Gambling Laws In Delaware
There are a number of federal laws which impact gambling across the United States such as the Federal Wire Act and the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act (PASPA) which make the business of facilitating bets for profit explicitly illegal. These laws were put in place to bring an end to organized crime and hamper corruption and racketeering while leaving a recreational or casual bettor largely alone.
There is nothing written in these laws which prevents the average citizen form the simple act of placing a bet. While these laws are all-encompassing across the nation, there is much room left over for each state to formulate its own policies in regards to gambling and Delaware is one such state that has done so. This page exists for all those in the First State who wish to safely and legally gamble within their own borders, to inform themselves of their local legislation on what they may and may not do.
Gambling is prohibited under Delaware's state constitution unless it is explicitly authorized. The act is defined as "Recording or registering bets or wagers, or directly or indirectly betting or wagering, money or anything of value." and although there is no clear penalty for simple gambling, the state does offer details on what will become of someone who advances or promotes the business of gambling outside of state licensed means. Advancing gambling in the second degree is a class A misdemeanor in the state of Delaware and will mean up to a year in jail and a fine up to $2300 for those who are found guilty of such an act. Just as the case with federal laws, engaging in the business of gambling is an unwise idea which will be enforced whereas social gambling in private has no clear monitoring.
We can assume from the laws of Delaware that all gambling outside of licensed facilities are forbidden and would constitute an unspecified misdemeanor if prosecuted. This could mean jail time up to 30 days and/or a fine up to $575. This includes social gambling yet it is not directly stated. There appears to be little to no investigation or enforcement into people's private habits behind closed doors among friends and family and although unlawful, a home poker game is unlikely to garner the attention of local authorities. We recommend to anyone looking to wager among friends to be sure to make sure it is not for profit and that it is entirely private. Other than that, one had better stick to the state's legal venues for gambling.
The state of Delaware may frown upon gambling in general but the few state sanctioned means available to the public remain popular with residents and lawmakers alike. Horse and harness racing is allowed under state law in a pari-mutuel format as well as off-track betting on out of state races. Gambling in bowling alleys, craps games and elections wagering is specifically called out as being banned in the state. The few venues in Delaware do however offer every major form of gambling which is a rarity when compared to other states, especially when considering limited forms of sports betting.
Land-Based Gambling In Delaware
The state of Delaware plays hosts to 4 licensed gambling facilities which include everything from classic casino table games to slots, live poker, limited sports betting, and to pari-mutuel horse racing. Without a doubt, the most popular destination in the First State is the Delaware Park Casino. Open 24 hours a day and 7 days a week, this casino is a full Las Vegas styled casino which offers every wagering opportunity that a bettor may desire located in Wilmington. There are over 2500 slot machines as well as table games such as blackjack and roulette, multiple poker tables with sit'n'play or tournament options and live horse racing in a pari-mutuel environment. There is also Dover Downs and the Harrington Raceway & Casino, both located in Kent, offering similar yet not as expansive services. There is also a dedicated poker room which concentrates specifically on different variations of the game and nothing else with the Delaware Poker Room in New Castle. There are currently no Native American tribal casinos located within the state.
Online Gambling In Delaware
Delaware has the distinction to being one of only a few states which has licensed online gambling within its borders. The three land-based betting options, Delaware Park Casino, Dover Downs and the Harrington Raceway & Casino all have their own sites for online gambling which is legal for only residents of Delaware or visitors within its borders to use. While the games are yet to have been advanced as of yet, the state hopes to expand upon them to offer forms of sports betting and online poker rooms. In the mean-time, locals in the First State will have to visit sites which are based outside of both state and federal jurisdictions. Delaware residents are legally able to place a bet online so long as it is with a legal venue. If not with one of the 3 state licensed facilities, then it must be located off of U.S. soil.
There are a vast number of online gambling sites which have been in business for decades meeting this criteria and American users have been safely taking advantage of them for quite a long time. These sites are not affiliated with the state of Delaware or the U.S. government in any way and answer to their own host nation's gambling and banking laws. Despite foreign locations such as Central America, these sites are even designed to be used and utilized by those of us here in the states, Delaware included.
Popular Gambling Options In Delaware:
Online Sportsbooks - Online Casinos - Online Poker
There is one particular online gambling site which remains atop the totem pole for those living in the state of Delaware, an online gambling site that remains true to its name, BetOnline. Operating out of Panama since the internet became popular, this site boasts a huge member base (primarily American) that have been collecting winnings and enjoying their services since before federal laws prevented sites from being based on our own soil.
This online gambling site has everything from classic casino games, to online poker rooms to even intricate sports betting options. BetOnline's online sportsbook has received great notoriety over the years offering the most favorable odds and lines in the industry on a wonderfully streamlined and to the point web page. This legal Delaware gambling site also adds the allure to all those in Delaware with a cheaper cost of wagering than any other on the internet. The different bonus program offered by BetOnline provide users with the ability to risk less and win more, a factor which played a key role in our decision to go with BetOnline as our #1 choice.
| Best Overall Betting Sites | Sports? | Casino? | Poker? | Horses? | Visit |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BetOnline | YES! | YES! | YES! | YES! | Play Now! |
| SportsBetting | YES! | YES! | YES! | YES! | Play Now! |
The legal gambling age for the state lottery and pari-mutuel betting is 18 years of age or older in Delaware but those wishing to bet at a land-based casino must be 21 years of age or older. For all those wishing to bet online with one of our recommended gambling sites for Delaware residents will be able to do so if they are 18 years of age or older.
Best For All Gaming Types
