Delaware is one of the few states to offer legal online casino gambling. It is called “The First State” because it was the first to ratify the constitution, but it is also the first to legalize online gambling.
Delaware’s three casinos, Dover Downs, Delaware Park, and Harrington Raceway, each has an online casino.
All three casinos have a great selection of online slots games, table games, and poker. Soon you’ll be able to participate in World Series of Poker tournaments with players in Nevada, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania.
Find out everything about casino gambling in Delaware in our guide below.
Online Casinos in Delaware
Delaware has 3 choice online casinos offering premium playing experiences whenever you’re in the state.
Delaware’s is called “The First State” because it was the first to ratify the constitution, but it is also the first to legalize online gambling. Delaware’s three casinos, Dover Downs, Delaware Park, and Harrington Raceway, each has an online casino.
All three casinos have a great selection of online slots games, table games, and poker. Soon you’ll be able to participate in World Series of Poker tournaments with players in Nevada, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania.
Like the land-based casinos, online casinos are state-regulated. As you’ll see below, you can expect more transparency regarding payouts and odd in online casinos than what you’ve probably experienced in a physical casino.
Playing with Delaware casinos couldn’t be simpler.
Why Play in an Online Casino in Delaware?
While the game selection in Delaware’s online casinos is not very diverse compared to what you’ll find in New Jersey and Pennsylvania, Delaware’s three online casinos have what most people want to play: a good selection of slots, blackjack, roulette, and poker.
If you frequent land-based casinos, you know how difficult it can be to know what you’re getting yourself into. Payouts at a blackjack table can vary, the payout percentage on a slots machine is impossible to know, and it can be hard to get a seat at a good poker table.
Are Online Casinos Legal in Delaware?
Online casino gambling in Delaware has been legal since 2012, making it one of the first wave of states to make gambling with casinos online legal.
The Delaware State Lottery Office oversees online casinos throughout the state. Delaware decided to legalize to stop players crossing the border into New Jersey to get their gambling fix.
Take note, when you look at some online casinos in Delaware, you may see that they have different licenses from Malta, Gibraltar, and the UK. These licenses are perfectly valid for players in Delaware, so you don’t have to worry about creating an account with them.
Rules on Residents Playing Online
Online casinos within Delaware are only authorized to offer their services to residents of the state. In other words, you must have an address in Delaware to qualify.
However, even if you’re a resident of Delaware you must be within state lines when playing any type of casino game.
So if you’re a resident of Delaware and you’re visiting family in Florida, you’ll be locked out of the casino. Online casinos use geo-location technology to enforce this.
Furthermore, you can’t get around this requirement by simply downloading a VPN. Casino operators have ways of detecting VPN use. If they catch you, they could suspend your account, or even terminate it entirely.
Delaware residents should be aware of this when creating an account with a casino.
How to Find the Best Delaware Online Casinos
Choosing the right casino and understanding what Delaware casinos have to offer should be your first task. Finding the right casino for you in Delaware is tricky because there are a number of factors you have to take into account. The right casino will allow you to play easily without any problems, good bonuses, and an excellent gaming selection.
Bonuses and Promotions
Perhaps the most important aspect of any casino is the welcome package. Online casinos must compete to get players. Bonuses can be extremely lucrative, which is why professional gamblers regularly hunt down new casinos for their bonuses.
This is the main factor in differentiating between different casinos.
Not only do you need to check out the dollar value of each bonus, but you need to investigate the wagering requirements.
These can vary heavily, from 5x wagering requirements all the way up to 30x wagering requirements and beyond. If they’re too high, or you’re restricted in the games you can play to meet those requirements, the bonuses are essentially worthless.
Game Selection
There are three land-based casinos currently in Delaware. They each have an online casino attached. Alongside these three big players in the market, brands like 888 have moved in.
Each casino will have a different selection of games. You need to decide what you most like to play and whether that casino has the games you want. You don’t need to register for an account to figure out what games they have.
If you want to play games like online poker against other players, you need to make sure your casino of choice has a dedicated poker room attached.
Is the Casino Easy to Play With?
Answering this depends on a number of factors.
It’s technical because you want a casino that sees quick loading games with no delays in the action. It’s also practical in terms of whether you can withdraw money easily and how responsive their customer support departments are.
Thankfully, it’s easy to look up reviews of the various Delaware casinos.
Do Delaware Casinos Come with a Mobile App?
Mobile gaming has exploded in popularity. It’s difficult to find a major online casino brand in Delaware that doesn’t have mobile gaming in some form.
Playing via mobile enables you to play on the go and at your leisure. Unfortunately, the technology on mobile means that you’re not going to find the same selection of games as you would on a laptop.
This impacts casinos differently. Some casinos still have hundreds of games with a similar layout to the desktop casino, whereas others have poor apps with an extremely limited game selection.
The majority of Delaware online casinos will allow you to try out their app for free.
Can I Find Live Casino Games in Delaware Casinos?
There’s nothing illegal about live dealer games in Delaware. In fact, if you’re playing any form of live game against a person, you can legally play against international players and those who reside in the state of Nevada.
Live casino games are available, but they’re only available between certain hours. It should also be said most Delaware online casinos have yet to truly invest much into live casino games, due to lack of interest.
Remember, Delaware is one of the smallest states in the US, so casinos often see little point in running live dealer games to a small number of people.
Is it Possible to Play Online with Offshore Casinos in Delaware?
The current laws stipulating that online players must reside within the boundaries of Delaware only apply to online casino operators within the state.
