Delaware is considering allowing betting on all sports. The details have to be figured out by the governor, key legislators and the state’s gambling interested parties. The legalization of sports wagering would be innovative in the history of Delaware. For a few years the subject of broadening gambling beyond horse racing and slot games has been around.
Governor Markell supports the deregulation of sports betting. “Delaware has always been a gaming state”, he makes clear. “There is nothing wrong in giving people what they want. My task is to provide the state with the best possible legal fundament.” He adds that this would also boost the deteriorated economy of the state.
Currently, sports betting is allowed in the neighboring states Maryland and Pennsylvania. If people want to wager money on sports they are only a stone’s throw away. Or than can just search on the internet. The online casinos provide everything nowadays from sports betting, roulette up to online slot machines. Usually a state will insist on its legislative boundaries but soon the government is going to realize that the residents travel to the neighboring states for their gambling. “Typically this works as justification to legalize a certain type of gambling in the own state”, Mark W. Nichols, professor for economics at the University of Nevada-Reno explains.
Sports leagues, like the NFL support the plea for wagering on games. They believe that betting would increase the interest for the matches. Although so many supporters actually lobby for the change of the federal law it is going to be quite difficult for Delaware. The last governor strongly opposed to sports betting and still has a strong unit backing him up. If Delaware decides to approve sports betting, Markell hopes that the logistics could be established this season already, especially for football. He believes that this would be the most popular and profitable betting sport.