On this page
- Is sports betting legal in Delaware?
- BetRivers and Delaware's online sportsbook model
- Which sports can you bet on?
- Bet types & live betting in Delaware
- Retail sportsbooks and 2026 kiosks
- Online casino in Delaware
- How Delaware compares to other states
- How to sign up
- Taxes and revenue structure
- Responsible gambling resources
- FAQ
Is sports betting legal in Delaware?
Yes. Delaware was positioned to move unusually quickly when the U.S. Supreme Court struck down PASPA on May 14, 2018.
- The state already had a sports lottery framework on the books from legislation adopted years earlier, so it did not need to build a licensing system from scratch after the federal restriction disappeared.
- On June 5, 2018, Delaware Park, Bally's Dover, and Harrington Raceway & Casino began accepting full-scale sports wagers.
- That made Delaware the first state outside Nevada to offer legal single-game sports betting in the post-PASPA era.
For more than five years, however, Delaware's modern sports betting market was primarily an in-person product.
- The next major shift came on December 27, 2023, when the Delaware Lottery launched a single mobile application integrating internet gaming and online sports wagering on a new platform powered by Rush Street Interactive's BetRivers technology.
- The model is important: Delaware does not operate like New Jersey, Pennsylvania, or Michigan, where multiple separately licensed sportsbook brands compete directly for customers.
- Instead, the Delaware Lottery controls the internet gaming system and contracts for the platform that serves customers through the state's three racinos.
Why Delaware matters in U.S. betting history
Delaware's market is small, but its timeline is significant. Full-scale sports wagering launched June 5, 2018, only weeks after PASPA was overturned. The state later added mobile sports wagering on December 27, 2023, and in July 2026 expanded retail convenience again with self-service sports wagering kiosks at 89 lottery retailers plus the three casinos.
Delaware sports betting at a glance
- ✓Legal online and retail bettingMobile sports wagering, casino sportsbooks, and lottery retailer sports wagering are all legal.
- ✓21+ onlySports lottery, internet gaming, video lottery, and table gaming require age 21 or older.
- ✓Lottery-run structureThe Delaware Lottery administers sports wagering rather than using an open commercial-license model.
- ✓One mobile platformThe current internet gaming and online sports platform is powered by BetRivers technology.
- ✓Three racinosDelaware Park, Bally's Dover, and Harrington remain the core casino sportsbook properties.
- ✓State college restrictionsEvents involving a Delaware college or university are excluded from the statutory sports lottery definition.
BetRivers and Delaware's online sportsbook model
Delaware is not a market where you can open accounts at six or ten legal mobile sportsbooks and compare a long list of welcome offers.
- The Delaware Lottery's current internet gaming platform is powered by BetRivers, and the Lottery directs players to internet gaming through Delaware Park, Bally's Dover, and Harrington.
- For a bettor, that means the practical mobile experience is much closer to a single-platform market than to the multi-book competition available just across the border in Pennsylvania or New Jersey.
| Feature | Current setup | What it means for bettors |
|---|---|---|
| Platform | BetRivers-powered Delaware Lottery internet gaming | One core technology platform for statewide mobile sports wagering |
| Access points | Delaware Park, Bally's Dover, Harrington | Online gaming is tied to the state's three video lottery agents |
| Account age | 21+ | Age verification is required before wagering |
| Location | Must be physically in Delaware | Geolocation verifies location for mobile play |
| Markets | Pre-game, live, parlays, props, futures | Standard sportsbook menu despite the single-platform structure |
| Competition | No competing legal mobile sportsbook apps | Line shopping between multiple Delaware mobile books is not currently possible |
If you want a brand-level assessment, read our BetRivers sportsbook review. You can also compare how Delaware's structure differs from other markets in the America's Bookies state directory. House Bill 365 proposed a competitive mobile framework in 2024, but it ended the 152nd General Assembly without enactment, so Delaware remains a single-platform market.
Which sports can you bet on in Delaware?
Delaware's legal betting menu covers the major professional leagues and a broad range of international sports.
- The current Delaware Lottery house rules include football, basketball, baseball, hockey, soccer, golf, tennis, combat sports, motorsports, lacrosse, volleyball, and many additional categories.
- The absence of multiple online sportsbook brands does not mean the betting menu is unusually narrow; the main difference is that customers do not have multiple legal mobile prices to compare inside the state.
The most important Delaware-specific restriction is local-team wagering. Delaware law defines the sports lottery to exclude collegiate sporting events involving a Delaware college or university and amateur or professional sporting events involving a Delaware team.
- In practical terms, bettors should not assume a University of Delaware or Delaware State matchup will be offered simply because college sports betting is generally available.
- Check the current approved event list and house rules before trying to place a local-team wager.
Delaware college rule: the current statute excludes events involving Delaware colleges or universities. A 2024 proposal included a limited tournament exception, but that bill was not enacted, so it should not be treated as current law.
