The Delaware Lottery presented a request for proposal (RFP) in January for an exclusive online gaming contract. It wanted to allow one operator to offer mobile sports gambling, casino games, and online poker in Delaware.
Even so, the Lottery’s plans have changed now. Several legislators proposed to the Delaware General Assembly that Delaware would benefit more from allowing many bookmakers instead of one operator. They argued that allowing only one operator limits players’ betting choices to sports gambling.
Still, the legislators can increase the operators hence making Delaware a huge casino gaming and online poker destination. It has been among the smallest gambling markets in the U.S. due to its few residents and its betting model that allows state lottery to monitor gaming.
Therefore, it offers residents few regulated iGaming options. This might force many people to wager at illegal offshore gambling sites and lack the state’s protection against fraud.
What Are the Recommendations?
The Internet Sports Lottery Legislative Working Group met on November 29 and three of its members ‘ which are likely to alter Delaware’s gaming regulation.
Michael Smith(R-Pike Creek), Franklin Cooke(D-Wilmington), and William Bush(D-Cheswold) want the state to allow more bookies. However, they should be associated or collaborate with one of its racinos and hold responsible gambling campaigns to avoid problem gambling.
The Lottery got in a tricky position after the first recommendation since Delaware granted Rush Street Interactive(RSI) its online gaming contract last summer. RSI is currently developing the Run It Once poker platform and hopes to launch it in January 2024.
Even so, the Lottery initially wanted to receive interested companies’ presentations in March and negotiate later before the winner started operating by November 1, 2023. But only RSI and 888 were the only operators who bid. Yet, 888 withdrew in May and RSI got the contract.
Bush stated that initial deliberations recommended each racino to team up with two operators hence allowing six bookmakers in the state. Also, it will have six poker rooms if such a change is implemented in online poker.
Can the State Invite Other Poker Operators?
It is still uncertain whether the Internet Sports Lottery Legislative Working Group’s recommendations focus on other forms of betting apart from sports gambling. However, if Delaware increases its poker operators to six, PokerStars and BetMGM Poker won’t hesitate to venture into its poker market. The World Series of Poker(WSOP) might also try to return to Delaware.
BetMGM Poker might opt to merge its New Jersey and Michigan player pools before it develops a poker room in Delaware. This would help it form a three-state network under the Multi-State Internet Gaming Agreement (MSIGA) provisions.
PokerStars merged its New Jersey and Michigan pools and might also form a three-state network once it enters the Delaware market.
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