Delaware Sports Betting: Best Legal Sportsbooks

Is sports betting legal in Delaware?

Yes. Delaware has a long history here: it was the first state outside Nevada to offer full-scale single-game sports betting after the Supreme Court struck down the federal ban in May 2018, with wagering starting on 5 June 2018. Delaware could move quickly because it already ran an NFL parlay lottery that had been grandfathered under the old federal law.

Sports betting in Delaware is run by the Delaware Lottery rather than a separate gaming commission, with the Lottery overseeing both the casino sportsbooks and the online product. The minimum age is 21.

BetRivers is Delaware's online sportsbook

Statewide mobile betting arrived in January 2024, when the Delaware Lottery launched online wagering with BetRivers as its exclusive platform partner. Of the three sportsbooks we review, BetRivers is therefore the only one licensed in Delaware, and it is the only legal app for betting from anywhere in the state. BetMGM and bet365 are not available.

A single-operator market means there are no rival apps to compare odds against. Bettors who live near the Pennsylvania, New Jersey or Maryland lines can legally use additional licensed sportsbooks when they are physically in those states.

Retail betting and local rules

In person, you can bet at the sportsbooks inside Delaware Park, Dover Downs and Harrington Raceway. Geolocation still applies online: the BetRivers app verifies that you are inside Delaware before accepting a bet.

Delaware does not permit wagering on games involving its own college teams, such as the University of Delaware Blue Hens.

Because the Lottery is both operator and regulator, Delaware's model has more in common with Canadian provinces or some European state monopolies than with the open, competitive markets in neighbouring states. Revenue is shared between the state, the casinos and the platform provider, which has historically left less room for generous promotions. For bettors, the practical upside is simplicity: one app, one set of rules and a regulator with a direct stake in running a trustworthy product. The downside is that if you dislike the odds on offer, there is no in-state alternative to switch to.

Help and support

With no major professional franchise of its own, Delaware's betting interest centres on Philadelphia and Baltimore teams and on NASCAR weekends at Dover Motor Speedway. If gambling becomes a problem, the Delaware Council on Gambling Problems operates a helpline at 1-888-850-8888, and 1-800-GAMBLER is also available.