Online gambling has been a low-profile activity in Delaware.
The state’s three casinos have mobile apps, but the nonstop advertising and promotion activity we see for apps in other states is virtually nonexistent in Delaware.
Online poker and games generate a few million dollars a year in revenue, not bad for a small state but not enough to allow casinos to crank up their marketing budgets. Moreover, the state has no online sports betting.
That environment may change, especially if the Delaware Lottery waves goodbye to its current supplier.
Poker Industry Pro reported that the state is negotiating with 888, its United Kingdom-based vendor that handles the online space.
The Poker Fuse site notes that any change would attract wider interest since Delaware was one of the few states that can allow online poker players to play against one another in venues that include Nevada and New Jersey.
The state lottery has been mum on the talks, and our message to the agency went unanswered.
As PokerFuse noted, moving to request for proposals would open the door to giants like DraftKings and Bet MGM to make a bid for the business.
You have to figure that Bally’s might be in the mix too, given its investments in the online space that have gone along with its decision to become a national casino operator.
Bally’s push began when the Rhode Island-based casino operator bought Dover Downs and an Atlantic City casino. It eventually bought the Bally’s name as a way to build a national brick-and-mortar and online brand, while adding online gaming and sports betting sites.
Delaware’s low-profile state lottery system underwent a changing of the guard recently with the retirement of long-time director Vernon Kirk.
He was succeeded on an interim basis by Helene Keeley, a former state legislator who moved up from deputy director to interim director. Keeley told WDEL that the lottery needs to look at online options while working with retailers.
As you might remember, Keeley took heat several years ago for retiring from the General Assembly and taking the lottery post. One of her priorities while in Dover was the gaming industry.
Finally, any change comes with the realization that gambling expansion comes at a cost for those who for various reasons fall victim to gaming addiction. – Doug Rainey, chief content officer.