The US’s gambling laws are designed to punish operators, not players. For that reason, residents of Delaware are able to create an account with an offshore casino and play without fear.
The only rule is the operator of the offshore casino must be independent.
When playing with an offshore casino, you should be aware that the laws may be different and players will have fewer legal protections.
Land-Based Casinos in Delaware
Delaware, although a small state, has been big on gambling for a long time. Although perhaps better known for their horseracing, Delaware’s three casinos are not to be overlooked. They were the first state to offer online casinos, which allows you to play online slots, casino games, and poker anywhere in the state.
Listed below are the three pari-mutuel casinos in Delaware. Click on a name to see a page of detailed information about that particular facility.
Types of Casinos in Delaware
Delaware casinos are located at three pari-mutuel facilities that all feature slot machines. Technically, the machines are video lottery terminals (VLT’s) because they are operated in conjunction with the Delaware Lottery. The VLT’s also play other games including video poker, video keno, and video blackjack.
You’re never far from a casino in Delaware (due in part to the small size of the state!), and you can always play legally online in the state. There are 3 casinos in Delaware, which also has a long history with horseracing:
- Delaware Park Racetrack & Slots
- Dover Downs Hotel & Casino
- Harrington Raceway & Casino
As of 2018, these three casinos also opened online casinos:
- Delaware Park’s Online Casino
- Dover Downs’ Online Casino
- Harrington’s Online Casino
Betting in Delaware’s online casinos must take place within Delaware’s state lines.
Rewards points can be earned and used at either the land-based or online casinos.
List Of Land-Based Casinos In Delaware
Delaware Park Racetrack & Slots
Live seasonal thoroughbred racing, sports betting, slots & more at this 24-hour entertainment venue.
- Address: 777 Delaware Park Blvd, Wilmington, DE 19804
- Phone: 302-994-2521
- Website: https://www.delawarepark.com/
Dover Downs Hotel and Casino
Dover Downs is a hotel, casino, and racetrack complex in Dover, Delaware. It has a .625-mile harness horse racing track, which is surrounded by Dover International Speedway, a 1-mile concrete track used for NASCAR motor racing events. The complex is owned and operated by Bally’s Corporation
- Address: 1131 N Dupont Hwy, Dover, DE 19901
- Phone: 302-674-4600
- Website: https://www.doverdowns.com/
Harrington Raceway & Casino
Table games, simulcast sports, slots & more in a 24-hour raceway spot with a buffet.
- Address: 18500 S Dupont Hwy, Harrington, DE 19952
- Phone: 302-398-4920
- Website: https://casino.harringtonraceway.com/
Delaware Land-Based Casinos Map
You can easily see all casino locations by using our Delaware casinos map. To zoom in, just click the + (plus) sign in the lower right corner of the map, or to zoom out, just click the – (minus) sign in the same area.
To move the map of casinos in Delaware, click and hold down either of your mouse buttons. Then use the hand icon to drag the map in whichever direction you desire.
Each of the red icons on the map is a casino location. Just click on any red icon to see the name of the casino at that location. If you want more information on that casino, simply click again on the casino’s name and it will direct you to another page with detailed information on that particular casino, including address, phone number, toll-free phone number, room rates, casino size, dining information, games offered, availability of discounts for seniors, any special features, and a direct link to that casino’s website.
History Of Gambling In Delaware
Gambling first began in Delaware back in the 1760s, when the first racetrack was built. It was not until the 1930’s that the Delaware Racing Commission was formed to see over the horse tracks.
This was the same year that betting at the tracks was legalized. In the years following, tracks began to obtain licenses for wagering, and venues began to open.
Bingo was legalized in the late 1950s, followed by the creation of the Delaware Gaming Control Board 30 years later.
Casino gambling and sportsbooks were not legal in Delaware until 2009. In 2012, DE became the first state in the US to legalize online gambling and by 2013, three online casinos were operating.
Delaware Gambling Laws and Regulatory Organizations
In January 2010 the state legislature approved the addition of table games for the casinos in Delaware. All Delaware casinos offer blackjack, roulette, craps, slots, and video poker.
Some casinos also offer mini-baccarat, poker, pai gow poker, Caribbean stud poker, let it ride, big 6, bingo, keno, three card poker, Mississippi stud, casino war, four card poker, and Spanish 21.
Dover Downs Casino is the largest of all the Delaware casinos. It has a harness racing track, plus part of the complex features Dover International Speedway, which is a concrete track used for NASCAR races.
All casinos in Delaware are open 24 hours. If you want to order a drink while playing, be aware that gaming regulations do not allow Delaware casinos to provide free alcoholic beverages. The minimum gambling age is 21 for slots and 18 for horse racing.
By law, all video lottery games must return between 87% and 95% of all wagers on an annual basis. Games can return above 95% but only with the Lottery Director’s approval.
The payback percentages on electronic gaming machines at all casinos in Delaware are released as a matter of public record. Just click here to see a list of slot machine payback statistics for all Delaware casinos.
In mid-2009 the state legalized sports betting for three Delaware casinos. You can bet on professional and college sporting events, but not on single games, only on multiple games as seen on parlay cards.
Gambling in Delaware Today
Delaware is one of the few states to offer casino and sports betting on and offline. Players also have the option to join an interstate poker pool with Nevada and New Jersey.
All three land-based casino venues offer an online platform for DE residents, including a sportsbook.
Useful Resources
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For more information on visiting casinos in Delaware or general tourism information, call the state’s tourism office at (800) 441-8846 or visit their web site at: www.visitdelaware.com