New bill could lead to mobile sports betting competition in Delaware | The latest from WDEL News

Less than four months after mobile sports betting was legalized in Delaware, state lawmakers are considering allowing the competition.

Rush Street Interactive launched sports betting sites in December through its BetRivers brand in partnership with Delaware's three racetracks: Bally's Dover, Delaware Park and Harrington Raceway.

Now, Rep. Franklin Cooke (D-South Wilmington) has introduced HB 365, which would allow each affiliate to run three racetracks with up to two sports betting sites.

That could mean that sites like FanDuel, DraftKings and others could eventually find their way to Delaware.

Currently, anyone who wants to bet on sports in Delaware has three options:

• Visit Delaware Park, Bally's Dover or Harrington Raceway
• Play a minimum of three NFL-only games on approved lottery sites
• Download the app, connect it to one of the three race tracks and use the BetRivers interface

Mobile sports gaming companies would have to pay $500,000 for a five-year license and return 18% of their revenue to the state and another 1.5% to the horse racing industry associated with their casino, thoroughbred (Delaware Park) or horse harness (Bally's Dover and Harrington ).

They would also have to offset any loss of revenue that the horse racing industry might lose due to the expansion of Internet sports lotteries.

Of the money going to the state, $400,000, or 3.5%, whichever is greater, would go to the Delaware Division of Substance Abuse and Mental Health to help treat gambling addiction.

The Delaware Lottery, which operates all gaming in the First State, would have five months to put the initial regulations into effect. That means that even if the bill is fast-tracked, new businesses may not be certified in time for the start of the NFL in early September.

The bill was referred to the House Administration Committee.

HB 365 would continue to ban Delawareans from betting on University of Delaware and Delaware State University sporting events.