Delaware Online Gambling Shows Strengths

Delaware, the sometimes forgotten third online gambling state, is actually experiencing signs of growth in online gambling.

Online Market Continues to Rise

While the state did experience a drop in table games in the month of April, the regulated online gambling market continued to rise.

The news was a bit confusing as Delaware reported that its three state Lottery-approved online gambling sites brought in $132k in April, representing a 10% drop from March and down a full 45% from April 2014 of last year. However, this is the first full month in which Delaware has shared online poker liquidity with Nevada, resulting in an overall hike of 11% from March to $48.5k in revenue. This also represents the best monthly revenue showing in a year for the state.

Casino Revenue Breakdown

Casino revenue showed more mixed results, with table game intake dropping 70% to $15,5k, the lowest total level since Delaware launched gambling in late 2013. Slots and video poker performed better, jumping a full third to $68k from March.

The hope for table intakes is that the release of a mobile app for iOS by the Delaware Lottery can boost the allure of those empty roulette and blackjack tables.

The Racing Component

Delaware additionally has introduced racinos to its online betting offerings, where the three state race tracks of Delaware Park, Dover Downs and Harrington Raceway provide branded online portals driving customer traffic to the Delaware Lottery’s gambling site. However, the Lottery organization has yet to see any financial benefits from this project, due to the fact that the Delaware Lottery is contractually bound to give the state the first $3.75m of annual revenue. To wit, the 2014 totals fell substantially short, as 2014’s total came to only $2.1m.

Stimulus in Legislation

Stimuli such as an aid package for the racing industry are being bandied about in the state legislature, with the state committed to make it work, so that online track patronage and linking can contribute to the state the way race tracks have, to the tune of a total of over $182m in 2014.