Sports betting ready to launch

It's not too late to bet on whether the Cavaliers can win the NBA championship, or the Capitals can win the Stanley Cup. Once full-scale sports wagering in Delaware debuts at 1:30 p.m., Tuesday, June 5, at the state's three casinos, gamblers can even bet who scores the winning points.

"Delaware has all necessary legal and regulatory authority to move forward with a full-scale sports gaming operation," said Gov. John Carney in a statement before the kickoff at Dover Downs Hotel & Casino. "We're hopeful that this will bring even more visitors into Delaware to see firsthand what our state has to offer."

With Tuesday's kick off, Delaware is the only state east of the Mississippi to have full-scale gambling – a similar distinction Delaware has held since 2009 when it was one of four states grandfathered by the U.S. Supreme Court to offer NFL parlay wagering. However, New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Maryland may not be far behind as they work out their own sports betting details.

Rep. Steve Smyk, R-Milton, said he supports the change, but ultimately doesn't believe it will provide the state with a windfall of revenue.

In Las Vegas, the only state that allows full-scale gambling, officials say sports betting only accounts for about 2 percent of casino revenue.

"Delaware's three casinos collectively provide jobs supporting thousands of citizens, including some of the families living in my district. They also deliver tens of millions of dollars annually to the state's coffers," he said in a statement June 1. "Delaware Park, Dover Downs, and Harrington Raceway have been struggling to maintain viability, in part, due to growing competition from new casinos in Maryland and Pennsylvania. Our racetracks have little choice but to offer full sports betting, since their competitors in neighboring states eventually will."

Sen. Ernie Lopez, R-Lewes, said he also expressed cautious optimism.

"No one should be under the false illusion that the court's decision means sports betting will be a revenue rainmaker for Delaware," said Lopez. "With that said, a prudent and thoughtful plan is an important need in order for us to maximize as much business as possible out of this opportunity."

After the Supreme Court's latest gambling ruling May 14, Delaware lottery and finance officials immediately went to work to expand NFL parlay bets to professional and college sports betting.

In the 1970s, Delaware passed a law allowing sports betting, and the state briefly offered an NFL lottery.

That law, however, set the stage for Delaware to offer parlay betting on NFL games in 2009 when the Supreme Court grandfathered betting for Delaware and three other states that had already passed sports gambling laws.

Delaware was the only state east of the Mississippi to offer parlay bets on NFL games – first at the state's three racetracks, Dover Downs, Delaware Park and Harrington Raceway & Casino, and later at convenience stores.

For now, full-scale betting will be limited to the three racetracks but will now include single-game and championship wagering on professional baseball, football, hockey, basketball, soccer, golf and auto racing.

Wagering will include proposition bets that cover events within a given game, such as which team will score the first touchdown, and also futures – a wager placed on an event typically far in the future, such as which team will win next year's Super Bowl.

"We have worked closely with Delaware's three casinos to train lottery and casino staff in preparation for a launch of expanded sports betting, and Delaware is prepared to move forward," said Rick Geisenberger, secretary of the Delaware Department of Finance, which oversees the Delaware Lottery.

To prepare and educate new consumers, the Delaware Lottery has published an online how-to-bet guide for SportsPick, the Delaware sports gaming product.

The guide offers a 101 on sports betting for neophytes to the world of sports betting. Terms such as point spread, money line or nickel – a $500 sports wager – are explained in the guide, which is available at delottery.com/Sports-Lottery.