Delaware is a trailblazing state of firsts, quite unlike others: it was the first US state to sign the constitution; the first to legalize online gambling in 2012, with the passing of the Delaware Gaming Competitiveness Act; and the first state to create a multi-state poker network! This revolutionary, Eastern coast state beat both NJ and Nevada to the punch, opening three Delaware gambling platforms to players before anywhere else in the USA- quite the achievement!
For five years (until 2017, when the PA market opened), Delaware would remain one of only three states offering legal and regulated gambling to players in the USA. But how do things stand today, and what are the best online casinos in Delaware? Sit tight and get ready to roll as we take you on a whirlwind tour around Delaware's online casinos!
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Bally's Dover Casino DE
✓ Daily promotions for all players
✓ Loyalty club
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Welcome Offer 100% match bonus up to $100 |
100% match bonus up to $100
Take Me There
onlinegaming.ballysdover.com
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Delaware Park Online DE
✓ Multi-state poker network
✓ Loyalty and VIP scheme
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Welcome Offer 100% match bonus up to $100+ 20 free spins |
100% match bonus up to $100+ 20 free spins
Take Me There
delawarepark.com
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Harrington Gaming Online DE
✓ Multi-state poker network
✓ Collect reward points as you play
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Welcome Offer 100% match up to $100 |
100% match up to $100
Take Me There
harringtongamingonline.com
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Online gambling became legal in Delaware in 2012 with the passing of The Delaware Gaming Competitiveness Act. This act made way for real money bets to be played online at casinos, which secured licensing from the DE State Lottery and Delaware Division of Gaming Enforcement (DGE).
Like elsewhere in the USA, each online casino in DE must form a licensing partnership with a land-based Delaware establishment, so those looking for legal, regulated, and safe online gambling have the choice of 3 options: Bally's, Delaware Park, and Harrington Raceway.
Delaware is somewhat of a stagnant market. Not much has changed since online gaming became legal in 2012: the same three casinos are operating online and offering the same product as when they first launched in 2012.
The fact that there have been no new openings is down to simple numbers: Delaware has three established racinos (racetrack and casinos), and each already operates an online platform.
But why has there been a lack of innovation and development at the sites already established in the Delaware market? Well, that’s down to the exceptionally high tax rates referred to as “revenue sharing”.
Revenue sharing in Delaware means that the first $3.75 million of all online gaming revenue is given straight to the state, with no profits going to the operator. After this, the state charges 62.5% taxes on all income. No other US state has a benchmark on profit or taxation system like the DE revenue sharing system.
For both software studios and casinos, this system has proved a deterrent to applying for licensing and investing in the state of Delaware, even though DE licensing is held in very high regard.
Bally's Dover Online Casino (previously Dover Downs) delivers online slots, table games, and a poker network to players over the age of 21 and located in Delaware. It is one of only three licensed gambling platforms in the state and was launched in 2013 in partnership with the Delaware State Lottery and 888 Holdings.
Let's crunch some stats and dig a little deeper to see what Dover Downs Online Casino can offer players!
Established in 2013, Delaware Park Online is one of only three licensed online casinos in Delaware. Formed in partnership with the DE State Lottery and 888 Holdings, this casino provides slots, table games, and poker to players over the age of 21. Plus, with a matched deposit deal and 20 free spins for new players, you can signup and get your bankroll booming in minutes at this safe and trusted online casino!
Harrington Gaming is the mobile and desktop platform created and run by Harrington Raceway & Casino. It is one of only three online casinos in Delaware and the first to launch.
The casino is open for residents and visitors aged 21+ and offers a locally competitive selection of games and a new player match deposit or no deposit deal.
Ready to find out more, including how to claim these deals? Then keep reading!
The best casino bonuses can always be found on gambling platforms. Online sites have much lower operating costs than land-based establishments, so they can offer more rewards to players. Plus, they are competing more fiercely for players (who can select from any number of sites without being constricted by location), so it is pragmatic to be generous with bonuses.
