The first US state to legalise remote gambling in general
Only a day after the Senate passed the bill and several days before the end of the legislative season, Delaware Governor Jack Markell signed bill HB333 into the state law on Thursday making Delaware the first US state to legalise internet gambling in general, compared to Nevada which is primarily oriented towards online poker legalization.
As the Delaware Gaming Competitiveness Act of 2012 has officially become law, the state Lottery Office will be able to regulate and licence online gambling operations in this US state.
The first online gambling operations are expected to commence in 2013 via various digital devices, mobile phones and tablets.
As per the new legislation, a part of the expected profits from online gambling is to offset $3.75 million in licensing fees presently paid by Delaware's three casinos, with a note that they should use those savings for new marketing activities and capital expansion initiatives.
The new gambling products are estimated to generate $7.75 million in revenues for the state in fiscal 2013, the Delaware Department of Finance says.