In “it’s about damn time” news, Delaware became the fourth state to approve sports betting, when the state senate voted 17-2 to legalize wagering on sporting events.

Sports betting in Delaware is expected to bring in nearly $50 million for the state, money the governor says is crucial in today’s times. Delaware is the only state east of the Mississippi to allow any form of sports betting, joining Nevada, Oregon and Montana as the only states with legal sports betting.

Delaware was grandfathered in back in 1992 when a federal law was passed that banned sports betting. Since Delaware, Nevada, Montana and Oregon had all previously had some form of sports betting, they were all excluded from the federal ban.

On of the interesting topics to follow still is just what kind of betting will be allowed. For months, it was said that only parlays will be legal (two or more games on the same ticket), but now there is word that they will attempt to make it legal to wager on individual games.

The bill was passed in the senate on Tuesday, meaning that only the governor’s signature is required to make it law, a signature he has been promising for some time.

While leagues like the NFL and NCAA vehemently oppose sports betting in any way, make no mistake about it that this is a good thing for the people of Delaware (and the surrounding states), and is actually a good thing for the very sports that oppose it. Well regulated sports betting does more to police game-fixing and point-shaving than anyone else, and unless the NFL and NCAA feel that they are going to stop ALL gambling, they need this regulation.

Well done, Gov. Jack Markell. Let’s hope the federal ban is overturned and all states can enjoy some of this money, as well as the federal government with online betting.

Share this story...

Discussion

No comments for “Delaware Senate Approves Sports Betting”

Post a comment

You must be logged in to post a comment.