Delaware has different hours, tailored to the natural traffic that each site experiences. Dover Downs is no exception. The hours of operation for sports betting in Dover are currently as follows:
- Monday: 11 AM – Midnight
- Tuesday: 11 AM – 10 PM
- Wednesday: 11 AM – 10 PM
- Thursday: 11 AM – Midnight
- Friday: 11 AM – Midnight
- Saturday: 10 AM – Midnight
- Sunday: 9 AM - Midnight
Things To Do In Dover
While Dover Downs is a major attraction (particularly when there are NASCAR events on tap), there are plenty of things to do in Dover that aren’t gambling related, which means that you can really round out your vacation and find something for everyone in your party to enjoy. History buffs will appreciate all the museums and exhibitions in Dover, including the spectacular Air Mobility Command Museum, the Johnson Victrola Museum, the Biggs Museum of American Art, the John Dickinson Plantation, and the Delaware Agricultural Museum and Village. (Of course, there are literally dozens of museums in Dover, and all are worth your time. These are simply the must-see selections for first-time visitors to the region.)
For outdoors enthusiasts, Dover is also home to a large selection of parks and waterways. Of the more than two dozen parks to visit in Dover, Silver Lake Park is the largest, covering 182 acres, with plenty of bass fishing on hand. For athletics, Schutte Park – and its John W. Pitts Recreation Center – has gyms, basketball courts, volleyball courts, an indoor track, 10 multipurpose fields, 4 lighted baseball/softball fields, and much more (although for tennis courts, you’ll have to go to the nearby Dover Park).
When you’ve had a full day of sports betting in Dover and sight-seeing outside of the Dover Downs Hotel & Casino, you’ll probably be pretty hungry. While Dover Downs has great restaurants for all budgets, Dover itself has plenty of options for eats, as well. Vincenzo’s Pizzeria is the top spot for Italian, and those seeking authentic Asian fusion will appreciate Chaiyo Sushi and Thai Cuisine. Fans of Americana can get gourmet burgers and fries at Restaurant 55, while places like 33 West Ale House and Grill and McGlynns Pub & Restaurant offer more varied menus. For seafood, Cool Springs Fish Bar & Restaurant is a local favorite, and Where Pigs Fly is home of the best barbecue in Dover.
Dover Sports Betting FAQs
Does Dover Downs Have Proxy Betting?
Dover Downs does not have proxy betting. Originally a workaround for the Interstate Wire Act (1961) – a law preventing sportsbooks from accepting wagers across state lines – proxy betting would allow out-of-state bettors to place their wagers using a third-party intermediary on the actual casino premises. The practice, which is nominally banned in most places, has fallen out of favor, and it has been replaced by offshore sports betting sites (BetOnline, SportsBetting, 5Dimes, etc.), which are more convenient, easier to use, legal, and carry no added fees.
Can I Use My iPhone For Sports Betting In Dover?
Yes, you can use your iPhone or Android phone for sports betting in Delaware at this time. Although, your options in Dover and everywhere else in the state are going to be online offshore sportsbooks rather than state-licensed apps. The ones we recommend (Bovada, BetOnline, etc..) all have mobile-optimized versions of their sites so when you try to access them from your iPhone’s mobile browser they automatically adapt to fit your iPhone screen. All of the same functionality and features are available on your phone and they are easier to navigate through when using these sites.
Can I Use Bitcoin For Sports Betting In Dover?
Currently, you cannot use Bitcoin for sports betting in Dover, as the cryptocurrency is not supported by any physical DE sportsbooks. That said, all the top online sportsbooks (BetOnline et al.) accept Bitcoin, and most of them even accept altcoins like Litecoin, Ethereum, Bitcoin Cash, DASH, and more. It remains to be seen if state-based online Delaware sportsbooks will accept Bitcoin in the future, but for now, it simply isn’t an option unless you use an offshore book.
Does The Dover Sportsbook Offer Live Betting?
Yes, the Dover sportsbook does offer live betting to its patrons. With live betting, you can place wagers on in-game events as the games themselves play out in real-time. However, due to the Dover Downs sportsbook’s hours of operation, many West Coast games will be cut short, so you won’t be able to place live bets on that action. If you want full, comprehensive live betting across all major US and international sports leagues, you will need to sign up with an online sportsbook like BetOnline, 5Dimes, or SportsBetting.
Can I Place Bets Over The Phone At Dover Downs?
Because of the restrictions on interstate betting as imposed by the Wire Act, you cannot place bets over the phone at Dover Downs. Such wagers cannot be effectively screened for Wire Act compliance, as the sportsbook is not able to tell the geographic location from which the call originates. As such, they simply cannot afford to risk accepting phoned-in sports bets. That said, online bookmakers allow you to place bets over the phone, though in most cases, mobile betting has rendered phone-based wagering a thing of the past.
How Old Do I Have To Be To Participate In Sports Betting In Dover?
In order to participate in sports betting in Dover, you need to be at least 21 years of age. However, if you’re at least 18, you can legally participate in horse racing betting, bingo, and the state lottery. Online sportsbooks located overseas only require their Delaware members to be 18 in order to place sports bets, but you should always defer to DE state law, even when betting at an offshore site.
Top Delaware Sports Betting Sites