When it comes down to online bonuses, the usual host of rewards offered include:
| Casino | Total Bonus | Free Spins | Wagering | Deadline | Secure Link |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bally's Dover Casino DE | $100 | - | 40x | 30 days | onlinegaming.ballysdover.com |
| Delaware Park Online DE | $100 | 20 | 40x | 30 days | delawarepark.com |
| Harrington Gaming Online DE | $100 | - | 40x | 30 days | harringtongamingonline.com |
But in a market where an incredibly high tax rate severely hampers competition, the key question is: how do bonuses work in Delaware? Let’s take a look!
As each of Delaware's online casinos uses the same platform and software, there is minimal divergence between the sites. Each offers a welcome deal of a 100% matched bonus up to $100 and a loyalty club.
In the cases of Bally's Dover and Harrington Online Gaming, both offer a Delaware online casino no deposit bonus, but Delaware Park doesn’t. Instead, this site gives players 20 free spins on the house without a deposit- just signup and spin! DE online casino no deposit bonuses are a great player perk as they allow you to play for free, using real money mode, so that you can win prizes.
Take note that while the bonuses are very similar across sites in DE, the terms and conditions on these deals also alter depending on the operator- you can find out more about this by reading our DE casino reviews.
Sports Betting has been thriving in Delaware over the last decade, as this was one of only four states exempt from PASPA. The state lottery has always offered NFL parlay wagers, and Delaware's casinos offer sports betting alongside the casino vertical. Hence, there's plenty of sports betting action to enjoy in DE.
Delaware only licenses the very best operators and software. There are two licensed and regulated software providers in DE: 888 Holdings (including Studio 8 exclusive games) and Light & Wonder (previously Scientific Games), which includes Barcrest, Bally Technologies, WMS, and NYX).
Slots are the most popular real money casino game worldwide, and Delaware online gambling sites offer an excellent selection for players by bringing together games from 888 and Scientific Games.
Studio 8 games are created in-house by 888 Holdings and are clean, crisp, modern, and overall an absolute treat to play (especially as quite a few are progressive). Mix these top-class titles together with the very popular but more classic Scientific Games content (a studio known for dominating the floors of land-based casinos and later for recreating these slots for online players), and the slots games available to DE players make for an excellent gaming experience, which encapsulates both the classic style of slots and more modern approach.
Take a look at Irish Riches Slot to get a preview of Studio 8 Productions.
Those looking for card games are currently out of luck as each of Delaware's three gambling sites offers only a single variant of Classic Blackjack and American Roulette.
Poker is an area where Delaware excels, having partnered up with New Jersey and Nevada to create the first and only multi-state poker network in the USA. This is where the action is for table game players in Delaware, and players can claim welcome deals, enjoy multiple tournaments, and play with gamblers state-wide!
Fantasy Sports have been legal in DE since 2017, but the operating sites do not offer them. Instead, fantasy and virtual sports are provided by specialized and independent sites, including DraftKings and FanDuel.
Sweepstakes casinos, like Gambino Slots, Funzpoints, and Global Poker, offer top-notch gaming choices in Delaware. As you can see below, sweepstakes sites can provide more games than real money casinos and are a totally rad and new way to play online games.
The idea behind US sweepstakes casinos is that you work your way around the lobby, leveling up and unlocking new games. You use sweep coins as currency to play, which are given for logins, wins, and rewards - it's a highly engaging model but doesn't offer real money prizes.
| Sweepstakes Casinos | Real Money Gambling Delaware |
|---|---|
| Play for free and without any risk | Play for real money and win real money prizes. |
| Play more top-of-the-line games than at the casino (potential lobbies over 100 games) | Fewer real money casino games available (<50) |
| Engage in gamified missions, unlock games, and collect coins | Get real money bonuses and use playing games, tournaments, or jackpots with substantial potential prizes. |
| Games are not subjected to any testing requirements. | Games are tested for fairness and payout. |
Those who want to game on the go in Delaware can pick from any of the three operators in the state, as each has a downloadable mobile app for both Android and iOS/iPhone users.
The apps can be downloaded directly from the casinos' websites using your phone, from the respective app store, or for easy access to both, hit up our casino reviews, and use the mobile links to go directly to the app download.
Delaware casinos accept Visa, Mastercard, and ACH transfers for both deposits and withdrawals. The only site accepting the use of e-wallets is Delaware Park Casino.
