Regulated online casino gaming in Delaware is inching closer to its official, November 8, launch date after entering a soft launch phase late last week.
As part of the soft launch, which is really just an extended beta testing period, between 25-75 players who had already signed up for the free-to-play version will be putting the system though the works.
Delaware is the first US state to offer a full suite of casino games as part of their regulated offerings, but won’t be rolling out a complete slate of games just yet. As of this writing, only poker and slots are expected to be part of the test, though blackjack and roulette will be added at a later date.
(Though Delaware does offer some forms of legal sports betting at casinos, online sports betting will not be offered at this time.)
The casino industry in Delaware has been hit hard by competition from neighboring states, especially Pennsylvania, as well as an aging customer base. Over the past three years, their revenue has slid by almost 28%.
State officials are hoping that regulated igaming will draw in younger players and, of course, help halt sliding revenues.