Delaware Looking To Beat Nevada Into Online Casino Market

The race is on for US states to regulate online gambling, and three states have emerged as the leaders to open the first regulated online casino. Delaware, New Jersey, and Nevada have all expressed a desire to become the first state in the nation to enter the online gambling industry.

Last week, Delaware moved into the lead, according to analysts, when the Lottery Office officially requested applications for online gaming licenses. One of the requirements for all applicants is that they guarantee the online site would be operational no later than September 30th.

Ironically, the September time frame is also being floated in New Jersey. State Senator Raymond Lesniak proclaimed last week that Atlantic City casinos could have open online casinos by September. In New Jersey, however, online gambling is still not regulated after Governor Chris Christie vetoed Internet gaming legislation last week.

Delaware has no such complications. The state is the only one in the nation to regulate full online gambling. Once the licensing aspect of the gambling expansion is complete, regulators will turn towards getting the casino open as quickly as possible.

Although Delaware would like to be first, it appears as though Nevada, the industry leader for decades, will beat Delaware to the punch. Nevada regulators are farther along in the licensing process, and are hoping to have online casinos open before the summer months hit. Nevada Governor Brian Sandoval is also pushing legislation that would allow Nevada online casinos to accept bets from gamblers in other states where Internet gaming is regulated.

If that legislation is approved, it could cause some problems for Delaware. Nevada casinos have a recognizable brand that would attract gamblers. Delaware will have to battle to keep gamblers in their state bettingatn the Delaware online casinos.

The chance exists that the states with regulated Internet gaming could work together to allow each to share the gamblers in those states. Analysts believe such a system would still benefit Nevada more than the other states involved.