Delaware first state to go live with intrastate iGaming: 888 announcement

Highlights:

Delaware has beaten New Jersey and Nevada to the punch, with the launch yesterday of intrastate iGaming, including poker and casino games (RNG only). The games may be played online by Delaware resident adults and are powered by 888’s B2B division, Dragonfish. The websites of  Dover Downs® Hotel & Casino, Delaware Park and Harrington Raceway & Casino are now all offering these games to qualifying customers.

Online casino are expected to launch in New Jersey this month also, including those from the 888/Caesars partnership  and the Betfair/Trump Plaza JV.

(PRESS RELEASE) — 21 November 2013.  888 Holdings PLC (LSE:888) today announced that iGaming in Delaware is live with poker, casino table games and casino slots gaming now available on the internet to adults located in the state. 888 signed a contract with the Delaware Lottery to be the primary vendor team, along with Scientific Games Corporation (Nasdaq: SGMS), to operate internet gaming systems and services in the state for an initial term of five years with four additional one-year contract extension options held by the Lottery.

Delaware, officially the first state in the U.S. to go live with comprehensive intrastate iGaming, including slots and table games, is operating a single iGaming technology platform that also includes internet poker. Dover Downs® Hotel & Casino (NYSE: DDE), Delaware Park and Harrington Raceway & Casino, the three licensed video lottery agents in the State, each has their own distinct iGaming website connected to the Lottery’s single iGaming platform and each serves as the primary point of engagement with their players.

Per Delaware Lottery Director Vernon Kirk:

“This is an exciting and important day for the state of Delaware and for the gaming industry as a whole. Delaware has long been a frontrunner in gaming innovation and we are particularly pleased to have 888 and Scientific Games as our partners as we bring this ground-breaking playing experience to Delawareans.”

Brian Mattingley, CEO of 888, commented,

“888 is delighted to be powering the first regulated online casino in the U.S., along with our Poker product which is already live in Nevada. Delivering this project in such a short timeframe is a remarkable achievement and the result of close collaboration with our partners at Scientific Games, as well as the Delaware Lottery and the three licensed video lottery agents.”

“Delaware has long been an industry model for state regulated gaming,” said Pat McHugh, President, North American Lottery Systems for Scientific Games. “The move to launch iGaming in the State is another example of Delaware’s leadership in protecting state-sponsored gaming rights in order for their casinos to remain competitive and to maximize proceeds for its citizens. We are proud to support their innovations.”