Delaware sports betting

Is sports betting legal in Delaware?

Yes. Delaware runs sports betting through the Delaware Sports Lottery (opens in a new tab), part of the Delaware Lottery. The Lottery’s sports page describes two routes: Sports Pick wagers sold at retailers, and sportsbooks inside the state’s three casinos. The Division of Gaming Enforcement handles enforcement, as it does for the online casino games the Lottery runs.

You must be 21 to bet on sports in Delaware, the same age as for casino play. Our online casinos in Delaware hub covers the casino side, and Delaware gambling laws has the legal framework in one place.

How the Delaware Sports Lottery works

Most states license private sportsbook brands and let them compete. Delaware keeps sports wagering inside its lottery, the same way it runs its online casinos. That gives bettors a short list of authorized outlets and a single state body behind them.

The year Delaware’s current sports betting began isn’t given on the Lottery page reviewed for this guide, so we haven’t listed one. Bettors in Wilmington, Dover and Newark, the state’s three largest cities, can use retailers or the casino sportsbooks.

Delaware sports betting apps and online wagering

This is the question most bettors ask, and the honest answer is that the Lottery’s sports page doesn’t describe online or mobile sports betting. Delaware does run online casino games, through a BetRivers-powered platform for its three casinos, but that page covers casino play, not sports. Before you download anything, check the Delaware Lottery’s site for any authorized sports app.

What we can say clearly: any app or site not authorized by the Delaware Lottery isn’t part of the legal system, and the state has said real-money games from unlicensed operators violate Delaware law. Some offshore sportsbooks have stepped back on their own: Bovada’s help page lists Delaware among the 20 jurisdictions it doesn’t serve. Our mobile casinos in Delaware page covers phone play for casino games.

Federal law behind Delaware sports betting

Delaware’s sports betting rests on a federal shift. In Murphy v. NCAA (opens in a new tab), decided May 14, 2018, the Supreme Court ruled 6-3 that the federal law barring states from authorizing sports gambling (PASPA) violated the Constitution’s anticommandeering rule, and struck the whole statute down. States have been free to legalize sports betting since. See PASPA and Murphy v NCAA.

The Wire Act still matters for sports. In a January 20, 2021 decision, the First Circuit held (opens in a new tab) that the Act’s prohibitions apply only to wagers on sporting events or contests. The statute targets people in the business of betting, not individual bettors, and it exempts sports information sent between places where such betting is legal. Our Wire Act page explains the history.

Offshore sportsbooks and Delaware bettors

Offshore sportsbooks aren’t licensed by Delaware or any US state. Delaware’s April 2025 release said real-money games by unlicensed entities violate the Delaware Constitution, the Penal Code and the Delaware Gaming Competitiveness Act of 2012. With an offshore book, there’s no Delaware agency to hear a dispute over a settled bet or a delayed payout.

Because Delaware already has legal sports betting, there is little reason to take that risk for sports. The offshore casinos legality guide sets out how state and federal law apply, and our sports betting laws page compares state approaches.

Daily fantasy and prediction markets in Delaware

Daily fantasy sports are regulated in Delaware: Title 10 of the Delaware Administrative Code covers charitable gaming, lottery and fantasy sports. The detailed rules weren’t reviewed for this guide, so check the code before entering paid contests. See daily fantasy sports laws for how states differ.

Prediction markets are a federal fight right now. A Congressional Research Service report dated August 17, 2026 lists several bills, such as the Prediction Markets Are Gambling Act and the Fair Markets and Sports Integrity Act, that would bar sports and casino-style event contracts on federally regulated exchanges. None was recorded as enacted. Our prediction markets page follows them.

Delaware sports betting taxes: W-2G and withholding

Sports winnings are taxable federal income. Under the IRS W-2G instructions (opens in a new tab), a sports or other wager is reportable for 2026 payments when the winnings reach $2,000 and are at least 300 times the stake. Regular withholding of 24% applies where winnings minus the wager exceed $5,000 at that 300x level.

No form doesn’t mean no tax: all winnings are reportable. From the 2026 tax year, the loss deduction is reportedly limited to 90% of losses and only up to winnings; check IRS guidance. Our gambling taxes page explains filing.

How to bet on sports legally in Delaware

1. Confirm you are 21 or older and have valid ID with you.
2. Choose an authorized outlet: a Sports Pick retailer or the sportsbook at Delaware Park, Bally’s Dover or Harrington.
3. If you want to bet online, check the Delaware Lottery’s website for any authorized app before downloading one.
4. Set a budget for the week or the season, and decide on it before you look at the odds.
5. Keep your tickets and records of wins and losses for tax time.
6. If betting stops being fun, use the state helpline or a self-exclusion option.

Help for sports bettors in Delaware

Sports betting can feel like a skill, and that makes it easy to chase losses. The Delaware Council on Gambling Problems (opens in a new tab) helpline is 1-888-850-8888. Nationally, call or text 1-800-MY-RESET (1-800-697-3738). Our signs of a gambling problem page lists early warning signs.

Casino offers on this page, and why there’s no sportsbook

None of our partners is a sportsbook, so no partner fits a Delaware sports betting page; for sports, use Delaware’s own Sports Lottery. The offers below are offshore casino offers for readers who also play casino games. They are not licensed by Delaware or any US state, and Delaware says real-money games from unlicensed operators violate state law, so check your state’s law first. Offshore play means no state regulator to complain to, no state protection of your balance and terms set by the casino. We earn a commission through our links, and partner order is commercial.

Planet 7 Casino: $2,750 Welcome Bonus + 45 Free Spins, via our link (new players, 21+ or 18+ where allowed, terms apply). Third-party reviews list a 200% match with code WELCOME200, 30x (deposit + bonus) wagering on slots and a $1,000 max cashout, plus a reported $2,500 weekly withdrawal cap. The Michigan Gaming Control Board named Planet 7 in an April 9, 2025 cease-and-desist release. See our Planet 7 review.

Royal Ace Casino: $2,500 Welcome Bonus + 35 Free Spins, via our link (new players, 21+ or 18+ where allowed, terms apply). Reviewers disagree on its package: one lists 200% up to $4,000 with 30x (deposit + bonus) on slots, 60x on blackjack and video poker, and a max cashout of 10x the deposit; another lists 250% up to $2,500 plus 35 spins. Reviews report a $2,500 weekly cap. Check our Royal Ace review and the terms at sign-up.

Casino bonuses can’t be used on sports, and table games are often excluded or weighted lower. The house edge makes losses the likely result over time.

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).