Delaware begins online casino gaming with free play (1 Viewer)

[dennis63]

Delaware became the first U.S. state to begin legal online casino gaming operations on Wednesday, August 28, launching a series of free games on the websites of the state's three licensed casinos. Play for real money is slated to begin in October, but only for people using computers actually located in the state.

The (Wilmington) News Journal reported that free play versions of online slots, poker, blackjack and roulette were up and running Wednesday morning. The software was provided by slot machine vendor IGT, which supplies slot machines to casinos in Delaware. Players must sign in through Facebook to confirm their age.

The state expects to begin online gaming for real money some time in October. Officials anticipate $3.75 million in new tax revenue from online gaming operations, and hope to create an interstate compact with Nevada so poker players in both states could compete against one another online, the newspaper said. The free versions of the games will remain available even after the real-money play begins, and are accessible from anywhere.

Delaware is home to three casinos -- Delaware Park, Dover Downs and Harrington Raceway.

It is widely believed New Jersey will follow Delaware's lead and legalize some forms of online gaming in the next few months.

 

[ReeseChip]

New Jersey already passed legislation and they are slated to go live in November. So it seems the 3 Deleware casinos will share one site?

 

[dennis63]

New Jersey already passed legislation and they are slated to go live in November. So it seems the 3 Deleware casinos will share one site?

Thanks, ReeseChip.

Poor word choice on my part. I should have said New Jersey is expected to actually start gaming soon.

Each Delaware casino has its own site. Each site has a link to go to IGT's "Double Down" casino, where you have a choice of various games -- poker, blackjack, roulette and a number of slot machine games. It appears you can play other visitors in live poker, but I didn't actually try it this morning. (It looks like there are others online / playing, too.)

 

[ReeseChip]

So each casino has their own logo on their tables?

 

[dennis63]

So each casino has their own logo on their tables?

No, it looks like they're using GTI's "Double Down Casino" software to conduct the games across all three casinos. This may be to test the ID functions -- signing in through facebook, tracking players, etc.

I don't know if they'll be using "casino-specific" gaming programs once they start collecting cash. (They may.) The article did not say.

Incidentally, I sent an e-mail to GTI asking them about doing specific free casino games for the Key West site, complete with Key West chip, card and logo graphics on the tables and slot machine. No answer yet, but something tells me there response will have a dollar sign and lots of things after it...

 

[Tommy]

Why does Facebook have to be tied into everything!? Facebook and IGT must be in cahoots.

 

[dennis63]

Why does Facebook have to be tied into everything!? Facebook and IGT must be in cahoots.

I thought the same thing. I think it has something to do with age confirmation through your facebook account. (You have to be 18 in Delaware to gamble.)

 

[Tommy]

Wonder if they will just let people sign up normally without having to go through a third site party. I guess you do not have to be a DE resident but just using a computer in DE. I can see some internet cafes opening up. Or local places that offer free WiFi will be getting busier.

 

[Tommy]

Started hearing radio commercials for this yesterday.