In Delaware, betting on sports is legal. According to the state’s legislation, anyone that’s above 21 can now legally place single-game wagers. Although there aren’t any legal sportsbooks available online, bets can be placed in-person at the state’s three racinos, which are essentially racetracks that also have casino gaming. Each of these physical sportsbooks has been licensed by the state to accept sports wagers.

It was the first state (outside of Nevada) to take a legal sports bet after the Supreme Court struck down PASPA, the federal ban on sports betting. Officials deemed they didn't need to take any further legislative action because the state already had an exemption.

Although Delaware was one of the few states which already had some form of legal sports betting when PASPA was implemented, the state never allowed people to actually wager on individual games. These limited sports parlay options were offered via betting terminals run by the state’s lottery.

In 2009, Delaware passed a law allowing the state’s lottery to offer a more in-depth version of its parlay games, but federal law remained in its way. All of that changed when the Supreme Court’s May 2018 decision lifted the US federal ban on sports betting.

As per the legislation, the only sports betting you can do is in-person. The launch of online betting sites will just have to wait until being approved by Delaware. Each of the sportsbooks available in Delaware is located at the state’s three racinos:

Is Sports Betting Legal in Delaware?

Yes, sports betting is legal in Delaware, but only at the above three racinos. At the moment, mobile sports betting is technically legal, but is not being offered by the state.

Delaware was one of the few states which already had some form of legal sports betting when Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act (PASPA) was implemented, but the state never allowed people to actually wager on individual games. Bettors had to make parlay bets using lottery terminals.

After the repeal of PASPA in 2018, Delaware already had the exemption because it had previously taken parlay bets. Sports betting in Delaware is regulated by the Delaware Lottery.

Latest Delaware Sports Betting Numbers

DELAWARE SPORTS BETTING, APRIL vs. MARCH

Note: There is no mobile sports betting in Delaware.

Updated May 9

Gambling in Delaware

📅 2018

The state passes legislation to approve single-game wagers and futures the month after the Supreme Court’s May decision that overruled the federal ban on sports betting.

📅 2012

Delaware approves online casino gaming as well as online poker. This venture becomes a success because of the state’s existing gaming framework, plus its multi-state player pools.

📅 2009

The state approves legislation that allowed sports betting via lottery-style parlay offerings.

📅 1995

The state’s first video lottery terminals begin operations at Dover Downs and Delaware Park.

📅 1994

Delaware passes the Horse Racing Preservation Act to help improve the revenues at of the state’s racetracks. This legislation allowed the installment of slot machines.

📅 1974

Delaware establishes the state’s lottery and releases lottery games over the coming years.

📅 1969

The state’s third racetrack, Dover Downs opens and begins taking bets on horse racing.

📅 1946

The state’s second racetrack, Harrington Raceway opens and begins taking bets on horses.

📅 1937

Delaware Park, the well-known racetrack officially becomes the state’s first operation to offer legal sports wagering.

📅 1935

Delaware begins granting licenses to businesses so they can provide parimutuel betting machines and wagering inside licensed horse races.

📅 1933

The state establishes regulatory authorities to clean up horse racing and replace business from black-market betting operations, forming the Delaware Thoroughbred Racing Commission and the Harness Racing Commission.

📅 1760

Horse betting is banned by Puritan colonists since the only sports that people bet on in Delaware during the time was horse racing.