BetRivers Continues Delaware Sports Betting Domination Despite Legislative Challenge

Over the weekend in Delaware, a figurative jackpot was won by Rush Street Interactive’s BetRivers sports betting platform. The state’s General Assembly ended their yearly session without addressing the proposed legislation that would have dismantled the sportsbook’s monopoly. BetRivers is maintaining its upticked stranglehold over sports betting and iGaming within the First State, even expanding its services to include Evolution live dealer games for online casino patrons.

Back in April, House Bill 365 had been put forth by state Reps. Franklin Cooke and William Bush. This legislation suggested the entry of five additional online sportsbook platforms into the market. However, since BetRivers had been the sole contender for the exclusive retail and online sportsbook license auctioned off by the Delaware Lottery — a helm previously held by 888 Holdings before their exit from the state last year — the bill has drawn considerable attention.

Both Cooke and Bush argued that the evident “substantial consumer demand” for more online sportsbooks justified the insertion of competition into the landscape. They believed that ensuring competitive rates rather than allowing a single book to dictate the market would be beneficial for the bettors. The bill was directed towards the House Appropriations Committee for consideration but failed to rally enough votes for an expansion of Delaware’s sports betting scene.

The divestiture of the lottery permit from the Delaware Lottery to BetRivers marked the start of online sports betting in the state. In pursuit of attracting more bettors and expanding the sportsbook market, the Delaware Lottery entered into an agreement with RSI allowing online bets.

In partnership with the Delaware Lottery, BetRivers also holds the coveted rights to iGaming — the online casino slot machines and table games. In December, the company set into motion its online casino platform in alliance with the state’s three racetrack casinos — Bally’s Dover Casino Resort, Delaware Park Casino, and Harrington Raceway & Casino. The Delaware Lottery profits a substantial 38% of the gross VLT revenue and 15% of the table win.

Further solidifying its hold, BetRivers, in March, inked a deal with Evolution, a B2B leader in the iGaming industry, whose live dealer table games are now available on the BetRivers online casino sites.

“BetRivers in Delaware is thrilled to offer players the chance to virtually play on Evolution’s world-renowned live tables,” one of the spokespeople, Rush Street Interactive CEO Richard Schwartz, expressed enthusiasm about the deal. “We are confident that the live dealer online casino will be very popular as the live dealer games offer the same level of excitement as playing in a land-based casino.”

Streamed from their New Jersey studio, Evolution’s live dealer table games are available to online casino players in Delaware via the BetRivers iGaming site, which offers live dealer games for blackjack, roulette, craps, three-card poker, and Ultimate Texas Hold’em.

Delaware, being one of the first states in the U.S. to legalize sports betting and iGaming, is only now comprehending the lucrative benefits of this gaming dynamic. The entry of online sports betting has provided a significant boost to the industry. A comparison of monthly gross gaming revenues reveals that BetRivers has pulled far ahead of 888.

Before the inception of online sports betting, the 888 iGaming platform logged fewer than 400 new account registrations a month. However, BetRivers facilitated nearly 16,400 new account registrations in January, the first full month of operations. In subsequent months, thousands of new accounts have been added — a majority of them being for placing remote wagers on sports.

As Delaware inches towards the height of the summer tourist season with its nearly 400 miles of inviting beaches, it seems BetRivers’ high tide may continue to surge with a possibility of attracting more new account registrations.