With the Super Bowl looming, bettors are gearing up for the largest sports betting event of the year.
Sports betting is legal in Delaware, but wagers can only be made in-person at one of the state’s three race tracks – unlike New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Maryland which also offer wagering on mobile apps.
Because people have to make wagers in-person, is Delaware missing out on potential revenue generated by the growing mobile betting market?
Absolutely, said ESPN gambling industry writer David Purdum.
“Delaware is falling behind. It’s just too easy. It’s almost easier to hop in your car and drive across the state line and place a bet on your phone than it is to drive down to one of the race tracks to do it in person. And that’s the preferred method for the majority of American sports betters.”
Delaware saw a 7% drop in its sports wagering revenue in fiscal year 2022.
Meanwhile, surrounding states are seeing a boom in sports betting, which Purdum said is driven by the popularity of online betting.
Maryland reports more than $470 million in wagering was done through online betting apps alone in December 2022 – its first full month of mobile betting.
Purdum said Delaware could play catch up and allow online betting, but it would require significant investment and approval by the state lottery.
In 2018, Delaware was the first state to allow sports betting after the Supreme Court overturned the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act.
