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Delaware
Gambling Laws 2026

Sports Betting: LegalCommercial casinosOnline Gambling Legal

Sports Betting

Legal

Casino Gambling

Commercial casinos

Online Casino / iGaming

Legal

State Lottery

Yes

Horse Racing / Racetracks

Legal

Delaware was the first state to offer legal single-game sports betting after the Supreme Court struck down PASPA in May 2018. The state moved within days of the ruling, launching at its three casinos before the end of June 2018. That speed reflected an advantage Delaware had built deliberately: it had passed sports lottery legislation in 2009 and operated parlay betting for NFL games under a PASPA exception for years. When the federal ban fell, Delaware was ready.

The state operates three commercial casinos, all racinos: Dover Downs, Delaware Park, and Harrington Raceway and Casino. These are state-run through the Delaware Lottery rather than privately owned in the traditional sense. Online casino gambling is also legal, having launched in 2013, making Delaware one of the earliest regulated online gambling markets in the country. The lottery offers a range of draw games and scratch tickets.

For residents, Delaware is a permissive gambling state given its small size. You are never far from a casino. Mobile sports betting is available through the casinos' apps. Online casino games are legal for in-state players. The market is smaller and less competitive than New Jersey's, which is just across the bridge for most Delaware residents, but the legal framework is solid and the options are real.

First state to offer legal single-game sports betting (2018). Online casino gambling legal.

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People Also Ask

What are the gambling laws in Delaware?

Delaware sports betting is legal, and one online sportsbook is available in the state. BetRivers is the sole sports betting app in Delaware after launching on Jan. 3, 2024. There are also three brick-and-mortar sportsbooks in the state, each offering an online casino powered by BetRivers.

Can I gamble in Delaware at 18?

Underage Gambling Delaware State Law prohibits any person under 21 years of age to play or place wagers at or collect winnings from any slot machine.

What two states banned gambling?

The only U.S. states that do not have casinos are Hawaii, Utah, Georgia, and South Carolina. As domestic dependent nations, American Indian tribes have used legal protection to open casinos, which has been a contentious political issue in California and other states.

Does Delaware have a no-touch law?

Drivers are not allowed to talk without using a hands-free device, read, write or send text messages, email or use the Internet while operating a motor vehicle. Drivers caught using a hand-held device will be fined $100 for their first offense. Subsequent offenses will be no less than $200 and no more than $300.

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Sources: American Gaming Association 2024, Legal Sports Report, NCSL. Gambling laws change frequently — verify current status before wagering.

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