Find out if Delaware online horse betting is legal, what you can do in the First State, and where wagering on horses is allowed, from your phone to the grandstand at Delaware Park.
In this article 11 sections
- Delaware horse betting offers
- Delaware horse betting: the basics
- Is online horse betting legal in Delaware?
- Horse betting sites in Delaware
- Horse racing tracks in Delaware
- Local and major horse betting events in Delaware
- Best horse betting apps in Delaware
- How Delaware horse racing betting works
- Tax when betting on horse racing in Delaware
- Responsible horse betting in Delaware
- Delaware horse racing betting in 2027
Delaware horse betting offers
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Online horse betting in Delaware is legal through licensed racebooks, and you can also visit racetracks in this state. Not only can you bet the horses online, but the First State has three racecourses where on-track pari-mutuel betting is allowed, one thoroughbred track and two harness ovals, each attached to a casino.
Delaware horse betting: the basics
| Detail | Delaware |
|---|---|
| Online horse betting (ADW) | Yes |
| Live tracks | Delaware Park (thoroughbred), Bally’s Dover and Harrington Raceway (harness) |
| Racing regulators | Delaware Thoroughbred Racing Commission; Delaware Harness Racing Commission |
| Top race | Delaware Handicap (Grade 3) |
| 2026 Delaware Park meet | 75 days, May 13 to October 17 |
| Sports betting | Yes, separate product through the Delaware Lottery |
Is online horse betting legal in Delaware?
Yes. Delaware residents and visitors can bet races online through advance-deposit wagering (ADW) platforms, which pool your bets into the same pari-mutuel pools as the track windows. Racing itself is overseen by the Delaware Thoroughbred Racing Commission and the Delaware Harness Racing Commission, both under the Delaware Department of Agriculture.
Horse racing betting is a different product from Delaware’s sports lottery. Sports wagering runs through BetRivers and the Lottery; racing bets run through ADWs, the tracks and their simulcast rooms.
Horse betting sites in Delaware
AmWager, DRF Bets, NYRA Bets, TVG and TwinSpires all operate here, so you can bet Delaware Park and every major North American card online.
AmWager
AmWager is a pari-mutuel ADW with a clean app, full-card wagering and simulcast coverage of US and international tracks. It accepts Delaware customers, and its house rule is 21+.
Read our AmWager review Visit AmWager →
Other racebooks Delaware bettors use
- TVG, FanDuel’s racing app, with its own TV channel and replays. See our TVG review.
- TwinSpires, run by Churchill Downs Inc., the official wagering partner of the Kentucky Derby. See our TwinSpires review.
- NYRA Bets, from the New York Racing Association, strongest on Saratoga, Belmont and Aqueduct. See our NYRA Bets review.
- DRF Bets, from Daily Racing Form, with handicapping data built in. See our DRF Bets review.
Welcome offers at these racebooks change often and vary by state; check each operator’s terms before you sign up.
Horse racing tracks in Delaware
There are three tracks where you can do horse betting in Delaware today:
- Delaware Park, near Wilmington: the state’s thoroughbred track, with dirt and turf racing through the summer and fall.
- Dover Downs, at Bally’s Dover Casino Resort in Dover: harness racing on a half-mile oval next to Dover Motor Speedway.
- Harrington Raceway, at the Delaware State Fairgrounds: harness racing plus a simulcast and sportsbook area.
Delaware Park’s 2026 meet, approved by the Delaware Thoroughbred Racing Commission, ran 75 days from Wednesday, May 13 to Saturday, October 17, with racing on Wednesday, Thursday and Saturday in May and June, Thursday through Sunday in July, and Thursday through Saturday in August.
Local and major horse betting events in Delaware
The Delaware Handicap is the big race for horse betting in Delaware. Now a Grade 3 over nine furlongs for fillies and mares, it was run on Saturday, September 26, 2026 for a $500,000 purse, rising to $600,000 if a recent Grade 1 winner started.
