Crunch time for online gambling in Delaware

The prospects for legalised intrastate online gambling in Delaware will be decided today (Tuesday) when bill HB333 the Delaware Gaming Competitive Act of 2012 comes before legislators.

The bill is supported by Governor Jack Markell and seeks to authorise online betting in Delaware, along with more venues for sports wagering and other gambling.

In addition to online slots and table games, the proposal expands keno beyond Delaware’s three existing casinos to at least 100 sites, and treads on the NFL sensitive toes by authorising betting on its games in at least 20 more sites other than the casinos.

Officials say revenue from the expanded gambling would allow them to eliminate $4 million in slot machine fees paid by the casinos and cut their table game fees from $6.75 million to $3 million.

The bill was progressed through the House Gaming and Parimutuels Committee last month .

On the internet gambling front, HB333 proposes the creation of an intrastate network serviced by a third-party vendor and regulated by Delaware’s Lottery Office. There are provisions for online casino games like slots and blackjack alongside online sales of the state’s lottery offerings.

The state’s three major racinos, Dover Downs, Delaware Park and Harrington Raceway support HB 333 as a means of boosting waning business.

The introductory passage on the bill reads: “These offerings capitalize on a recent United States Department of Justice ruling clarifying that wagering within a state’s boundaries does not violate federal law.”

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