Delaware gambling laws explained

Delaware gambling laws in brief

Delaware takes an unusual approach: instead of licensing a crowd of private operators, it keeps gambling inside a state agency. The Delaware Lottery runs the iGaming platform used by the state's three casinos, runs sports betting as the Delaware Sports Lottery, and sells the traditional lottery. For a broader overview of what that means for players in Wilmington, Dover and Newark, start at our Delaware online casinos hub.

Who regulates gambling in Delaware

Two bodies share the work. The Delaware Lottery's iGaming page (opens in a new tab) describes the online casino program it runs, and the Division of Gaming Enforcement (opens in a new tab) handles investigations and enforcement. When the state moved against an out-of-state sweepstakes operator in 2025, it was the DGE that issued the order.

That split gives Delaware players a clear complaint route for the authorized casinos and their online games. It also means the state has an agency whose job includes spotting unauthorized gambling. Our directory of state gambling regulators shows how Delaware's model compares with the rest of the country.

The law behind Delaware's online casinos

Online casino games in Delaware rest on the Delaware Gaming Competitiveness Act of 2012, according to a state news release. Under that framework, the Lottery offers online games tied to the state's three casinos: Delaware Park, Bally's Dover and Harrington. The platform behind them is BetRivers, so a player sees one technology provider serving three casino brands.

That puts Delaware among the seven states that license real-money online casinos, alongside New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Michigan, West Virginia, Connecticut and Rhode Island. Our list of states with legal online casinos tracks the group, and the practical side of playing for money is on the Delaware real money casinos page.

The launch year of Delaware's online casinos isn't stated on the official Lottery page cited here, so we don't give one.

Delaware's three casinos

Delaware's brick-and-mortar casino market is small and fixed: Delaware Park, Bally's Dover and Harrington. Each is linked to the Lottery's online program, and each hosts a sportsbook under the Delaware Sports Lottery. The official pages cited here don't describe any tribal casinos in the state.

The casino age is 21. If you're visiting from out of state, the same age applies, and the casinos follow the Lottery's rules on identification. For a comparison of ages nationwide, see gambling age by state.

Sports betting under Delaware gambling laws

Sports wagering runs as the Delaware Sports Lottery, with Sports Pick retailers and sportsbooks at the three casinos. The official page cited here doesn't describe statewide online or mobile sports betting, so check the Lottery's current offering before assuming an app is available.

The federal backdrop changed in 2018, when the Supreme Court's decision in Murphy v. NCAA struck down the federal sports betting ban (PASPA) and left states free to legalize. Our Murphy v. NCAA explainer covers the case, and the Delaware sports betting page covers the local details. The sports betting age is 21.

Lottery, daily fantasy and charitable gaming

The Delaware Lottery sells the state's draw games. The official pages cited here don't confirm online lottery ticket sales or the lottery purchase age, so check with the Lottery directly. Our guide to state lotteries online explains how online sales work where states allow them.

Daily fantasy sports are regulated rather than banned. Title 10 of the Delaware Administrative Code groups charitable gaming, the lottery and fantasy sports in one set of rules. The specific DFS age and operator rules aren't summarized in the sources cited here; see our overview of daily fantasy sports laws.

Sweepstakes casinos and the 2025 VGW order

Delaware hasn't passed a statute banning dual-currency sweepstakes casinos, unlike states such as New York, New Jersey and Connecticut. Instead, it used enforcement. The DGE ordered VGW, the company behind LuckyLand Slots, to stop offering its games in Delaware effective April 2, 2025.

In the state's April 7, 2025 announcement (opens in a new tab), officials said VGW had misrepresented casino-style coin games as promotional sweepstakes. Our LuckyLand Slots review covers the brand, and sweepstakes casinos in Delaware covers what else is still advertised to Delaware players.

Delaware's position on offshore casinos and penalties

The same 2025 announcement sets out the state's view plainly: real-money games offered by unlicensed entities violate the Delaware Constitution, the Delaware Penal Code and the Delaware Gaming Competitiveness Act of 2012. It tells residents to play only at the authorized Delaware casinos and to verify them through the Lottery.