The newer Delaware Derby, first run in 2025, had its second running on June 13, 2026 for $300,000, on the same card as the Grade 3 Delaware Oaks. The Grade 3 Robert G. Dick Memorial is another fixture of the meet.
Beyond the home tracks, Delaware bettors use ADWs for the Triple Crown races, Saratoga in August and the Breeders’ Cup in the fall.
Best horse betting apps in Delaware
AmWager, DRF Bets, NYRA Bets, TVG and TwinSpires all have mobile apps for legal Delaware online horse betting. The things to compare are the tracks covered, live video and replays, the rebate or rewards program, and how quickly withdrawals land.
Common racebook offers in Delaware
These kinds of offers are typically available for wagering on the horses in Delaware:
- Welcome deals like deposit matches
- Bet-back offers that refund a losing first wager as wagering credit
- Loyalty and rebate programs for regular bettors
Terms vary: check rollover, eligible tracks and expiry before you opt in.
How Delaware horse racing betting works
Most racebooks use the same bet menu as the windows at Delaware Park:
- Win, place and show: back a horse to finish first, top two or top three.
- Exacta and trifecta: pick the first two or three finishers in order.
- Superfecta: first four in order, usually from a 10-cent base.
- Daily double and Pick 3 to Pick 6: pick the winners of consecutive races.
Because ADW bets go into the host track’s pools, the payout on a winning ticket is the same whether you bet on your phone in Newark or at the track in Stanton.
Tax when betting on horse racing in Delaware
You must pay federal income tax on gambling winnings from online horse betting in Delaware, and winnings also count toward Delaware personal income tax. Large pari-mutuel payouts (generally $600 or more at odds of 300-to-1 or longer) can trigger a Form W-2G. From the 2026 tax year, federal law caps deductible gambling losses at 90% of losses, up to your winnings.
Responsible horse betting in Delaware
Set a deposit limit before the first race and stick to it. Every licensed ADW offers deposit limits, time-outs and self-exclusion. If betting stops being fun, the Delaware Council on Gambling Problems runs a free, confidential 24/7 helpline at 1-888-850-8888. 1-800-GAMBLER and GambleAware.org are also available.
Delaware horse racing betting in 2027
Delaware Park’s 2027 dates
The Thoroughbred Racing Commission approves the meet each year; the 2026 meet ran 75 days. Watch for the 2027 calendar announcement ahead of the spring opening.
Delaware Derby’s growth
The Derby is only in its second year. Its purse and any graded status will show whether it becomes a regular stop for three-year-olds after the Triple Crown.
Sports lottery competition
HB 365, which would have added more sportsbooks and earmarked 1.5% for horse racing, stalled in 2024. Racing interests are a key voice whenever that debate returns.
What is the best horse racing betting site in Delaware?
It depends what you bet. AmWager, which is our partner, pairs a long list of US and overseas tracks with live video and an easy bet slip. TwinSpires, owned by Churchill Downs, has deep handicapping content, TVG and FanDuel Racing add television and streaming coverage, NYRA Bets is the home of Saratoga, Belmont and Aqueduct wagering and DRF Bets builds Daily Racing Form past performances into the bet slip. Plenty of Delaware horseplayers hold two accounts and pick whichever has the better rebate or video for a given race.
Can you bet on horses online in Delaware?
Yes, through licensed ADW racebooks such as AmWager, TVG, TwinSpires, NYRA Bets and DRF Bets.
Is sports betting legal in Delaware too?
Yes. Delaware’s sports lottery has one online sportsbook, BetRivers, plus retail counters at the three casinos. It is a separate product from horse racing.
Why does Delaware allow horse betting?
Delaware has a long racing tradition, and its three racetracks, Delaware Park, Dover Downs and Harrington, are licensed for pari-mutuel wagering. Casino revenue at those tracks helps fund racing purses.
When is the Delaware Handicap?
It was run on September 26 in 2026. It is a Grade 3 race over nine furlongs for fillies and mares at Delaware Park.
Do I have to pay tax on horse betting winnings in Delaware?
Yes. Winnings are taxable federally and count toward Delaware personal income tax.