A measure before lawmakers in Delaware could make it the first state outside of Nevada to take sports betting online.
Delaware state senators are currently considering a bill that would enact several measures to help the state’s three faltering racinos through tax breaks and elimination of fees that contains a little-heralded provision that would take the state’s current parlay football betting program to online and mobile channels.
Delaware is one of four states with sports betting grandfathered in prior to enactment of the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act of 1992 (PASPA). While initially planned as a full-blown sports betting program with wagering on single tames, a legal challenge from the sports leagues resulted in Delaware’s program being limited to three-game parlay bets offered in one season prior to PASPA. Bettors must win all three games to cash out.
Delaware’s sports betting program has been a success, growing total revenue from $10.9 million in 2009-10 to $39.4 million in the 2015-16 NFL season.
S 183, introduced earlier this year by state Senator Brian Bushweller, would allow for the parlay wagering online via desktop or mobile devices. While no monumental revenue jump is expected, taking the program online would set Delaware up with an advantage should New Jersey succeed in its current legal challenge to PASPA, with an online and mobile network already operational.
As with Delaware’s online lottery, the sports betting would be restricted to bettors physically located within the state’s boundaries.