Bet types & live betting in Delaware
The legal mobile and retail menu includes the standard wager types most bettors expect: moneylines, point spreads, totals, parlays, teasers, futures, and a wide range of proposition markets where authorized.
- Live or in-play betting is also available on the internet platform, with prices changing as games unfold.
- If you are new to the terminology, start with our types of sports bets guide and odds and lines guide.
| Bet type | What you are betting on | Example | Useful guide |
|---|---|---|---|
| Moneyline | Which team or player wins outright | Team A -150 | Moneyline guide |
| Point spread | Margin of victory after applying a handicap | Favorite -3.5 | Odds & lines |
| Total | Combined score over or under a posted number | Over 47.5 | Bet types |
| Parlay | Multiple selections combined into one ticket | 3-leg parlay | Parlay guide |
| Live bet | Markets offered after the event begins | Next score or live spread | Live betting |
| Futures | Longer-term outcomes | Championship winner | Betting basics |
The single-platform structure changes one strategy in particular: line shopping. Inside Delaware, you cannot compare five regulated mobile sportsbooks for the same price. That makes it more important to evaluate whether the posted number is acceptable before betting rather than assuming another in-state app will offer a better line.
Retail sportsbooks and 2026 self-service kiosks
Delaware's original retail sports wagering network centered on three racinos: Delaware Park Casino, Bally's Dover, and Harrington Raceway & Casino.
- Those properties launched full-scale wagering on June 5, 2018 and remain central to the state's sports lottery system.
- The physical market expanded significantly in July 2026 when the Delaware Lottery announced self-service sports wagering kiosks at 89 Sports Lottery retailers plus the three casinos.
| Location type | Examples | 2026 access | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Casino sportsbook | Delaware Park Casino | Full-service sportsbook + kiosk | One of the state's three original full-scale locations |
| Casino sportsbook | Bally's Dover | Full-service sportsbook + kiosk | Dover-area retail access |
| Casino sportsbook | Harrington Raceway & Casino | Full-service sportsbook + kiosk | Central/southern Delaware retail access |
| Sports Lottery retailers | 89 locations statewide | Self-service kiosks launched 2026 | Scientific Games kiosks with odds/menu supplied by Caesars Sportsbook |
What's new in 2026?
- Self-service sports wagering kiosks are now available at 89 Sports Lottery retailers.
- The three casinos also received the new kiosks.
- Scientific Games provides the kiosk network.
- Caesars Sportsbook supplies the odds and expanded betting menu for the kiosk program.
- This is a retail enhancement and does not create a second statewide mobile sportsbook app.
Online casino in Delaware
Delaware's internet casino market predates modern sports betting.
- The state authorized online casino gaming through the Delaware Lottery and launched internet gaming in 2013, making Delaware one of the earliest regulated U.S. iGaming jurisdictions.
- The state later transitioned its internet gaming platform to Rush Street Interactive, and the current BetRivers-powered system offers online casino content alongside mobile sports wagering.
Delaware online casino at a glance
- Legal real-money online casino gaming has been available since 2013.
- The Delaware Lottery controls the internet gaming framework.
- The current platform is powered by BetRivers technology.
- Slots, table games, and live dealer products are available through the internet gaming system.
- Players must be 21+ and physically located in Delaware.
How Delaware compares to other states
Delaware is one of the clearest examples of how state market design affects the betting experience. In New Jersey, bettors can choose among many mobile sportsbooks.
- Pennsylvania supports a large operator field despite high taxes.
- Connecticut deliberately caps its online sports market at three platforms tied to tribal and lottery relationships.
- Delaware is more centralized still: the internet system is controlled by the Delaware Lottery and currently delivered through one BetRivers-powered platform.
| Market | Online sportsbook structure | Online casino | Local college/team rule |
|---|---|---|---|
| Delaware | Single BetRivers-powered Lottery platform | Yes | Delaware college/university and Delaware team events excluded |
| Connecticut | 3 tethered platforms | Yes | Individual games involving Connecticut colleges generally restricted |
| Pennsylvania | Multiple commercial apps | Yes | Broad college menu under PGCB rules |
| New Jersey | Multiple commercial apps | Yes | In-state college restrictions |
Delaware's smaller population and lottery-first structure explain why its handle is much lower than the largest neighboring markets. The trade-off is simplicity: there is one statewide mobile platform, a long-established retail lottery network, three racino sportsbooks, and one regulator overseeing the system. For a wider comparison, use the state-by-state betting directory.
How to sign up for online sports betting in Delaware
Six-step signup checklist
- 1Use the Delaware Lottery internet gaming routeStart from an approved Delaware casino/internet gaming entry point.
- 2Create your accountEnter accurate identity and contact information.
- 3Verify age and identityYou must be 21 or older.
- 4Enable geolocationYou must be physically located in Delaware when wagering.
