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Delaware Sports Betting
Sports betting has existed in some way, shape, or form in Delaware since 1976, and once a nationwide prohibition was lifted, the First State was as quick as any to expand its offerings.
Offers
Disclaimer: For those outside of Delaware, you may face restrictions on the offers you see on this page.
About Sports Betting in Delaware
Thanks to stacks of oldfangled football parlay cards sold in supermarkets, Delaware has been in the sports betting business longer than any state outside of Nevada. This is almost fitting, given Delaware's distinction as the First State.
Through a nationwide prohibition on sports betting and some legal tossing and turning, the parlay cards persisted. And once that prohibition was struck down by the U.S. Supreme Court, Delaware's horse racetracks wasted no time opening brick-and-mortar sportsbooks in 2018.
Mobile betting would have to wait until 2023, when BetRivers launched its platform in an exclusive partnership with the Delaware Lottery. In spite of this monopoly and fierce competition from neighboring states, tiny Delaware handled $28.4 million in sports bets in December 2024, then an all-time monthly high.
Delaware Sportsbooks
Currently Operating Sportsbooks
Current Sportsbooks
4Licenses Allowed
2
Mobile Sportsbook
Sports Betting Legalization in Delaware
Delaware Sports Betting Law Highlights
- Sports betting has existed in some way, shape, or form since 1976.
- There are three full-service brick-and-mortar sportsbooks, all at horse racetracks and all operating under one joint license.
- 21+ age requirement.
- BetRivers is the sole mobile operator, in partnership with the Delaware Lottery.
- Over 100 retail outlets, many of them grocery stores, accept parlay wagers on pro and college football.
- No betting on in-state college athletics.
Legalization Timeline
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Delaware Lottery starts offering a football parlay game
January, 1976
The Delaware Lottery starts selling parlay cards for pro and college football games at retail outlets like grocery stores. This small step would enable Delaware to be partially exempted from the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act (PASPA) that would pass in 1992.
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Sports betting signed into law
May 14, 2009
Governor Jack Markell signs a sports betting bill into law which authorizes single-game wagering in Delaware.
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Pro leagues sue Delaware for violating PASPA
July 24, 2009
Shortly after Delaware signs single-game sports betting into law, the NCAA, NBA, NFL, NHL, and MLB sue the state, claiming its law is in violation of PASPA. The U.S. Appeals Court later rules in the leagues' favor, but allows parlay wagering to continue in Delaware.
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PASPA repealed by U.S. Supreme Court
May 14, 2018
The U.S. Supreme Court repeals PASPA, giving every state the right to offer regulated sports wagering. With its preexisting betting apparatus, Delaware is among the first states to offer this form of gambling.
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Three racetracks open sportsbooks
June 5, 2018
The state's three horse racetracks quickly open retail sportsbooks, which would be the only way people in Delaware could place single-game wagers on sports for more than five years.
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BetRivers launches mobile platform
December 27, 2023
As the exclusive mobile partner of the Delaware Lottery, BetRivers launches its online sportsbook in the First State.
FAQs
Is sports betting legal in Delaware?
Yes. Sports betting in Delaware dates back to 1976, making it one of the few states to offer some form of sports wagering prior to the 2018 repeal of PASPA.
Who can bet on sports in Delaware?
Anyone who is physically present within Delaware's boundaries and at least 21 years of age can place a mobile or in-person wager in the First State.
Who regulates sports betting in Delaware?
The Delaware Lottery regulates sports betting in the First State and counts BetRivers as its lone mobile partner for such wagering.
What can I bet on in Delaware?
Delaware's lone mobile operator, BetRivers, offers wagering on a plethora of sports, including: basketball, baseball ,soccer, tennis, hockey, golf, MMA, football, motorsports, Australian Rules Football, boxing, cricket, cycling, darts, floorball, handball, lacrosse, netball, pesapallo, rugby, snooker, softball, table tennis, volleyball, and winter sports.
What can't I bet on in Delaware?
There's no wagering on college athletes or teams who compete for Delaware schools.
Is DFS legal in Delaware?
Daily fantasy sports contests have been explicitly legal in Delaware since 2017, with FanDuel, DraftKings, and Yahoo among the state's DFS operators.
Is it legal to bet on horse racing in Delaware?
Delaware has a rich tradition of hosting live horse racing, and it is indeed legal to wager on horses in the state. Delaware's three live tracks, each of which have brick-and-mortar sportsbooks, are Bally's Dover Casino Resort (aka Dover Downs), Delaware Park, and Harrington Raceway. These racetracks all host simulcast wagering, and it is also legal for people in Delaware to bet online through account-wagering platforms like TVG, TwinSpires, and FanDuel Racing.
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Responsible Gambling
21+. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, call 1-800-GAMBLER.