Delaware Online Poker
Delaware became the second state to legalize online poker on June 28, 2012. In addition to online poker, many different versions of house games were legalized through the online Delaware Lottery. These games include video versions of table games including blackjack and roulette, as well as video poker and slots.
Delaware online poker launched on November 8, 2013. Players may access regulated Delaware online poker through the state’s three racino websites. 888 software is used for poker and casino games.
Delaware and Nevada started sharing online poker traffic in March 2015. Nevada players access this joint liquidity through WSOP.com. Delaware players have found little enjoyment from this partnership. Delaware online poker revenues are as low as they have ever been. April 2017 rake was just $19,280. Monthly poker rake has hovered in the $15,000-$20,000 range for most of the past year.
Casino revenue is over $200,000 per month. House games continue to grow revenue, while poker rake bounces around the bottom.
Delaware Lottery Controls Online Gaming
The gambling industry in Delaware is managed through a powerful state lottery. Delaware partners with the state’s horse tracks to offer casino games in what are referred to as racinos. The state first introduced video lottery games in 1995 when racinos were first introduced. These video lottery games are similar to slot and video poker machines in Las Vegas.
Table games were not introduced until 2010. These table games include poker. Blackjack, roulette, craps and Three Card Poker are among the other table games available in Delaware. In addition to live poker at the state’s three racinos, charitable poker is also allowed.
Delaware’s lottery is not only funded by lotto tickets and gambling at the tables and slots at the state’s racetracks, the state also has a sports lottery. Delaware is exempted by the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act of 1992, often referred to as the Bradley Act. The state received this exemption because they offered NFL parlay cards in 1976 through their state lottery.
These parlay cards require a bettor to choose three or more outcomes on NFL games and win every bet to collect. NFL is the only game available in the Delaware Lottery.
The Delaware Lottery abandoned this concept after just one year in 1976 but decided to get back into the business in 2009. The state legislature voted to relaunch the sports lottery in May 2009. In addition to the parlay cards, the Delaware Lottery decided to allow single game sports betting.
The major sports leagues challenged Delaware’s ability to offer single game sports wagers in court. The sports leagues argued that the Bradley Act only allowed Delaware to offer the same sports gambling that they offered in 1976, three or more team parlay cards. Although Delaware prevailed in the lower courts, the Third Circuit Court of Appeals sided with the sports leagues in September 2009. This forced the Delaware Lottery to revert back to only offering only parlay cards.
Read the the Delaware online gaming law here.
Delaware Online Poker Rooms
Delaware offers three online poker rooms. They are offered on the websites belonging to Delaware Park, Dover Downs and Harrington Raceway. All three sites are networked through software powered by 888. The Delaware sites also pool players with WSOP.com in Nevada. These casinos also offer live poker rooms.
New players receive free cash on deposits of $30 or more. Bonuses start at $10 and run up to $50, depending on the site. Players can claim a bonus at all three Delaware sites. Players may deposit by Visa, Mastercard and electronic check. Withdrawals are processed by electronic and paper check.
Players must have a cell phone. This is used to verify the location of the connection through cell phone triangulation. Players within one mile of the state line will likely run into problems as that is the margin of error for the technology. Players within this area are automatically blocked to ensure people in other states are unable to access the site. You can read more in our article about regulated online poker geolocation.
Delaware online poker rooms also offer casino games. These include blackjack, roulette, Jacks or Better video poker, and slots. The casino game variety is tiny compared to other markets. There are only two table games, 16 slots and one video poker title.