Is Sports Betting Legal In Delaware

For being the first state in the Union, you'd think people would have more to say about Delaware. Hey, maybe folks from up there like it that way. Down in agricultural Sussex County, you can walk for miles without seeing another soul, and that's rare for a state on the Atlantic Coast. However, aside from being home to some wonderful scenery and great historic sites, Delaware is also home to some of the most liberal sports betting laws in the nation. Understandably, this brings up a lot of questions from Delaware residents as to the status of sports betting in their home state, and we're here to help.

Ever since congress passed the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act (PASPA, 1992), Delaware was one of a select few states grandfathered in and allowed to keep offering the sports wagering products on its books at the time. However, this was limited to NFL parlay cards with three-game minimums, meaning that – for all intents and purposes – Delaware sports betting was little more than an NFL-themed lottery. And appropriately, this business was and continues to be run by the Delaware Lottery.

Now that PASPA has finally been overturned by the US Supreme Court (May 14, 2018), Delaware has the distinction of being the first state outside of Nevada to legally offer full-service single-game sports betting to its residents. As such, no resident of Delaware who has picked up the sports betting bug needs to worry about any legal repercussions when it comes to wagering on sports events in the state. As long as you wager at a legal offshore sportsbook over the Internet or play at one of DE’s three racino facilities, you are not breaking any laws whatsoever.

Land-Based Sports Betting in Delaware:

When it comes to finding bookmaking establishments to take your bets in Delaware, there's good news and bad news. The good news is that since sports betting is legal in Delaware, there are three different land-based sportsbooks to take your business to. The bad news is that there are only three different land-based sportsbooks to take your business to. And without further legislation, it seems unlikely that robust, standalone sportsbooks will pop up in other locales throughout the state (though there is always a chance that, as it’s run by the state lottery, Delaware may eventually install digital, self-service sports betting kiosks in places like convenience stores and other lottery retail locations).

The three land-based sports betting locations in Delaware are all horse tracks: Delaware Park, Dover Downs, and Harrington Raceway. Each of these offers a full menu of sports wagering options with odds and lines on all major US and international sports. That said, there is as yet no online component for these facilities’ sportsbooks, and it remains to be seen exactly when Delaware sports betting will become officially available over the Internet. As such, even though land-based sports betting is legal and operational in the state, it might not always be the most convenient solution for regular sports wagering enthusiasts.

Legal Online Sports Betting in Delaware:

So, where can Delaware residents go for sports betting that can offer more freedom? Just as with most things, the answer can be found on the Internet. There are several excellent online sportsbooks for Delaware residents that operate legally and are legitimate businesses. And since these betting sites are based overseas, they do not fall victim to the limitations, rules, and regulations that land-based sports betting operations in Delaware do.

Even though we know the act of sports betting is legal and that these online betting sites accepting Delaware residents are able to operate legally, many residents are understandably wary of trusting their money to a foreign, Internet-based entity. Rest assured that there is no reason for concern on this front. The online betting sites accepting Delaware residents that we recommend are fully legitimate enterprises that have been serving American clients and DE residents for decades. Over that time, they've built up a steady following of dedicated fans and repeat customers. One sure bet to make is that these reputations were not made easily or overnight, but by providing excellent service for years on end and most of all, by taking care of the money their customers invest.