- Web sites for the state’s three casinos now direct patrons to play the free versions of popular casino games on Facebook.
- Wednesday’s launch is a precursor to the real-money online gambling launch in October.
- Delaware Secretary of Finance Tom Cook is hopeful that Delaware and Nevada can enter an interstate compact as soon as early 2014.
Freeplay gaming hit the internet from the state of Delaware at 6:00 AM EST this morning. Web sites for the state’s three casinos now direct patrons to play the free versions of popular casino games on Facebook.
Wednesday’s launch is a precursor to the real-money online gambling launch in October, which has been postponed from its previously scheduled launch date of September 30.
The free games are available to players around the world, but when the real-money games begin those players will need to be physically located within the borders of Delaware.
However, Delaware has been in talks with the state of Nevada to form an interstate compact which would allow people from the two states to play on sites authorized by the other state.
Delaware Secretary of Finance Tom Cook is hopeful that the two states can reach an agreement as soon as early 2014, according to an interview with Doug Denison of The News Journal. Cook also expects online gaming to be available on mobile devices next year.
The freeplay games are provided by DoubleDown Interactive, which was purchased by International Game Technology in 2012. The Delaware State Lottery has contracted Scientific Games and 888 Holdings to provide iGaming services for real-money games.
Delaware is set to be the first state in the US to offer a full slate of regulated real-money casino games. New Jersey is currently scheduled to launch its online gaming program in late November and Nevada launched its poker-only online games in April.
