Delaware has some of the widest legal online gambling in the US: sports betting, online casino and online poker are all legal, alongside horse racing through licensed racebooks. The twist is that a single Lottery operator delivers most of it. This guide covers what is legal, who runs it, and where to get help.
Delaware was a sports betting pioneer. It offered NFL parlay cards before most states had even debated the issue, and it ran full retail sportsbooks from June 2018. Today online sports betting and online casino are both legal, but the state runs them through a single operator: BetRivers, powered by Rush Street Interactive on behalf of the Delaware Lottery.
In this article 17 sections
- Delaware gambling: facts and figures
- Is sports betting legal in Delaware?
- Online casinos in Delaware
- Online poker in Delaware
- Horse racing betting in Delaware
- One operator, full product
- Sweepstakes casinos, prediction markets and DFS
- Popular bets and teams
- Bet types and how to start
- Is it safe?
- Deposits, withdrawals and payouts
- Taxes on your winnings
- How to spot a legal app
- Betting as a visitor
- Delaware betting: a brief history
- Responsible gambling in Delaware
- Delaware gambling in 2027
Delaware gambling: facts and figures
| Detail | Status |
|---|---|
| Online sports betting | Yes, single operator (BetRivers) since December 2023 |
| Retail sportsbooks | Yes, since June 5, 2018, at three casinos |
| Online casino | Yes, legal since 2012, live since October 31, 2013 |
| Online poker | Yes, BetRivers Poker since June 2025 |
| Horse racing ADW | Yes |
| Minimum age | 21 (sports, casino) |
| Regulator | Delaware Lottery; Delaware Division of Gaming Enforcement |
| In-state college betting | Not allowed |
| Helpline | 1-888-850-8888 (Delaware Council on Gambling Problems) |
Is sports betting legal in Delaware?
Yes. Retail betting at Delaware’s three casinos dates to June 5, 2018, and statewide online sports betting launched with BetRivers as the exclusive operator, soft-launching on December 27, 2023 and going fully live on January 3, 2024. Before that, mobile bets only worked on casino property.
Through BetRivers you can bet the full slate of pro and college sports, with live betting, parlays and props. The exception is in-state college sports: games involving the University of Delaware Blue Hens and Delaware State University are off the board. Our Delaware sportsbooks guide covers the app, the retail counters and how the state’s revenue share works.
Online casinos in Delaware
Delaware was the first state to authorize a full range of online casino games. Gov. Jack Markell signed the Delaware Gaming Competitiveness Act in June 2012, and the sites went live on October 31, 2013, originally through the Lottery’s vendors Scientific Games and 888. Rush Street Interactive took over at the turn of 2024.
The BetRivers casino product offers slots, table games and live-dealer tables to players 21 and older within state lines, through three branded sites tied to Delaware Park, Harrington Raceway and Bally’s Dover. See our Delaware online casino guide for the full breakdown.
Online poker in Delaware
BetRivers Poker launched in Delaware on June 10, 2025, sharing player pools with Pennsylvania, Michigan and West Virginia. It replaced the 888-era poker room, which closed when that contract ended in December 2023.
Horse racing betting in Delaware
betting on horses in Delaware is available through ADW platforms and at the state’s three tracks. Delaware Park near Wilmington runs the thoroughbred meet (75 days in 2026, from May 13 to October 17), with the Grade 3 Delaware Handicap and the newer Delaware Derby as highlights. Dover Downs and Harrington Raceway race harness horses. ADW apps such as AmWager, TVG and TwinSpires take Delaware customers.
Visit AmWager → (21+)
One operator, full product
Delaware’s single-operator model means no line-shopping, but BetRivers brings a complete platform: a sportsbook, a full online casino, poker and the iRush Rewards loyalty program spanning them. For a small state, that is a surprisingly deep offering: sports, slots, tables and poker under one account.
The sportsbook is the newest piece. Because BetRivers is the sole operator, there is no FanDuel, DraftKings or Hard Rock option inside Delaware. A 2024 bill (HB 365) that would have let each casino add up to two sportsbooks stalled in committee.
Sweepstakes casinos, prediction markets and DFS
Sweepstakes casinos. Sites built on a virtual-currency model operate outside Delaware’s Lottery program, and the Division of Gaming Enforcement issued a cease-and-desist to sweepstakes operator VGW in 2023. The sweepstakes brands we review do not accept Delaware players. Our sweepstakes guide explains the model.
Prediction markets. Exchanges such as Kalshi are regulated by the CFTC and offer sports event contracts nationally. Several states, including Maryland and Massachusetts, are fighting them in court, and Delaware players should see them as a different, federally governed product. More in our prediction markets guide.
Daily fantasy sports. Daily fantasy contests operate in Delaware as a contest-based activity separate from sportsbook wagering.
Lottery. The Delaware Lottery runs draw games and scratch-offs, plus the sports lottery parlay cards sold at retailers.
