After ten years working with 888, the Delaware Lottery is bringing in some fresh blood to invigorate the state’s online gamling offerings.
On Thursday, the Delaware Lottery announced a new five-year deal with Rush Street Interactive that is renewable for five additional one-year terms.
“We are honored to be selected by the Delaware State Lottery selection committee to provide online gaming operations in the First State,” said RSI CEO Richard Schwartz. “This partnership is yet another significant milestone for RSI, as the confidence of a state-backed organization, such as the Delaware Lottery, further validates the trust that lottery officials have in our award-winning online platform and customer service. Building on our proven track record of success in the tri-state area of Delaware, Pennsylvania, and New Jersey, where RSI was an early entrant in the first online market in the U.S., we are honored to collaborate with the Delaware Lottery team and the state’s three casinos to offer consumers who are geo-located in Delaware with safe, convenient, and innovative online gaming experiences.”
Delaware was the first state to legalize online casino and online poker back in 2012, but the small population of the state and relatively meager returns on the venture means it often gets forgotten as an iGaming state. Within the state, there are three land-based venues with skins of the same online casino and poker products, Harrington, Bally’s Dover, and Delaware Park.
Currently, the lottery generates around $1.1 – $1.2 million a month in revenue from the venture.
“Rush Street Interactive has established itself as a leading innovator in the industry, and is a respected iGaming and sports betting company. We are impressed not only with RSI’s successes in other jurisdictions, including neighboring New Jersey and Pennsylvania, but also its strong commitment to responsible gambling practices, said Delaware Lottery Director Helene Keeley.
“We look forward to working with the well-respected RSI team. We reviewed proposed bids from other online gaming companies and suppliers, and the combination of experience and commitment to quality products, customer service, and responsible gaming is why we selected RSI. We’re delighted to begin this partnership and have no doubt that Delawareans and the customers of Delaware’s three casinos will be thrilled with RSI’s exciting library of offerings and industry-leading customer service.”
The 888 version of online poker in Delaware currently compacts with WSOP.com in New Jersey and Nevada, as the brand also sits on the 888 platform. What will be interesting to see is whether or not Delaware will be one of the first states to play on the Run it Once online poker platform.
Rush Street Interactive acquired Run It Once from founder and poker pro Phil Galfond in March 2022 but has yet to introduce the product in any market. Delaware joins Michigan, Pennsylvania, and New Jersey on the list of states where RSI could potentially roll out the product.
