The Delaware online
casinos market is one of the oldest in the country. Unlike a lot
of legal casino states, which legalized online casinos following
the legalization of sports betting in 2018, Delaware online
casinos have been legal since 2012. This makes it one of the
older online casino markets in the country.
This
early start means the First State has had plenty of time to
establish a robust online casino market. However, the Delaware
gambling market is run entirely by the state lottery, so there
are just a few online casinos available legally in Delaware.
At
the time of writing, there are three legal Delaware online
casinos. This guide will tell you all about those online
casinos, including which ones have the best Delaware online
casino apps and how you can claim rewarding Delaware casino
bonuses with these sites.
Delaware Online Casinos: Best DE Online Casino Offers in 2023
List of Legal Delaware Online Casinos
Delaware online gambling
law strictly regulates who can operate online casinos in the
state. The state lottery completely controls all online casinos,
but they are managed and operated through a partnership with 888
Holdings, who you might know from the William Hill and 888casino
sports betting and casino sites.
888 Holdings
operates all three Delaware online casinos. However, this does
not mean that all three casino sites are the same. There are
important differences between each of them that you should know
about so that you can discover which one is right for you. To
help you do just that, we have reviewed all three currently
legal Delaware online casinos.
See below to learn
what makes these three casinos stand out.
Delaware Park Casino
Delaware Park offers players like you the chance to play at a
no-frills online casino while still getting the luxury
casino experience you would get if you were playing casino
games in person.
The Wilmington-based online
casino site currently features over 100 casino games,
including slots, video poker, and table games. Delaware Park
really stands out when it comes to its progressive jackpot
slots. These online casino games have massive jackpots that
grow as more people play them. They regularly rack up
multi-million dollar jackpots that you could win, if you are
lucky enough.
While you need luck to win at
Delaware Park’s progressive jackpot games, you do not need
any luck to claim the site’s welcome bonus. All you need to
do is sign up and make a first deposit.
If you
sign up for Delaware Park Casino now, you will instantly get
20 free spins and get 100% of your first deposit matched by
Delaware Park up to $100. If you are a poker player, you are
eligible for the same offer except Delaware Park will match
100% of your first deposit up to $500.
Harrington Raceway and Casino
The second of the three Delaware online casinos we will
discuss in this guide is very similar to the first. The
Harrington Raceway and Casino online casino site looks
nearly identical to the Delaware Park Casino site. It also
has a similar number of games.
Harrington
Raceway and Casino has 107 casino games and nearly all of
them are slots. In addition to slots, the site has a handful
of video poker and table games. We would like to see them
add more variety to their online casino games library.
This critique is something we feel about all legal
Delaware online casinos though, so we cannot be too harsh on
the Harrington online casino site.
When it
comes to the Harrington Casino welcome bonus, we also see
similarities with other Delaware online casinos. New
Harrington Casino players will have 100% of their first
deposit matched up to $100. Poker players get a slightly
better off and will have 100% of their first deposit matched
up to $500.
Bally’s Dover Downs Casino
Like the other Delaware online casinos we have discussed on
this list, Dover Downs Casino is operated by 888 Holding.
This means that the online casino looks very similar to the
other Delaware online casinos. However, this site also has
the benefit of being partnered with Bally
Sports.
Bally Sports is a leader in the sports
betting and igaming industries. Because they are somewhat
limited by the Delaware online gambling law, Bally has not
been able to flex their muscle completely with their
Delaware site, but we can still see their expertise in
action. This is especially true with their iOS app, which we
think is one of the best Delaware online casino apps
currently on the market.
The Dover Downs Casino
welcome bonus is similar to the other Delaware casino
bonuses we have covered so far. The casino will match 100%
of your first deposit up to $200 and 100% up to $500 if you
are a poker player.
Social Casinos
As we previously highlighted, the Delaware gambling market is
one of the most well-established in the United States.
Because of this, it is no surprise that social casinos are
legal in the First State. As long as you are playing with a
reputable social casino site, you should have no problem
playing at social casinos in Delaware.
If you
are not familiar with social casinos, these casino sites
allow you to play real casino games using virtual currency
that is usable exclusively at a particular social casino
site. You cannot win real money playing at social casinos,
so they are regulated differently than traditional Delaware
online casinos.
