Nevada made history earlier this year in the United States as the first state to legalize playing online poker for money within their state boundaries. Residents and visitors to the Silver State will be able to shuffle up and deal virtually for the first time since the United States Department of Justice mandated in December of last year that online gambling should be regulated by each individual state. But Delaware trumped Nevada with their legislation signed Thursday by Governor Jack Markell that approved not only poker, but all online casino gambling within that state’s borders.
Delaware plans on using geolocation and GPS technology to guarantee that online players are actually located within the state’s physical borders. Markel’s signing of the legislation was almost a foregone conclusion, as he has been a pro online gambling champion for some time. But it did take time for the measure to be drafted, and then pass through committees in both the State and House. Roulette, Poker, Blackjack, Slots and other casino games will be run at existing Delaware casinos’ websites with the State Lottery Office acting as overseer.
And Keno will move past the three physical casinos to a minimum of at least 100 other sites. Also, in a landmark move, the interactive online gaming legislation signed into existence Thursday will allow for betting on NFL football games at a minimum of 20 non-casino websites. Many states already currently offer their residents and visitors the ability to purchase their lottery tickets online, and now Delaware will also add that capability thanks to the passage of this online gambling bill.
The actual online gaming websites will not be launched until 2013, according to state plans. However, online betting will slowly roll out for availability on multiple digital consumer electronic devices such as smartphones and tablets before then. The bill had been held up in the Senate, but eventually passed by a margin of 14 to 6, requiring only a 3/5 majority for passage. The governor then authorized the Delaware Gaming Competitiveness Act of 2012 the morning after Senate approval, barely allowing time for the senatorial ink to dry. Markell has long stated his belief that Delaware become the northeastern capital of brick-and-mortar and online gambling, and that state had been losing customers to other East Coast competitors in recent years.
Delaware being one of the smallest of the United States, the US Department of Finance has released estimates that Internet gaming would generate roughly $7 to $8 million in tax revenue for that state its first fiscal year of existence. The final bill contained revisions that insured the existing three physical casinos in Delaware receive a portion of online gaming profits to offset the $3.75 million they currently pay in licensing fees. Senate President Pro Tem Anthony DeLuca was the lead senator sponsoring the bill, and he said this helps protect the gaming jobs and revenue source for Delaware, while also keeping them on the leading edge of “developing new and better gambling options.”
In the meantime, there are multiple online gambling sites serving Delaware players, offering casino games, sports betting, poker play, and bingo action. Each of them is secure and legal, and offers an exceptional online gambling experience. All of our Delaware friendly casinos have been extensively vetted prior to featuring them, with the team at UnitedStatesGamblingOnline.com going above and beyond to ensure that the information you find here is accurate and up to date.
Lucky Delaware residents!! Still waiting here in Florida – hopefully southern states will jump on board too!