Delaware online gambling legalisation bill signed into law

In a historic move that makes Delaware the first US state to legalise online gambling in a general sense (as opposed to Nevada’s more focused online poker legalisation), Gov. Jack Markell signed bill HB333 into state law Thursday, one day after the Senate passed the bill and just days before the end of the legislative season.

The Delaware Gaming Competitiveness Act of 2012 became law Thursday morning local time, empowering the state Lottery Office to regulate and licence online gambling within state borders.

The state hopes to launch the first online gambling operations in 2013 and intends to make betting available on a variety of digital devices including smart phones and tablets.

The legislation sets aside a portion of the expected profits from online gambling to offset $3.75 million in licensing fees currently paid by Delaware’s three casinos, with the caveat that the venues use those savings to fund new marketing efforts or capital expansion projects.

The Department of Finance estimates the new gambling offerings will generate $7.75 million in revenues for the state in fiscal 2013