Popular bets and teams
Delaware has no major pro franchise of its own, so loyalties split between Philadelphia (Eagles, Sixers, Phillies, Flyers), Baltimore (Ravens, Orioles) and Washington. College sports and NASCAR at Dover Motor Speedway round out the calendar, though Blue Hens and Delaware State games cannot be bet in-state.
Bet types and how to start
Most Delaware bettors get by with a few wager types. The moneyline backs a winner straight up, the Eagles to beat the Cowboys, for instance, and a point spread adds a margin to balance favorite and underdog. A totals bet shifts the focus to combined scoring, parlays reward players who tie several picks together on one slip (every leg must hit), same-game parlays do that within a single fixture, and futures plus live betting round out the menu as the odds move during play.
Getting started takes minutes: confirm you are 21+ and physically in Delaware, download BetRivers, and register with real details so identity checks clear. Deposit, set your limits before your first wager, and check any promotion’s terms before you opt in.
Is it safe?
Yes. BetRivers operates under Delaware Lottery oversight with identity and age verification, geolocation and segregated funds. The thing to avoid is the offshore sites that target small single-operator markets.
Deposits, withdrawals and payouts
Legal Delaware apps support the usual cashier menu: debit cards, online banking and ACH transfers, PayPal and other e-wallets, and cash at a casino cage. Most deposits are instant. Withdrawals back to PayPal or online banking are usually the fastest, once your identity is verified. Your first withdrawal usually triggers a one-time identity (KYC) check, so a clear photo of your ID avoids delays.
Taxes on your winnings
Delaware takes a share of operator proceeds through the Lottery rather than charging a conventional gaming tax; in July 2026, the state’s share of sports lottery proceeds was $759,704 on $19.1 million in wagers, per Delaware Lottery figures reported by RG.org. Separately, gambling winnings are taxable income at the federal level and count toward Delaware personal income tax. Operators issue a W-2G for larger wins; from 2026 the slot threshold is $2,000, and federal law caps deductible losses at 90%. Keep your own record of wins and losses, and treat a tax professional’s advice as the last word.
How to spot a legal app
A legal Delaware sportsbook or casino runs under the Delaware Lottery, uses geolocation to confirm you are physically in Delaware, enforces the 21+ age minimum, and verifies your identity at sign-up. If an app lets you register from anywhere with no ID check and no location lock, it is almost certainly an unlicensed offshore site. Names like Bovada, BetOnline and MyBookie are not regulated in Delaware or anywhere in the US; they carry no state consumer protections and can be slow or unwilling to pay.
Betting as a visitor
Yes. Residency is not required. You just need to be physically in Delaware and 21+ to bet with BetRivers. Geolocation enforces the state line.
Delaware betting: a brief history
Delaware was an early mover: it offered NFL parlay betting well before most states, legalized online casino and poker in 2012 and launched them in 2013, opened full retail sportsbooks in 2018, and added statewide online betting with BetRivers at the end of 2023.
Responsible gambling in Delaware
Keep betting in proportion: it is entertainment, and your stake should be money you can afford to lose. Use the limit, time-out and self-exclusion controls every licensed Delaware app provides, and set them up front rather than mid-streak.
Help is free and confidential 24/7 through the Delaware Council on Gambling Problems at 1-888-850-8888 (text 302-438-8888 on weekdays). 1-800-GAMBLER and GambleAware.org are also available.
Delaware gambling in 2027
Sportsbook competition
HB 365 would have opened Delaware to up to six sportsbooks through the three casinos. It stalled in 2024; watch whether a new version returns, since the Lottery and Rush Street opposed the earlier push.
Rush Street’s contract
The Lottery signed a five-year deal with Rush Street Interactive in 2023, extendable at its discretion, so the renewal decision moves closer through 2027.
Prediction market rulings
Courts are split on whether state gaming law covers sports event contracts. Massachusetts won an injunction against Kalshi in January 2026; decisions elsewhere will shape whether Delaware acts.
Is online gambling legal in Delaware?
Yes. Online sports betting, online casino and online poker are all legal through the Delaware Lottery’s operator, BetRivers, and horse racing is available through ADW racebooks. You must be 21 and physically in the state.
Can I use DraftKings or FanDuel in Delaware?
Not inside Delaware. BetRivers is the only legal online sportsbook. You can use other books in neighboring Pennsylvania, New Jersey or Maryland while physically there.
Are sweepstakes casinos legal in Delaware?
They sit outside the state’s licensing, and Delaware’s gaming enforcement agency sent a cease-and-desist to VGW in 2023. The sweepstakes brands we review do not accept Delaware players.
Are prediction markets like Kalshi available in Delaware?
They operate under federal CFTC oversight rather than Delaware’s Lottery. The legal fight over sports contracts is ongoing in other states, so treat them as a separate product with different protections.
Can I bet on Delaware college teams?
No. Games involving the University of Delaware and Delaware State University are excluded from Delaware sports wagering.
What's the legal gambling age in Delaware?
21 for sports betting and casino gaming, online and in person.