Delaware’s three sportsbooks brought in more than $11.3m in net revenue during 2021, according to figures released by the Delaware Lottery, which oversees all gambling in the state.
The total of $11,357,215 was up 35.7% from the $8,363,940 in net proceeds for 2020, but down 9% from $12,487,702 in 2019.
The Blue Hen State launched sports betting June 5, 2018. In slightly more than a half-year, 2018 net revenue was more than $8.9m.
Delaware sportsbooks closed 2021 with their weakest December of the four in their short history, with just $296,809 in net proceeds last month. In contrast, the previous three Decembers saw $1.1m in 2020, $1.6m in 2019, and $2.1m in 2018.
December 2021 was down 83.5% from $1,804,988 in November 2021.
The best month of 2021 was November’s $1.8m, just ahead of $1.7m in January.
For full-year 2021, Delaware Park was by far the leader in net revenue with $6,101,800. Harrington Raceway was a distant second at $2,747,893, followed closely by Dover Downs with $2,507,522.
Delaware Park has been the leader in net revenue for each of the four calendar years of sports betting in the state. The 2020 numbers were $4.5m for Delaware Park, $2.07m for Harrington Raceway and $1.7m for Dover Downs. The 2019 totals were $7.7m for Delaware Park, Dover Downs second with $2.5m, and Harrington Raceway third at $2.1m.
Delaware Park saw its take increase 34.5% in 2021 from 2020, but down 21.4% compared to 2019.
Harrington Raceway’s 2021 saw net revenue jump 32.3% from the previous year, and up 26.6% from 2019.
For Dover Downs, 2021 was 43% better than 2020, and roughly flat (down 1.8%) compared to 2019.
Delaware is the sixth-smallest state in the US by population, ahead of only Wyoming, Vermont, Alaska, and the two Dakotas, with approximately 975,000 residents.