In the past, players have struggled to use Visa and Mastercard at US casinos. This is a remnant of older federal legislation that outlawed electronic payments in gambling. Debit and credit card payments are now somewhat hit and miss, with some payment providers blocking the transactions automatically. For this reason, ACH bank transfer is the fastest and easiest payment method offered- unless playing at Delaware Park! Find out more about the attributes of casino payment methods.
When playing online with real money, ensuring that your cash and data are safe and securely processed and stored is of utmost importance. Like every gambling jurisdiction in the US, Delaware’s regulations are strict about compliance, security, and player safety, ensuring that only the best operators and software are allowed to operate a Delaware online casino.
Operators must submit third-party software reports and casino audits to the Delaware Lottery. These reports must be kept for a minimum of five years. Third-party testing ensures that games are fair, payout, and operate randomly using an RNG (random number generator).
Each online operator in DE is charged with being responsible for how it offers and markets its product. Casinos must support vulnerable players, offer account tools like time limits, deposit limits, and self exclusions, as well as inform players of the potential dangers of addictive gambling.
Every site we recommend at Casino Cabbie uses top-of-the-range SSL encryption. When you use the platform, your connection to the casino is secure and encrypted- only to be decrypted by the operator’s server.
Located throughout The Diamond State, the racinos of Delaware are each owned by a different operator. While they may share a single online platform, the land-based racinos are each unique. The two most popular racinos in terms of gaming revenue are Dover Downs and Delaware Park.
Twin River Worldwide Holdings own Dover Downs. The racetrack comprises a 625-mile horse racing track, surrounded by the 1-mile motor racing speedway and a 500-room hotel. The on-site casino also hosts over 2,700 slot machines and 40 table games.
Located off the North Dupont Highway, Dover Downs Racetrack was constructed in 1966, specializing in motor and horse racing. The first race at Dover Downs took place in 1969, and by 1995 Dover Downs launched their race-side casino; then in 2013, their online site and mobile app- Dover Downs Casino. In 2022 this was rebranded to Bally's Dover.
Harrington Raceway & Casino is a harness racetrack and casino located south of Harrington, Delaware. It’s the smallest of the three establishments in the state, with 1,800 slot machines on-site. Harrington Raceway opened in 1946, then in 1996, expanded to offer games, and then later in 2013, they opened their online site and mobile casino app.
Located just outside the city of Wilmington, Delaware Park is a 1-mile oval horse racing track, golf course, and casino close to the PA border. As the oldest racing site in Delaware, this track was constructed in 1937 and is one of the top-grossing gambling locations in DE, seeing up to 8,000 patrons per day. The land-based casino has 2,500+ slots on-site, while the golf course has 18-holes, and the race track is the only one in the state to host thoroughbred horseracing from May through October.
Gambling winnings are taxable at the federal flat rate of 24% in Delaware. Winnings should be declared yearly on Form W-2G. Additionally, the tax must be withheld if the win amount is 300x the wager amount or over $5,000.
No, you just need to be in the territory of Delaware. Both visitors and residents are welcome to play at land-based and online sites in DE, but you will need a US social security number to complete the casino signup.
All online gambling sites with DE licensing are 100% legit. They each undergo testing and use only authorized games and software. Additionally, we take security and safety seriously at Casino Cabbie, only recommending and listing 100% secure and safe sites!
If you're not impressed with what online casinos in DE have to offer, then we suggest you take a look at our top 3 recommended sweepstakes sites- they're great fun, and you can play for real money or free.
Online gambling in Delaware became legal in 2012.
Delaware's online gambling market is much smaller than in other states, but then, so is the population of DE. Unlike other more competitive gambling jurisdictions, say New Jersey and Pennsylvania, Delaware is already at capacity as far as licenses go, so there's little pressure for any of the three casinos in this state to become more competitive. Plus, with a heavy tax burden, it's easy to understand why growth has been slow.
The best gambling site in Delaware is Bally's Dover Casino DE
Sadly no, DraftKings Casino is not licensed in Delaware.
There are three: Bally's Dover, Delaware Park, and Harrington Online Gaming.
If you're traveling to any of the states below, you can join a casino and play while you're there. Click on the icon to discover more!
