Delaware is set to establish Las Vegas-style sports betting, becoming the first state to launch its business since the legalization of such gambling throughout the nation, according to ESPN. In May, the Supreme Court ended the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act of 1992, known as PASPA, a federal law that effectively prohibited state-sponsored sports gambling.
Under a law that previously banned sports gambling, the American Gaming Association (AGA), a national trade group that represents the $240 billion casino business in the United States, found that Americans participated in a $150 billion illegal betting on professional and amateur sports annually.
After the high court overturned a federal law last month, the states have been granted to decide whether to sponsor sports betting.
Single-game bets
USA Today reported that the state announced that sports wagering is scheduled next week Tuesday at 1:30 PM at three locations, including Delaware Park, Dover Downs Hotel & Casino, and Harrington Raceway & Casino. Consumers will be able to participate in single-game betting on professional sports events for baseball, football, hockey, Basketball, soccer, golf and auto racing.
Delaware was one of the few states that took advantage of its exemption from PASPA, which permitted limited sports betting and allowed consumers to bet on numerous football games, known as parlay wagering.
In 2009, the state passed a bill that would authorize consumers to wager on all sports teams except for Delaware-based teams involving the University of Delaware or Delaware State.
The announcement has not been made regarding wagering on collegiate sports but, according to sources with knowledge of the situation, the state intends to offer wagering on college sports.
This offer is not imminent yet.
Tutorial and guide for new users
The Delaware Lottery has published an online betting tutorial guide to assist and educate new consumers how to bet on a sporting event for SportsPick, the state's sports gaming product. The guide provides detailed information and summarizes general rules about wagering.
The Delaware Department of Finance and the State Attorney General's Office are confident and determined that there are no legal obstacles to moving forward as long as the state has the authority to control its sports gaming operation in Delaware.
"Delaware has all necessary legal and regulatory authority to move forward with a full-scale sports gaming operation, and we look forward to next week's launch," Governor John Carney said via a statement on Thursday. "We're hopeful that this will bring even more visitors into Delaware to see firsthand what our state has to offer."
Since there is no online or mobile option for consumers, they can participate in sports betting at land-based casinos.
Follow in Delaware's footsteps
Lawmakers in New Jersey, which, according to ESPN, has a history of battling the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA), National Football League (NFL) and other professional sports leagues in court over the regulation of sports betting for six years, is seeking for a bill to be passed on June 7th that would enable the state to regulate and tax the sports betting industry.
In addition to New Jersey, four states such as New York, West Virginia, Mississippi and Connecticut are attempting to get approval for its sports gaming operations. The Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board declared on Wednesday that casino license holders can fill out and submit applications for the right to conduct sports wagering.
