Delaware online gambling by September 2013?

A meeting of Delaware gambling industry execs this week produced some interesting snippets of information about the state’s online gambling plans among the general discussions on how to improve land gambling operator fortunes.

State lottery director Vernon Kirk told a meeting of the state Video Lottery Advisory Council that he hopes to have online gambling up and running by the end of September, a target date he conceded was “aggressive.”

And in response to a question from Dover Downs CEO Ed Sutor, Kirk said Delaware officials have had some discussions with Nevada gaming officials about the possibility of an interstate compact that would allow gamblers in the two states to compete online against one another.

Delaware was the first US state to legalise intrastate online gambling and has been working steadily toward implementation with draft regulations and requests for proposals .

Delaware’s three land casino operators are under pressure from competition in neighbouring states – particularly Maryland, where the Maryland Live! operation has been enjoying significant success.

Maryland lottery officials reported last week that Maryland Live!, which added tables games in April, generated more than $51 million from slot machines and table games last month. The Maryland casino’s June revenue increased by $22.9 million, up 80.5 percent, compared to June 2012.

The state has appointed a commission to determine how best to assist the land operators, with its report due next January.