As of Tuesday, January 2nd, Delaware has recorded a cumulative wagers figure of $16.6 million in iGaming and almost $2 million in sports betting since the soft launch of mobile sports wagering on December 27, as disclosed by Helene Keeley, Director of the Delaware Lottery.
“We launched last Wednesday so not quite a full week but for the iGaming we had about $16.6 million wager and in the sports we had about almost $2 million wagered,” Keeley was quoted as saying in a report by Delaware Public Media.
Keeley reported that the state launched mobile sports betting nearly two weeks earlier than anticipated, adding to the existing retail market. The Delaware Lottery director also noted that Delaware had seen a decline in sports wagering since the introduction of mobile sports betting in Pennsylvania and Maryland, with Maryland having a more substantial impact. The new mobile options could help Delaware regain its footprint.
On January 3, Delaware Lottery made an official announcement of the launch of its first online sportsbook along with the relaunch of its three online casinos tied to Bally’s Dover, Delaware Park Casino, and Harrington Casino & Raceway. The new online casinos and sportsbook are powered by Rush Street Interactive (RSI), the gaming company that operates under the BetRivers brand.
In addition to the introduction of online sports betting, the First State’s three casinos now offer a revamped array of new online casino games. Customers across Delaware, aged 21 and older, can now place bets on all mobile devices, tablets, desktop and laptop computers.
“We are thrilled to begin this historic and much-anticipated launch of the new online sportsbook and casino with the Delaware Lottery and bring our award-winning product to Delaware,” said Richard Schwartz, Chief Executive Officer of RSI.
“With our extensive offering of gaming content, wide range of deposit and withdrawal methods, real-time cash-out approvals, and best-in-class customer service, Delaware customers are going to love the convenience of wagering on their favorite sports, slots, and table games from anywhere in the state.”
The BetRivers-powered online sportsbook offers bettors a range of wagering options on professional and collegiate leagues, games, and players, including spreads, moneylines, player props, futures, same game parlays, and more, all delivered through the website and app.
Selected through a public RFP process, RSI will provide “state-of-the-art” online gaming for the Delaware Lottery for an initial term of 5 years, with extensions at the discretion of the Delaware Lottery. The Delaware Park and Harrington Casino & Raceway sites are accessible through the BetRivers multi-state app and website while Bally’s Dover Casino offers its own standalone app and website.
“RSI’s successes in other jurisdictions, including neighboring New Jersey and Pennsylvania, are impressive, along with the company’s overall reputation and experience,” Keeley said. “RSI’s commitment to responsible gaming, quality products, breadth of gaming content and customer service are key reasons we are so excited to partner with them.”
“We are honored to collaborate with the Delaware Lottery team and the state’s three casinos to offer consumers in Delaware a safe, convenient, and innovative online entertainment experience,” Schwartz added. “The launch into Delaware builds on our proven track record of success in the Mid-Atlantic Region of Pennsylvania, Maryland and New Jersey, where RSI has shown that online casinos and sportsbooks complement each other, and we continue to set new records.”
Delaware was the first U.S. state to successfully launch intrastate iGaming in 2013 including online slots, blackjack and video poker following the passage of the Delaware Gaming Competitiveness Act of 2012 by the General Assembly.
“We have no doubt that Delawareans will enjoy the ability to play their favorite slot titles on their mobile phones, as well as back their favorite teams,” Keeley said.
