As of January 3, 2024, you can legally bet on sports online in Delaware through BetRivers (app and website).
BetRivers is currently the only option for bettors looking to gamble online in DE after the Delaware Lottery selected Rush Street Interactive—the owners of BetRivers—as the sole gaming provider for The First State.
You can also place bets in-person at one of the three sportsbooks—Delaware Park, Bally’s at Dover Casino, and Harrington Raceway & Casino—or parlays at various stores and bars throughout the state. You may also be able to place bets with offshore sportsbooks, but the legality and safety of these can is questionable.
We will keep this page updated with any news and developments that come out about online sports betting in Delaware.
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More About BetRivers Delaware
BetRivers is one of the most popular sportsbooks in the U.S. after industry giants like FanDuel and DraftKings.
While BetRivers doesn’t feature the sleek designs and all the features of those sportsbooks, it’s still a highly functional sportsbook that provides everything you need to easily place your bets online.
You can check out our BetRivers Sportsbook Review on Odds Assist (our other website) but here are some of the key features to know about:
- Very competitive odds. BetRivers offers some of the best odds among all U.S. sportsbooks. You can regularly find better prices than what many other books offer.
- Offers all major leagues & bet types. Whether you want to bet on a primetime NFL game or a more obscure sport like handball, BetRivers has you covered. They also offer all standard bet types and others like same game parlays and live bets.
- Decent sign-up bonus. As of this writing, new BetRivers DE players can receive a Second Chance Bet Up to $100. This means that if your first bet after signing up loses, you receive a bonus bet of equal value up to the limit.
- Many odds boosts & promotions for existing customers. The promotions don’t end after you use the welcome offer at BetRivers DE. You can also take advantage of odds boosts, insurance on bets, and other things that can help you win more or get bonus bets.
Will Other Online Sportsbooks Come to Delaware?
In 2023, the Delaware Lottery had a task force—comprised of Representative Franklin Cooke, Rep. Michael Smith, Rep. Timothy Dukes, and Rep. William Bush—work on determining whether gambling expansion in Delaware made sense.
One of the task force’s findings was that “Delaware needs to have multiple online sports lottery operators (skins).”
Like other states with legal sports betting, the task force recommended allowing each casino to partner with multiple online sports betting providers, bringing more competition to the state which should, in turn, help consumers.
It’s unclear when more operators would be allowed in the state, especially since the Delaware Lottery signed a 5-year agreement with Rush Street Interactive (BetRivers).
If we hear any news on more sportsbooks potentially coming to the state, we’ll be sure to update this guide so you always stay in the loop.
How You Can Bet on Popular Sportsbooks Apps That Aren't Available in DE
If you live close to the Pennsylvania, Maryland, or New Jersey borders, you are allowed to place bets on apps like DraftKings and FanDuel as long as you are physically located in those states.
If you wanted to, you could open an account with one of these sites, deposit money, and drive into the state to place your bets. You can typically withdraw your money from Delaware if you win.
Is Using an Offshore Sportsbook a Good Idea in DE?
It’s not clear whether using offshore sportsbooks—often ran out of countries like Panama and Antigua—is legal. There are both federal and state laws that make it hard to understand whether depositing money, placing bets, and withdrawing money from these sites is legal.
That being said, there are very few reports online of U.S. residents getting in trouble for using one. It seems that the government is more interested in going after the offshore sportsbooks themselves rather than those using them.
You should know, however, that you have little protections when using an offshore sportsbook. If the site disappears while you have money in your account, you would have a hard time getting it back since you couldn’t take any legal action.
If you do decide to use an offshore book, be sure to do research to find one with a good reputation and understand what risks you may be taking.