Starting Nov. 8, Delaware residents will be able to bet real money on poker, blackjack, roulette, and slots all from the comfort of their computers. The first state will now also be the first to fully embrace Internet gambling.
Users can access the "I-Gaming" system online through one of three Delaware racetrack casinos. The only requirements are that users must be Delaware residents and they must physically be in Delaware while gambling. The system verifies this by checking the computer's IP address as well as tracking a text sent to the user's phone. The casinos will conduct a week-long trial run for a limited amount of players before a soft launch and finally a full rollout.
"Just as this business venture is new to our players, it is also new to the casino and lottery officials," Thomas J. Cook, Delaware's secretary of finance, said in a statement. Everyone involved will "gain valuable experience from this new online offering."
Casinos have been moving towards the untapped gold mine that is online gambling for a few years now, but the law kept getting in the way. However, with moves like Nevada's legalization of online poker and now Delaware State Lottery's new initiative, Internet gambling is back on its way towards becoming a legitimate business.
According to Delaware Online, Delaware's gaming industry hopes the move will bring in a younger, more tech-savvy demographic compared to the typically older casino customers. They're also trying to get ahead of competitors like New Jersey and Pennsylvania, which are both looking to implement similar systems soon.
The push towards online gambling has received some criticism, though. The article cites a professional poker player who believes the restrictions against out-of-state play will leave Delaware's online scene a "ghost town." Furthermore, others believe that online gambling will be too invasive, particularly for those suffering from gambling addiction. They fear the Internet's solitary nature will strip gambling of its necessary social entertainment value.
However, considering Delaware only expects another $5 million in gaming revenue this year, online gambling is just meant to be a supplement to the real thing, at least for now.