Delaware Online Casinos Legal Status
The journey towards
legal online gambling in Delaware started all the way back in
1933 when the state began regulating horse racing betting.
Before then, the Delaware gambling industry was extremely
unregulated with many small betting rings operating in the
states’ major cities. For an example of just how far back
betting in Delaware goes, the first horse racing track in the
state was opened in the 1760s.
After 1933, the next
major change to Delaware gambling law would come in 1957, when
bingo halls were legalized. Then, in 1974, the Delaware State
Lottery was created. Brick-and-mortar casinos were legalized 20
years later, in 1994. Finally, the state legislature took aim at
online casinos and online gambling in Delaware.
In
2012, the state established the Delaware online gambling law
that continues to exist to this day. This law legalized online
casinos in the state, but mandated that only Delaware State
Lottery-approved online
casinos can operate in the state. At time of writing,
the number of legal Delaware online casinos sits at three. This
number could change in the near future though as the online
casino markets in surrounding states grow.
Responsible Gambling
Delaware takes responsible gambling very seriously. All
Delaware online casinos have detailed guides on how you can
get help if you are experiencing problems with keeping your
gambling under control.
If you or someone you
know are experiencing compulsive gambling behavior and feel
you need help, you can call the Delaware Council on Gambling
Problems at 888-850-8888. This organization is completely
free and designed to help Delawareans with their compulsive
gambling.
Additionally, Delaware has a self
exclusion list that you can add yourself too in order to
limit your access to Delaware online casinos. You can find
more information on this list and how to add your name to it
at the Delaware
Lottery website.
Trust Signals
When you read any of the casino guides we publish here at
Casinoostar.com, you can be sure you are getting the unbiased
opinion of real igaming experts. Our writers are online
casino fans just like you, so we only suggest casino sites
we would actually use ourselves. This means every site you
read about here is completely legal, safe, and secure.
When
it comes to Delaware specifically, all Delaware online
casinos mentioned in this guide are extremely safe. Each
site is required to follow the Delaware Lottery’s strict
requirements. Additionally, all legal online casinos in
Delaware are eCOGRA certified.
A History of Gambling in Delaware
📰1760 – The first horse racing track opens in Newark, Delaware. Horse racing betting was the preferred form of gambling among Delaware’s early colonists.
📰1937 – Delaware legalizes horse racing betting. Delaware Park becomes the first place residents of Delaware can legally bet on horse races.
📰1957 – Delaware creates the state Bingo Commission, legalizing bingo and other forms of charity games at Bingo Commission organizations.
📰1974 – The Delaware State Lottery is created. Delaware lottery games go live in 1975. This organization licenses all three legal Delaware online casinos currently operating in the state.
📰1981 – Delaware state legislature creates the Delaware Gaming Control Board, so that the state can better regulate the growing Delaware gambling industry.
📰1994 – Retail casinos are legalized at select locations across the state.
📰2012 – Delaware legalizes online casino gambling. The three legal Delaware online casinos went live.
📰2013 – The three legal Delaware online casinos went live.
📰2018 – Delaware legalizes sports betting at select physical locations.
Latest Legal Delaware Casino News and Updates
While Delaware was one
of the first states to legalize online gambling, it has taken a
slow approach to opening its online casino market. All Delaware
online casinos are tightly regulated by the state lottery, which
has created a small online casino market of just three casino
sites.
Strict lottery regulation also means
there are not many differences between the three legal Delaware
online casinos currently operating in the First State. All three
casino sites are managed by 888 Holdings, so their layout,
welcome bonuses, and online casino games selections are very
similar.
With all that being said, the
Delaware gambling market remains as one of the most interesting
in the United States. If you want to be the first to learn about
changes to this market, you can keep up to date with the latest
Delaware online casinos news here at Casinoostar.com.
If
you are more interested in getting a good deal than keeping up
with the nuances of Delaware online gambling law, do not worry,
we have you covered there too. We regularly write about Delaware
casino bonuses, promos, daily offers, and more.
What’s next
There are no major changes currently planned or being
discussed related to the online casino market in Delaware.
However, we will soon be seeing big changes to the Delaware
online sports betting industry. The Delaware legislature is
currently in the process of establishing new online sports
betting rules. Online sports betting could come to Delaware
as soon as December of this year.
This will not
have a direct impact on Delaware online casinos, but as more
competition comes into the state, it would not be surprising
to see the state change its online casino law too.