The specific Penal Code sections and penalty ranges aren't cited in the official sources used here, so we don't quote them. If you need the exact wording, read the Delaware Code or ask a Delaware attorney. Federal law adds another layer for operators: the Illegal Gambling Business Act (18 U.S.C. § 1955) makes running a gambling business that breaks state law a federal crime, with up to five years in prison. See our page on the Illegal Gambling Business Act.

Federal payment law points the same way. UIGEA (31 U.S.C. § 5363) (opens in a new tab) bars gambling businesses from accepting cards, transfers and checks for unlawful internet gambling. It targets operators and payment flows, and doesn't make placing a bet a federal crime for the player. Our UIGEA explainer and offshore casino legality page go further.

How to check whether a Delaware gambling site is authorized

Because the state runs online gambling itself, the authorized list is short. These steps take a couple of minutes:

1. Open the Delaware Lottery's iGaming page and note the three casinos it names: Delaware Park, Bally's Dover and Harrington.
2. Check whether the site you're on is one of those casino brands on the BetRivers platform described by the Lottery.
3. If the site names a license from Curaçao, Anjouan, Costa Rica or nowhere at all, it is not a Delaware-authorized casino.
4. For sweepstakes or 'social' casinos, check the DGE site for any enforcement news.
5. If you're unsure, contact the Lottery or the DGE before you deposit.

Delaware gambling ages and recent legal milestones

No new Delaware bill on online casinos or sweepstakes appears in the official state sources cited on this page. At the federal level, a Congressional Research Service report dated August 17, 2026 found no federal bill dedicated to legalizing or banning online casinos.

Taxes and help for Delaware players

Gambling winnings are taxable federal income, whether you win at Harrington, on the Lottery's online platform or anywhere else. For 2026 payments, the W-2G reporting threshold for slot, keno and bingo wins is $2,000. From tax year 2026, the 2025 federal tax law is reported to limit the loss deduction to 90% of losses, and only up to your winnings; check IRS guidance. Our gambling taxes guide has the detail.

Delaware's own resource is the Delaware Council on Gambling Problems (opens in a new tab), at 1-888-850-8888. Nationally, the National Problem Gambling Helpline is 1-800-MY-RESET (1-800-697-3738), with call, text and chat. Other options, including Gamblers Anonymous, are on our state problem gambling programs page.

Offshore casinos and Delaware gambling laws: our partner offers

We show two partner offers here, and we want to be direct about how they fit Delaware gambling laws. Silver Oak and Planet 7 are offshore casinos. Neither is authorized by Delaware or licensed by any US state, and Delaware's position is that unlicensed real-money games violate state law. If you play there anyway, you have no Delaware regulator to turn to and no state protection for your balance. We earn a commission from these links and rank partners commercially. Offers are 21+ (18+ where allowed) and terms apply.

Both brands were named in the Michigan Gaming Control Board's April 9, 2025 cease-and-desist release (opens in a new tab), which described them as illegal offshore operators targeting Michigan residents.

Silver Oak Casino: $2,500 Welcome Bonus + 50 Free Spins, via our link (new players, 21+ or 18+ where allowed, terms apply). The casino's own site advertises a different package: a $10,000 welcome made of 100% matches on each of the first ten deposits (codes SILVEROAK1 to SILVEROAK10), deposits from $30, and no maximum withdrawal on that offer (primary). Its promotion page says 30x wagering while its terms say 40x on slots, with 60x on table games and video poker, so check the terms shown at sign-up. Silver Oak names Primrose Media Limited, licensed in Anjouan, as its operator; see our Silver Oak review.

Planet 7 Casino: $2,750 Welcome Bonus + 45 Free Spins, via our link (new players, 21+ or 18+ where allowed, terms apply). Planet 7 doesn't publish its license or full terms on pages we could verify; one third-party reviewer lists a 200% match with code WELCOME200, 30x (bonus + deposit) on slots and a $1,000 max cashout, with card deposits from $30. Codes change, so the terms at sign-up apply. Reviewers disagree on its license (Costa Rica or none). More in our Planet 7 review.

21+ (18+ where allowed). Every casino game has a built-in house edge, so over time you should expect to lose what you stake. Set a budget before you play and stop when it’s gone: responsible gambling tools and free help. Gambling problem? Call or text 1-800-MY-RESET (1-800-697-3738).