Best Delaware Online Casinos

There are only six US states with legal online casinos and Delaware is one of them. Although online poker is also legal in Delaware, the state's entire gaming setup is pretty unique and unusual. This is mainly because the Delaware Lottery regulates and operates the state’s online casinos and all other DE gambling activities. There are only three casinos in Delaware and all are classified as racinos. The Delaware Lottery partners with 888 Holdings to operate its three allotted online casino sites, with each of the three partnered with a racino. 

However, this deal is set to expire, leaving the future of Delaware gambling in the air. Read our complete guide to learn more about playing with Delaware online casinos, including the available sites, the most recent laws, and an outlook on the market’s future.

Delaware welcomes gambling, allowing players to enjoy online casinos, online poker, online sports betting, and Daily Fantasy Sports (DFS). In addition, horse racing and lottery games are also available in person. 

However, the state is very strict in other ways. For example, there is a 62.5% tax rate on the revenue of gambling operators. In addition, the First State signed a deal with 888 Holdings to make it the exclusive provider of sports betting and casino gambling. So while there are three online casinos and poker sites, all use the same technology and look mostly the same. 

This is an issue because DE residents may search for online casinos assuming there are more options or just looking for something different. In these cases, some players stumble onto offshore casinos. These sites are designed to look above board but they actually operate illegally in DE. Therefore, to play legally in Delaware, you must use a Delaware Lottery-licensed site. If you want to try a different online casino platform, you’ll need to travel to another US state.

Social and sweepstake casinos are different from real money casinos, as you can play casino games like blackjack, roulette, and slots for free. Instead of using actual money, you’ll play with a virtual currency system. 

There are two common currency systems: Gold Coins and Sweep Coins. Your social casino will usually give you a healthy amount of Gold Coins, which you can use to play casino games without any chance of making a profit. Many social casinos in the USA will provide daily promotions to expand your Gold Coin virtual wallet. You can also purchase Gold Coin bundles to boost your social casino bankroll. 

On the other hand, Sweeps Coins are only available at sweepstakes sites, and you can only claim this virtual currency through bonuses and promotions. However, many sweepstake casinos will let you exchange your SC Coins for real-life prizes like vouchers at popular retailers. 

Social and sweepstake casinos are an excellent alternative for players who want to enjoy casino games without risking their money. These sites are also handy for gamblers wishing to test out different games before committing cash. For Delaware players, playing with social casinos allows you to enjoy a different online casino interface rather than just playing with the 888 Holdings-designed sites. 

Plenty of top social and sweepstake casinos are available in DE, including BetRivers net, Gambino Slots, McLuck, and Stake.us. Signing up with a social casino is just the same as registering with an online casino, although you often have to provide less information. If you play with Gold Coins, you don’t need to make any deposits. However, customers wanting to use Gold Coins can purchase currency easily with popular US payment methods like bank cards, e-wallets, and more.

Along with playing the three online casinos in Delaware through a desktop site, you can also bring the gambling action on the move with the best online casino apps. Every online casino has a mobile app you can download for iOS and Android, giving you access to most of the same games as the desktop site. These apps are tailored specifically for casino players and provide better navigation than the desktop equivalent.  

If you prefer playing social or sweepstake casinos, some of the best options have apps you can download to gamble on the go. There’s also great news for lotto fans! After you’ve purchased your lottery tickets from a retail store, you can download the native DE Lottery Collect N Win app to scan your ticket barcode and earn one of six different symbols. Once you’ve collected all six symbols, you gain entry to one of the drawings held during a promotional period.

All online casinos in Delaware will offer bonuses to new customers, allowing you to increase your bankroll and test out games without spending a fortune. Usually, you’ll find deposit match promotions, free spins, and sometimes no deposit bonus offers for new players. You often won’t need a promo code to claim these promos, too. Instead, you can just sign up and follow the terms and conditions to get your rewards.

Delaware online casinos don’t typically provide existing player promotions. This is disappointing, considering 888 Casino offers generous bonuses and loyalty rewards in other parts of the US and Europe.