- 5Fund the accountChoose an available approved banking method.
- 6Review the bet slipConfirm selection, odds, stake, and potential return before submitting.
Opening an account is completed online. Expect to provide your legal name, date of birth, address, email, phone number, and other identifying details needed for age and identity checks.
- Mobile sports wagering also relies on geolocation technology, so a Delaware address is not the same thing as being eligible to bet from anywhere.
- You must be physically inside Delaware when you place the wager.
Before your first deposit, read our bankroll management guide and betting slip guide. In a single-platform state, disciplined stake sizing matters more than promotional hopping because you do not have a large field of alternative legal apps to move between.
Important: confirm the current banking methods, withdrawal rules, bonus terms, and geolocation requirements inside the approved Delaware platform before depositing. Product details can change faster than state statutes.
Taxes on winnings and Delaware's revenue structure
Sports betting and casino winnings can create federal and Delaware tax obligations. Keep records of deposits, wagers, wins, losses, and tax forms, and consult a qualified tax professional for advice about your own return. A general state guide cannot determine how a specific gambling session should be reported.
On the operator side, Delaware is often summarized as having a 50% sports betting tax, but that shorthand misses an important structural point. Delaware does not use the same open-license commercial model found in most states.
- Under current Delaware law, sports lottery proceeds at the state's video lottery agents, after player winnings and vendor fees, return 50% of the resulting win to the State Lottery Fund, with separate purse allocations for the horse-racing industry.
- Mobile sports wagering operates through the Delaware Lottery's contracted internet gaming model rather than a separately licensed competitive sportsbook tax structure.
| Channel | Current structure | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Casino/retail sports lottery | 50% state share of net sports lottery proceeds at video lottery agents, after player winnings and vendor fees | Very high state participation compared with commercial-license models |
| Retailer sports lottery network | State Lottery Fund model with agent/vendor compensation and purse allocations | Retail sports wagering is integrated into the Lottery network |
| Mobile sports wagering | Delaware Lottery contracted internet gaming platform | Not an open market with separate private sportsbook tax licenses |
| Proposed HB 365 model | Would have created an 18% competitive internet sports rate | Proposal did not become law and should not be described as current tax policy |
Responsible gambling resources
The Delaware Lottery provides a self-exclusion program that applies across licensed video lottery agents and their internet gaming websites, including the Lottery's iGaming and sports mobile app. Self-exclusion is a formal tool, not simply a preference setting, and the Lottery provides enrollment information for people who want to block their own access to regulated gaming.
Betting should be entertainment, not a plan for dependable income. If gambling is causing stress, financial problems, secrecy, or conflict, stop and use the support resources available through the Delaware Council on Gambling Problems, the Delaware Lottery, or our responsible gambling guide.
FAQ
When did sports betting become legal in Delaware?
Delaware launched full-scale single-game retail sports betting on June 5, 2018, becoming the first state outside Nevada to do so after PASPA fell. Mobile sports wagering launched through the Delaware Lottery's new internet gaming platform on December 27, 2023.
How many legal online sportsbooks are in Delaware?
Delaware currently has one statewide online sports wagering platform powered by BetRivers technology under the Delaware Lottery's internet gaming contract. The three racinos provide entry points into that state-controlled system rather than operating separate competing sportsbook apps.
Can I bet on University of Delaware or Delaware State games?
No. Delaware's statutory definition of the sports lottery excludes collegiate sporting events involving a Delaware college or university. It also excludes amateur or professional sporting events involving a Delaware team.
Does Delaware have legal online casinos?
Yes. Delaware launched regulated internet casino gaming in 2013. The current Delaware Lottery internet gaming system is powered by BetRivers technology and offers online casino games alongside mobile sports betting.
Is Delaware's sports betting tax really 50%?
The cleanest description is that Delaware law directs 50% of net sports lottery proceeds at video lottery agents, after player winnings and vendor fees, to the State Lottery Fund, with separate purse allocations. Delaware's lottery-run mobile model does not map neatly onto the single commercial operator tax percentages used in most states.
What is the minimum age to bet on sports in Delaware?
21. Delaware law sets 21 as the minimum age for sports lottery, video lottery, table games, and internet gaming.
Official sources and fact-checking
Delaware's operator structure, launch dates, current house rules, retail kiosk expansion, age requirement, and revenue rules were checked against current Delaware Lottery and Delaware Code materials.
- Delaware Lottery timeline - sports and mobile launch dates
- Delaware Lottery - current BetRivers-powered internet gaming platform
- Delaware Lottery - current full-scale sports wagering house rules
- Delaware Lottery - July 2026 self-service sports wagering kiosk rollout
- Delaware Code Title 29, Chapter 48 - sports lottery definition, age, and revenue provisions
- HB 365 history - proposed competitive mobile model that did not become law
Last fact-checked: September 14, 2026.