Proposed Bill to Expand Delaware’s Sports Betting Market Runs Out of Time

Delaware’s sports betting market won’t be changing anytime soon.

A Delaware bill to expand the market was not able to be reviewed by the state legislature, which ended its 2024 session at the end of June. While that means the market will remain a monopoly for the remainder of the year, it doesn’t mean the bill doesn’t have the support to become law in 2025. 

The move to expand the market came months after BetRivers launched as the state’s sole operator. They are partnered with three online casinos with brick-and-mortar locations in the state. BetRivers launched its platform this year, taking over the 888 holdings. While landing a large operator was a win for Delaware, many believe there is room to grow.

“We know this is an industry that is continuing to grow,” State Representative Franklin Cooke said of the bill. “Having looked closely at other implementation models and studying data from other states, I’m confident we’re more than ready to get this bill through the legislature and onto the governor’s desk.”

The proposed bill would have allowed up to six online operators in the state and raised their tax rate to 18%.

Small Markets Pushing for Expansion

Delaware is not the only small market that has pushed for an expanded sports betting market. Washington, D.C., has been fighting to expand its market after handing sole rights to the industry to FanDuel. Like Delaware, the move came quickly after the operator launched, leading to massive pushback from FanDuel. 

It is likely that one of both markets will expand in 2025, which other states will monitor closely. If they see an increase in revenue, you can expect even more states to push expansion. If it doesn’t, we could see future markets opt for fewer operating licenses.