Delaware Launches Online Gambling

The state of Delaware released a newspaper article stating that it will legalise intrastate online gambling at the end of October 2013. Operators will now be able to offer casino games like video poker, slots, online poker and mobile gaming.

The Director of CardPlayer Vernon Kirk said, ”Presently we have our hands full because of the integration piece to our service provider, betting company 888 Holdings. It might take a while before the official game launch but we are working with other gaming companies to speed up the process.”

Kirk said that the state is currently in discussions with Nevada and New Jersey to offer poker schools to the residents of Delaware. Although Delaware has a relatively small population, online gambling could boost the state’s ailing economy and create additional employment.

According to Delaware’s Economic and Finance Advisory Council, online gambling can yield as much as $3.75 million in annual tax revenue in its first year. Hopefully this potential cash cow will help Dover Downs, Delaware Park and Harrington Raceway & Casino to regain the revenue they’ve lost to casinos from neighboring states. No one knows for sure how much money online wagering will bring in. To put a fixed figure on it will be presumptuous at best. 

Earlier this year Nevada became the first state that legalised online poker in the United States. Delaware’s finance secretary Tom Cook pointed out, ” It is imperative that we create a safe and legalised virtual environment for players to wager in.” At this stage players from all of the world can play free games. Cook concluded, saying that the state’s gambling vendors will offer table and card games as well as slot machines which will be available through a single portal.

Mobile gaming will only be available early next year. Cook is fairly positive that online poker players from Nevada and Delaware will soon be able to play against each other at the same virtual tables.