Amidst all the hubbub this year regarding which U.S. State will be the first to officially legalize and regulate online gambling, it seems that other than Nevada, the main players – California, New Jersey, Massachusetts, Florida, Washington D.C. – have not come any closer to getting the job done.

And then there was Delaware.

Yes folks, coming out of left field, just like the underdog winner of last year’s Belmont Stakes, Ruler on Ice, the state where retail tax does not exist, could very well become one of the first and only States to allow online casino gambling, as well as lottery tickets and lines on NFL games. Having already cleared both the House and Senate committee as of last week, a bill (House Bill 333) that would permit Delaware residents to place real money wagers on online slots, table games, keno and NFL matches, is going up for a vote in the State Senate tomorrow.

While this is very promising, the Delaware harness racing industry (speaking of horse races), as well as church leaders (a fitting pair to say the least, as evidenced by the real photograph in this post), are doing all they can to put an end to the momentum. In fact, they would prefer to nip it in the bud.

The harness industry claims it will not get a fair share of the gambling revenue while church leaders say that online gambling (all gambling for that matter) is morally wrong. Whether these are good arguments or not, the ultimate decision will be a political one. The debate in both the House and Senate Committee (and which will undoubtedly be the same in the Senate) centered around safety and security.

Fortunately, expert testimony has been given a chance to be heard. Scientific Games, which currently provides Delaware’s land-based gambling industry with slot machine and sports betting software platforms, has already testified that technologies exist in which the age of location of remote gamblers can be accurately identified.

The Markell administration is in full support of House Bill 333, citing the Department of Finance’s estimate that it would generate well over $7 million in revenue via State-controlled online casinos and private businesses – namely bars and restaurants – approved to offer sports, keno and online lottery purchases. In addition to Delaware’s three land-based casinos, 20 sites will be approved for sports wagering, and an additional 100 sites will be approved for keno and lottery.

Sources: CBS News