Delaware sports wagering ruled illegal; plans put on hold

A federal appeals court on Monday ruled that sports betting in Delaware would be in violation of a federal ban on such wagering, thus putting a stop on the state’s plans to take wagering on sporting events at sites next month including Dover Downs and Harrington Raceway.

 

A 1992 law restricts sports betting to just four states: Nevade, Montana, Oregon and Delaware, the latter of which ran an NFL sports lottery in 1976 that required a person to make a multiple-bet wager on at least three games. The professional sports leagues and NCAA argued to the court that although Delaware was included as one of the four states that could have sports wagering, it did not include bets made on single games or on sports other than professional football.

 

Delaware Governor Jack Markell will reportedly now meet with officials and lawyers to decide whether to appeal the ruling to the full appeals court or to the U.S. Supreme Court.