Additionally,
competition from outside the state could cause the
legislature to change the Delaware online gambling law. More
and more online casinos are becoming available in New Jersey
and Pennsylvania every month. It is only a matter of time
before this has an effect on Delaware online casinos.
About online casinos in Delaware
Now that you know a bit
about the history of online gambling in Delaware and all about
the three legal Delaware online casinos, we can tell you a
little about online casinos more generally.
In this
section, we will teach you all about online casino bonuses,
promotions, online
casino games, banking, popular payment
methods, and other important casino features. This
information not only will help you pick which Delaware online
casino you want to play at, but it will also help you become a
more informed player overall.
💰 Bonuses and Promotions:
Pretty much every online casino you will ever come across
will offer you a welcome bonus. Casino sites use these
bonuses to draw you into their sites and to make themselves
more attractive compared to the competition.
In
more loosely-regulated online casino markets, the type and
quality of welcome bonuses vary greatly. When it comes to
the Delaware gambling market, the types of bonuses are
pretty similar. However, it is still useful to know about
some other kinds of bonuses.
Here are some of
the most common welcome bonus offers:
- First Deposit Bonuses: First deposit bonuses reward you for making a big investment early on with your first deposit. These bonuses are also called matching bonuses, because casinos will “match” your first deposit with casino credits. All Delaware online casino bonuses are first deposit bonuses. As an example, look at the Dover Downs
- Casino welcome bonus. The casino will match 100% of your first deposit up to $200 and 100% up to $500 if you are a poker player. No Deposit Bonuses: Unlike first deposit bonuses, you do not need to deposit anything into your new online casino account to claim them. These bonuses are given to you as a reward for just creating your account.
- Cashback bonuses: Cashback bonuses only apply if you lose money playing with your new online casino site. For example, a site could promise to reimburse you for any losses you accrue within 24 hours after creating your account. None of the three Delaware online casinos offer these bonuses.
Now that you know a about common casino bonus types, here is a recap of the Delaware online casino bonuses currently on offer:
- Bally’s Dover Downs Casino - 100% first deposit match up to $200. 100% of your first deposit will be matched up to $500 if you are a poker player.
- Harrington Raceway and Casino - 100% first deposit match up to $100. Poker players get 100% of their first deposit matched up to $500.
- Delaware Park Casino - 20 free spins + 100% first deposit match up to $100. If you are a poker player, the offer is 100% of your first deposit matched up to $500.
The last thing to know about Delaware casino bonuses is that they come with strings attached. These strings are called wagering requirements. These requirements are essentially benchmarks you have to hit before you can withdraw bonus funds. For example, if a $100 bonus comes with a 20x wagering requirement, you need to wager a cumulative total of $2,000 in order to cash out the original $100 bonus.
🎰 Games:
Besides bonuses, the selection of online casino games
available is the next most important thing to consider when
playing at online casinos. Unfortunately, Delaware online
casinos are fairly limited when it comes to the variety of
casino games they offer, so this factor will not be as
important for deciding which online casino in Delaware you
want to play with.
Typically speaking, online
casinos will offer games in a wide range of categories.
These categories normally include:
- Online slots
- Progressive jackpot slots
- Table games (blackjack, roulette, baccarat, etc)
- Video poker games
- Live dealer games
- Variety games (bingo, slingo, Wheel of Fortune, etc)
At Delaware online casinos the vast majority of games are
slots. This is the case at most other online casinos too,
but Delaware online casinos are limited even by that
standard. Most Delaware casino sites offer just a handful of
non-slots games. At other sites, they will have dozens of
table games, video poker games, and live dealer games in
addition to hundreds of slots.
While other
casinos have a leg up on Delaware online casinos when it
comes to the number and variety of online casino games, one
thing Delaware has them beat on is safety. Any game you play
at any legal Delaware online casino will be safe, secure,
and most importantly, fair.
Online casino games
at Delaware online casinos have high Return to Player (RTP)
percentages, which means you have a higher chance at winning
than you would at some other less-reputable online casino
sites.
💸 Banking:
The last thing you need to consider are banking methods. This
is an especially important factor if you have a limited
number of payment methods available to you because Delaware
online casinos typically do not accept a lot of banking
methods.
