On Thursday, Delaware legalized internet gambling after Governor Jack Markell put pen to paper on the Delaware Gaming Competitiveness Act. According to a report from the Los Angeles Times, "Casino games will be available to Delaware residents through the websites of the state's casinos, with betting controlled and monitored by the state Lottery Office." The games could be rolled out as soon as early next year and will likely be limited to players within the state's borders.Delaware joins Nevada as the only U.S. states with structures in place for legalized online poker. Nevada's law is limited to poker as opposed to full internet gambling, and the state has already awarded licenses to companies like IGT and Bally Technologies. Nevada's games could be launched in late 2012 or early 2013. The Delaware Senate voted for its bill by a strong 14-6 margin on Wednesday, with a 60% majority (12 votes) needed for passage.
According to the San Francisco Gate, online slots and table games will be permitted under the bill. "Revenues generated by the expanded gambling opportunities will allow [Delaware authorities] to eliminate $4 million in annual slot machine fees paid by the casinos and cut their table game fees from $6.75 million to $3 million," according to the news outlet.
And according to USA Today, online poker is included in the measure, which should be a boon to the Delaware poker community.
Markell (pictured) was quoted in the Times as saying that jobs will be protected in the East Coast state: "We're talking about a couple thousand jobs. The competitive landscape for this industry has changed dramatically."Neighboring New Jersey is in the midst of pursuing internet gambling, while states like Pennsylvania, Connecticut, and New York have continued to develop their gaming markets. The Times added that online lottery ticket sales, similar to what exists in Illinois, could soon be rolled out in Delaware.
The Times report added that online poker and internet gaming could be available on smartphones and "a variety of digital devices," expanding the industry's reach even further.
Delaware Representative John Viola told PokerNews that the state dreamt big: "We went full blown. You want to go online and play craps, poker, slots, buy lottery tickets, Mega Millions, Powerball. You're either in the game or out of the game. If you want to play, let's play. I think we're kind of on the forefront of internet gaming right now."
And you thought Delaware was a small state.
In nearby New Jersey, no movement on i-gaming is expected until later this year according to Interactive Media Entertainment and Gaming Association Chairman Joe Brennan, who told PocketFives, "Right now, New Jersey is trying to finalize a $32 billion budget. People are interested in internet gaming, but it's not health care or education. Those are the things being worked on right now." Perhaps the latest move by Delaware could speed up the process and create a domino effect.What could we expect to see unfold in Delaware? Will East Coast poker grinders pack up and move to the nation's first state? "Good news, as the more states take this step it will a) make a Federal bill more likely and b) provide a bigger incentive for an interstate compact that will bring in hundreds of thousands of players," observed one member of PocketFives.
He continued, "Obviously, Delaware is a super small state, so I don't think you'll see a lot of grinders clamoring to move there. But depending on how they implement it, maybe they'll have a stream of poker tourists coming in from Philly and New Jersey."
What do you think? Would you move to Delaware or Nevada to play online poker in 2012 or 2013? Leave a comment here or post one in this Poker Legislation thread.
