Bill Legalizing Sports Betting in Delaware Introduced

Rep. Peter Schwartzkopf (D-Rehoboth)

Legislation introduced by Rep. Peter Schwartzkopf (D-Rehoboth), and sponsored by Rep. Valerie Longhurst (D-Bear) and Sen. Anthony DeLuca (D-Varlano), would officially legalize sports betting in Delaware, following through on Governor Markell’s recommendations issued last week in his proposed state budget.

The bill would take advantage of an exemption granted to Delaware under federal law, which allows the states of Delaware, Nevada, Oregon, and Montana to engage in sports betting.

Last year a similar bill made its way through the House, but was shut down in the state Senate with help from the former Gov. Ruth Ann Minner.

“This year is different. A properly written bill stands a pretty good chance [of becoming law],” Schwartzkopf told USA Today.

HB 100 would authorize sports betting, excluding college sporting events involving Delaware schools, in the existing casinos at Delaware Park, Dover Downs and Harrington Raceway.

It would also authorize sports betting in up to ten additional sports lottery facilities, which must be licensed restaurants, taverns, or taprooms.

The bill would also create the Video and Sports Lottery Licensing Commission, which would be responsible for determining how the 10 proposed licenses are distributed.

The Commission would be composed of appointees of the President Pro Tempore of the State Senate, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, the Minority Leader of the State Senate, the Minority Leader of the House of Representatives, the Director of the Delaware Economic Development Office, the Secretary of Finance and an appointee of the Governor.

Read the full bill here.