There are only three accepted Delaware
online casino deposit methods; Visa and Mastercard credit
and debit cards, PayPay, and direct bank transfers. For
withdrawals, Delaware online casinos are even more limited.
PayPal and bank transfers are the only methods you can use.
🖼️ Platform Features:
In addition to the factors we have covered above, mobile
compatibility and user interface are things you should
consider. With that being said, this is another area where
Delaware online casinos limit how selective you can be.
Because
all Delaware online casinos are managed by 888 Holdings, all
three casino sites look nearly identical. This will not be
the case in other jurisdictions, so be sure to visit the
site and get a feel for how it looks and how easy it is to
find the games you want to play before you create an
account.
We have the same advice to give for
mobile sites. If you know you will play on your mobile
device, see how the site looks on your phone. Some sites
will be exact replicas of the desktop site, which can be
good or bad. Other online casinos will have dedicated mobile
sites or casino
apps, which can greatly improve your mobile gaming
experience.
How to open a Delaware online casino account
Everything we have told you in this Delaware online casino guide comes down to this. It is time to learn how to create your account. The process will be different, depending on the online casino, but our step-by-step guide below should work at every online casino in Delaware.
- Go to the official online casino site
- Click on the "Sign Up" or "Register" button.
- Fill in the required personal details.
- Opt-in to any welcome bonuses and/or enter your casino promo code (if necessary)
- Make your first deposit
- Start playing
Pre-Registration Essentials and Recommendations
The steps from above should be everything you need to do to create your online casino account. With that being said, there is a chance your Delaware online casino will ask you to complete additional steps. We will cover those situations and other things you should know in the next sections.
🔑 Key Requirements:
If you are under 21 years old, you cannot play at Delaware
online casinos. Full stop. Another thing that will stop you
from playing at Delaware online casinos is if you are
outside of the state. You must be physically located
in Delaware to play at Delaware online casinos. You do not
need to be a Delaware resident.
Besides proving
you meet those initial requirements, some online casinos
will ask you to prove some other things about yourself, such
as your identity or income. If your casino needs you to
prove these things, it will ask you to provide additional
documentation such as proof of your address, a copy of your
government ID/passport, and/or your banking information.
🤝Our Tips and Best Practices:
The last thing we want to impart to you is some general tips and best practices you should have in mind when you create your account:
- Play free casino games: A lot of online casinos will offer free games alongside their paid ones. You cannot win real money playing these games, but they can help you get a feel for the online casino before you spend any money.
- Set limits: Every Delaware online casino will let you set limits for yourself. You can limit your spending, time played, and even the type of games you can play. We highly suggest you set limits and keep track of your spending. These are the best things you can do to keep your gambling under control.
- Review the casino customer support pages: Understanding what resources are available to you will be very helpful in the future should you run into any problems. Additionally, if a site has an FAQ section, this could be a good place to learn some things about your new casino.
👩🏻💻Customer support
Online casino customer support options are unfortunately
things most players do not think about until it is too late.
These vary greatly in quality between casinos, so it is good
to learn about them early.
We are happy to say
that the number and quality of customer support options at
all Delaware online casinos are great. Each online casino
has 24/7 support via phone, email, and live chat.
FAQ
Are online casinos legal in Delaware?
Online casinos are legal in Delaware. However, only casinos licensed by the state lottery are legal. There are three legal Delaware online casinos that meet this description.
Do I need to be a Delaware resident to play at Delaware online casinos?
No. Anyone physically located in the state can play at Delaware online casinos. Additionally, you must be 21+ years old to play at Delaware online casinos.
What is the best online casino in Delaware?
We cannot say which of the three legal Delaware online casinos is the best. They are very similar with some slight differences that you can only notice by playing for yourself. Deciding which is the best online casino in Delaware comes down to your personal preference.
How do I play at Delaware online casinos?
Getting started with Delaware online casinos is a very easy process. All you need to do is create an account, make your first deposit, and start playing.
What are the age requirements to gamble online in Delaware?
You must be 21 years old or older to legally play at Delaware online casinos.
How do Delaware online casino bonuses work?
All Delaware online casino bonuses work in the same way. Casino sites will match 100% of your first deposit (up to a certain amount), so all you need to do is create your account and make a first deposit.
Do Delaware online casinos have live casino games?
No. None of the three legal Delaware online casinos currently offer live casino games.
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