Sports Betting in Delaware

Amelia Walker By Amelia Walker Senior Content Writer at Betting.us Updated: December 14, 2023
Amelia Walker Amelia Walker Senior Content Writer at Betting.us

Amelia Walker, a J.D. holder and senior content writer at Betting.us, is a legal expert in responsible gambling. Initially skeptical, she now has over six years in professional gambling. She’s studied gambling law and currently educates gamblers on our site in legal and safe play.

Welcome to the world of legal sports betting. We are very excited because for the first time since the 1970s, the ban over sports gambling has been lifted by the Supreme Court on 14th May 2018. After rigorous research we have created this article where you will find all the information you need regarding gambling and sportsbooks in Delaware.

Check All Online Sportsbooks in Delaware

Full List and Map of Sports Betting Locations in Delaware

If you are asking yourself where to bet on sports in Delaware to meet your gambling needs, you can check out the map to find all legal sportsbook locations and filter them depending on what you are looking for.

The Best Delaware Sportsbook

Name Type Website Full Address Review

Betting Locations by Type

There are different types of locations available in Delaware for sports betting. There are three legal sportsbook locations in Delaware that offer a variety of betting experiences. The first location is Delaware Park Casino, which offers not only a complete casino establishment with sports betting options and other types of gambling, but also has its own horse raceway with the possibility of horse betting. The second location is Harrington Raceway & Casino, which also offers a casino and its own racetrack for horse betting like Delaware Park. The third and final legal sportsbook location is Dover Downs Hotel & Casino, which offers not only sports betting and casino gambling, but also a complete resort with leisure services.

Casino Resorts

Dover Downs is not only the largest sportsbook in the state of Delaware, but also a full resort. It offers nine restaurants and 5 lounges as well as relaxation and sports facilities. It boasts an indoor and outdoor pool area as well as a relaxing heated pool and hot tub facilities. It has a dedicated fitness center and a wide variety of Spa procedures and services. The Dover International Speedway is within a short walk away from the resort as well as a Gold course within two miles.

Casino Resorts Number of Rooms Free Parking Resort Amenities Review link
500+ Hotel Rooms Free Parking Spots Spa , Fitness Facilities Read Review

Racetracks

There are three official locations with their own racetracks, where you can bet on horse racing. One of the locations is Delaware Park Casino, offering daily live races with thoroughbred horses. At this time, it does not offer off-track betting as well as not accepting online or telephone bets as per federal law. The second location is Harington Raceway & Casino, which sports one of the oldest racetracks in the states, being active since 1946, as well as being one of the top tracks in the country, being able to distribute roughly $135,000 in purses nightly. The third is Dover Downs Raceway, where live harness races are hosted yearly as well as regular stakes races.

Racetracks Types of Racing Review link
Thoroughbred , Standardbred
Read Review
Harness , Standardbred
Read Review
Harness , Standardbred
Read Review

Off-Track Betting

Off-track betting is possible in all three official racetrack locations, which we mentioned above. You will need to be on the grounds of the establishment and visit a betting kiosk in order place your wager. Please bear in mind that the three locations will not accept online or telephone bets as per federal law.

Cruise Ships and Riverboats

There are no cruise ships or riverboats in Delaware that are offering sports betting. Good thing it is already legal in the state.

List of Legal Offline Sportsbooks in Delaware

Have you ever wondered where to bet on sports in Delaware? Look no further, because I have made a full list of all the Sportsbooks in the state, where you can partake in legal sports betting activities.

Dover
Dover Downs 1131 North DuPont Highway, Dover, DE 19901, USA
Harrington
Harrington Raceway & Casino 18500 S. DuPont Highway, Harrington, DE 19952, USA
Wilmington
Delaware Park Racetrack & Slots 777 Delaware Park Blvd.
Delaware Park 777 Delaware Park Blvd., Wilmington, DE 19804, USA

Delaware Sports Gambling - All Leagues and Bet Types

Let us talk about all of the leagues and types of Delaware sports gambling. There is a wide range of sports and bet types that you can choose from in Delaware and it could sometimes be confusing. In order to avoid this, in the table below you can find all the information you will need regarding what sports you can bet on and the different types of wagers available to you.

Where Can I Check the Current Betting Odds and Lines?

The only way to be informed about lines and odds is by visiting the sports betting establishment and ask about them there. By Federal Law, no one is allowed to give out betting odds and lines via phone or internet. The information shown in the official sportsbooks get their information for their terminals as well as the risk calculation and management from the Scientific Games. If you would like to get more information on horse racing and entries, you can check out Delaware State Horseracing Entries & Results.

Legal Sports Betting in Delaware

As we mentioned earlier, if you are asking yourself “Is sports betting legal in Delaware?“, the answer is yes, but there might be some restrictions that you should know about. All details to legal sports betting in Delaware can be found below.

