Delaware egaming bill passes through committee
HB 333 would authorise online lottery ticket sales and casino-style games
Lawmakers in Delaware have taken a step closer to regulating egaming after a committee approved a bill allowing for online casino games to be offered through the state lottery.
The House Gaming and Parimutuels Committee has voted in favour of House Bill 333, which contains plans for the overall expansion of gambling in Delaware and would also allow lottery tickets to be sold online. It will now progress to the state House for a vote.
The Delaware Gaming Competitiveness Act of 2012 seeks to authorise internet gaming through the state lottery to players who are over the age of 21 and present within the state’s border.
This would include the sale of instant-win lottery games ,as well as tickets for the Powerball and Mega Millions draw. Casino games such as slots and blackjack would also be permitted, while allowing the Delaware Lottery to operate the sports lottery at venues other than the video lottery agents, such as bars or convenience stores.
According to DFM News, a local news source in the First State, HB 333’s chief sponsor Representative John Viola told the committee: “Online gaming is coming. It’s coming across this country. We need to decide if we’re on board or not. Do we want to regulate it, or don’t want to regulate it.”
Delaware Governor Jack Markell first announced his interest in regulating online gaming in March, stating that the expansion of gambling would help casinos by eliminating the US$4m in slot machine fees paid by the existing casinos and cut their table game fees from $6.75m to $3m.
A similar bill was introduced in Illinois earlier this week. Senator Cullerton’s bill HB 4148 proposes the creation of a new Division of Internet Gaming in the Illinois Lottery which would be authorised to offer internet wagering on its gaming platform.