No more casino sites can launch under the current Delaware online casino regulations. The deal ensures that only three online casinos can operate through local racinos with technology provided by 888 Holdings. Therefore, this means the major casino operators like Bally, Caesars, and MGM can’t go live in DE at this time.

However, this could all be about to change. The deal with 888 expired in 2023, and other gambling operators have put forward proposals to the Delaware Lottery to shift the market. Welcoming some of the biggest online casino brands in the US could significantly increase revenues, but the decision ultimately lies with the Delaware Lottery. With its current high tax rate bringing in plenty of revenue for the Delaware Lottery, there may be little motivation for change.

Delaware officials are hopeful that money made from online casino games and poker will help boost sagging revenue in the state’s three land-based racinos, where foot traffic has dropped significantly thanks to competition from new facilities in surrounding states.

As Delaware only has racinos, there are three racinos you can visit in Delaware to enjoy live horse racing alongside casino gaming, sports betting, and other amenities. Here is what you can find at these gambling locations in DE.

Boasting the famous Bally’s name, Bally’s Dover Casino Resort allows customers to play almost 2,000 different slot games. You’ll also find several table games operating throughout the day alongside a 250-seat sportsbook. You can also make the most of live harness racing (running from November through March each year) and simulcast harness and thoroughbred racing all year round. To fully experience Bally’s Dover Casino Resort, you can book a hotel room and stay on-site.

Boasting “over $6.5 million in jackpots” through July 2023, there are more than 1,900 slots at Delaware Park Racetrack, including local progressives. You can also enjoy blackjack, roulette, and other table games or sit in the poker room. There are weekly poker tournaments and high-hand days to suit players on all budgets. Of course, you can also sit alongside the racetrack or head indoors and enjoy the sports betting facilities.

You can head to Harrington Raceway & Casino by yourself or by its dedicated shuttle service, with 24-hour gaming weekends and 8 am to 4 am weekday opening hours. DE visitors and residents can enjoy “Live on Stage” events every Friday and Saturday night, along with its excellent casino services. If you plan on visiting frequently, you can join the “Players Club” loyalty scheme, where you earn points for playing games that you can spend at Harrington Raceway & Casino facilities.

Though online sports betting has been legal in DE since 2018, no online sportsbooks have gone live yet. However, new rulings could shake things up and make it easier for mobile betting operators to launch in the state. Until then, retail betting is legal, so you can head to one of Delaware’s three racinos to enjoy some land-based sports betting action.

Much like DE’s online casinos, in-person and online poker is legal. And as with online casinos, there are three poker sites operated by 888 Holdings. Initially, Delaware lawmakers gave online poker the green light after the introduction of HB 333 in May 2012. The bill was approved by Governor Jack Markell on June 29, 2012, making Delaware the first state in the US to pass legislation legalizing online poker completely. 

The state’s online poker presence wouldn’t have had legs if it wasn’t a member of the Multi-State Internet Gaming Agreement (MSIGA). As a member of MSIGA, DE poker sites share “player pools” with other online poker states like Nevada and New Jersey.

The only three casinos in Delaware are actually racinos – horse track/casino hybrids. Horse racing was legalized in 1933, and Delaware Park was the first racetrack to open in 1937. You can visit any of the state’s racinos to place pari-mutuel bets on horse racing. Now the state’s three casinos also have simulcast betting on offer for visitors to enjoy. 

Alternatively, you can use online horse racing betting sites to place pari-mutuel anywhere in the state using popular brands like TwinSpires, DraftKings Horse, and FanDuel Racing. 

While gambling can be a lot of fun, it’s crucial to always play within your means. You should never spend money you can’t afford to lose or borrow cash to play. In addition, gambling shouldn’t impact your personal and professional life.

Anyone that is struggling with problem gambling habits can find support in Delaware. All online casinos will provide basic resources on how to deal with problems. In addition, there are organizations in Delaware that will provide support for struggling players and their families. You can find details about these companies below. 

DCGP (The Delaware Council on Gambling Problems) 

• Call: 888-850-8888
• Text: 302-438-8888
• Live Chat: Available Monday - Friday, 9 am - 5 pm.

National Problem Gambling Helpline

• Call: 1-800-GAMBLER