Is Sports Betting legal in Delaware?
Yes
Yes. Since 14th May 2018.
Legal age for sports betting?
21+
You have to be 21 years old
Can you bet online in Delaware?
No
No, it’s not yet permitted
Is fantasy sports betting allowed?
Yes
Yes, it is allowed, but you need to be at least 18 years old and not be friends/family with the people organizing the event
Is off-track betting allowed?
Yes
Yes, it is. Both online and fantasy wagering is available.
Are there any restrictions?
question
Mobile and online betting are not legal yet.
Who regulates DE sports betting?
question
All gambling and sports betting activities are overseen by the State Lottery

History of Sports Betting in Delaware

Gambling in general in the state of Delaware can be dated back to its colonial days and see it flourish during the Great Depression. Here are some of the more memorable historical events and bills.

Year Title Description
1937 Horse Racing - First Steps The Delaware racing commission was created in 1933 and just 4 years later, in 1937, Delaware Park opens its doors for horse racing.
1969 Racing Expanded After 32 years, Dover Downs opens doors for auto and horse racing.
1992 Sports Betting Criminalized Up to that moment, sports betting was not regulated, but in 1992 the Supreme Court of the USA accepted the Bradley Act or PASPA law. It outlawed all sports betting activities for all states except a few.
2009 Light in the Tunnel Delaware was one of the states that did not get the full force of the sports betting ban, as the state was allowed to hold sports lotteries. Later in 2009 the US Federal Court limits sports betting in Delaware to just NFL Parlays.
2018 Victory for Sports Bettors in Delaware In May 14th 2018 all sports betting had been made legal, with of course some restrictions, which were mentioned earlier.

How to Bet on Sports in Delaware

In case you are still wondering where you can go place your wagers and cash in your winning tickets, you can refer to our full list of betting retailers and sportsbook.

List of all betting locations

General Rules
  • Once both parties accept a wager, it will not be altered or voided prior to the start of the event or championship

  • Winning tickets are void after one year counting from the date of the last event on the wager

  • Winnings of over $10,000 may be delayed until the next regular banking day

  • Betting Limits:

    Minimum.: $0.01 Maximum.: Depends on the brand

Are Exchanges and Pari-Mutuel Betting Available in Delaware?

Pari-mutuel betting is available on all three horse racetracks in Delaware. This type of wager is different than your standard sports betting. The payoffs in horse racing are calculated, because the odds of each horse to win are based off of the proportion of total money wagered that is placed on that horse. The racetrack does not care who wins a given race and handles the money, while keeping a percentage or commission. The remaining money is then paid back to the players that hold the winning tickets.

Currently there are options for exchange wagering in Delaware.

Taxation of Winnings

If you hold a winning ticket – Congratulations! Now, you need to know if your winnings need to be taxed. The Delaware state follows the same federal gambling law as any other state that has legal gambling and mandatory taxes on player winnings.

Federal Law:
  • Winnings over $600 have to be reported

  • Sums over $5000 undergo federal taxation, where 24% is withheld

  • The winnings are also subject to local and state taxes after the federal tax has been subtracted

Additional State Rules:
  • Non-Residents need to fill out form 1040NR, they get taxed a flat rate of 30% and cannot deduct gambling losses

  • Local Tax 6.60% , Tax Burden 10.2%

We've covered all you need to know about US gambling taxation in a detailed section on our homepage.

About Delaware

Delaware, a small Mid-Atlantic U.S. state, sits on a peninsula marked by dune-backed beaches bordering the Atlantic Ocean, Delaware River and Delaware Bay.

Capital Dover
Largest City Wilmington
Population 961,939
Area 1,982 sq mi
Time zone Eastern: UTC -5/-4
State Nickname(s) The First State; The Small Wonder; Blue Hen State; The Diamond State
Motto Liberty and Independence
About Delaware
Professional and College Teams in Delaware
Teams Sport League
Delaware Blue Coats Basketball NBA G
Delaware Destroyers Basketball EBA
Delaware Black Foxes Rugby USARL
Diamond State Roller Girls Roller Derby WFTDA
Wilmington Blue Rocks Baseball Carolina

Helping Hand for Players in Delaware

We would like to talk about the darker side of gambling and its effects. Gambling addiction could be a real problem when it gets out of hand. We want to take the time and ask you if you have acquaintances, friends or family that are struggling with gambling addiction to show them the contacts we have shown below and hopefully get the help they need. You can find 24/7 help lines as well as lawyers that specialize in this field

Help for Problem Gambling in Delaware
Lawyers for Betting Cases

FAQ

What sports can't you bet on in Delaware?

You cannot bet on high-school teams and games.

Who is ineligible to place sports bets in Delaware?

Underage patrons and people that are affiliated with a team or league that is available for wagering.

What other options for gambling are available in Delaware?

Except for sports betting and racetrack wagers, you can participate in casino gambling.

Who can apply for a Delaware sports betting license?

Only state casinos and racetracks are allowed to have a license.

How much do sports betting operators have to pay in taxes?

They receive only 40% of the total revenue they have from their sportsbook.

How much revenue does Delaware sports betting generate?

The total revenue from sports betting in Delaware since June 2018 is just over $9.3 million, divided accordingly – 10% goes to Horse Racing facilities, 40% to the Casinos and 50% to the State after the initial 12.5% cut is taken for the Scientific Games.