Delaware igaming has experienced consistent growth in the last few years. When looking at revenue from 2019 through 2022, the numbers show annual growth for the overall sector, with a particularly substantial jump forward in 2020 due to the pandemic.
When land-based gaming returned in 2021, internet gaming revenue remained on an upward trajectory, with the exception of online poker. That suffered a serious dip in 2021 but finished 2022 on a high note.
Let’s take a look at the revenue charts, as well as changes that may affect online poker players in Delaware this year.
Ending 2022 with a Win
December revenue from the Delaware State Lottery showed the igaming industry in the state grew from November.
Online poker had a wild 17% increase for the month, following a 20% increase last month. The late summer and early fall were tough on the Delaware poker market, the worst being a 23% dip from August to September. But the comeback began in the last few months:
-Delaware online poker rake & fees (December 2022): $40,007 (up 16.6% from $34,319 in November)
The overall igaming market, which includes online table games and video lottery revenue in addition to online poker, made a recovery from two bad months. In an unusual series of monthly reports, igaming as a whole dipped nearly 9% from September to October and then nearly 18% the next month. But it came back strong in December, setting a new all-time monthly high:
-Delaware total igaming (December 2022): $1,174,780 (up 19% from $987,423 in November)
Finally, looking at the overall Delaware igaming market for the past four years, there was tremendous growth in 2020 due to the pandemic, but igaming recovered nicely afterward and continue to grow. It was only online poker that had a rough 2021 before beginning to climb again in 2022.
DE Lottery Changes
Midway through 2022, the Delaware Lottery announced a new person in charge. Helene Keeley became the new Acting Director as of August 1, 2022. She had been most recently serving as Lottery Deputy Director, but she had been in the Delaware House of Representatives for 22 years prior.
Keeley took over for Vernon Kirk, who chose to retire after a 47-year career.
https://twitter.com/LtGovernorDE/status/1558458634878812162?s=20&t=DTduP7q-00lpq3rS7soMKA
An even bigger change is in the works for 2023. Just days into the new year, the Delaware Lottery issued an RFP (request for proposal) to invite vendors to submit proposals for internet wagering. Proposals must take into account that the responsibilities will include the provision and maintenance of the entire player account management platform, managed services, games, and support services. They want one company to handle everything from player identity protections to geolocation for everything from casino table games online, live dealer games online, video lottery games, online keno and bingo games, online poker, and eventually internet sports wagering.
888 has provided said platform since the state legalized igaming in 2013. It operates in conjunction with the three connected racinos in the state: Dover Downs (now Bally’s Dover), Delaware Park, and Harrington Raceway.
The positive connection for 888poker was its ties to the WSOP/Caesars sites in other states. It is one of the few states that connects its online poker to New Jersey and one of only two to connect with Nevada.
On the negative side, though, the WSOP-888 partnership has faded in past years in favor of a new relationship between the WSOP and GGPoker. This doesn’t matter much in Delaware because players located in that state cannot compete in World Series of Poker bracelet or ring events.
Per Pokerfuse, 888 does plan to submit an application to renew its license. However, it will need to compete with other companies like PokerStars and BetMGM (via partypoker), should they choose to submit proposals as well.
There is a tentative timeline for the process this year:
-February 17: Deadline for all vendor proposals-March 22: Final recommendation to Lottery Director-March 24: Notice of intent to negotiate with primary vendor choice-November 1: New vendor agreement takes effect (likely a five-year contract)
