Buoyed up by the success of their casinos, Delaware looks like it’s trying to jump into the online gaming arena in a big way. A bill to allow online betting in Delaware and provide more venues for sports betting is on its way to the state House for a vote.
The House Gaming and Parimutuels Committee approved the bill last week. Gov. Jack Markell proposed expanding keno beyond Delaware’s three existing casinos to at least 100 sites throughout the state, and authorizing betting on NFL football in at least 20 more sites.
Expanded gambling revenues would let Delaware eliminate the $4 million in slot machine fees paid by the existing casinos and cut their table game fees from $6.75 million to $3 million. In return, the casinos would spend an equal amount on traditional business expenses such as marketing, capital improvements and debt reduction.
“This is key to making sure that this industry stays competitive for the years to come,” state finance secretary Tom Cook told the committee, noting that Delaware’s gambling industry has faced increased competition from neighboring states in recent years.
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