The regulated online poker industry in Delaware continues to struggle.
The state’s three poker sites posted rake of just $15,117 in October, according to the Delaware Lottery. That is the lowest revenue generated by Delaware poker sites since the November 2013 launch.
Last month’s Delaware online poker revenue was down 42 percent against October 2016. It dropped 18 percent from the previous month.
Delaware’s online poker rake record in a month is $106,922. That was set in December 2013, the second month of the state’s industry. October 2017 was down 86 percent from that high.
It is not surprising that Delaware posted such terrible online poker numbers last month. At the same time, its network posted the lowest cash game traffic count in almost three years, according to PokerScout. Its partner, WSOP.com Nevada, has struggled to retain and attract players outside summer World Series of Poker Series. It has also continued to experience customer support issues years after its launch.
In October, WSOP.com Nevada and the three Delaware sites averaged around 135 cash game players. This is the lowest since the two states pooled liquidity in March 2015. WSOP.com has not posted consistent lows like this since the weeks around the Ultimate Poker closure in November 2014.
There is some hope for the WSOP.com Nevada/Delaware Lottery platform. PokerScout reports a double-digit uptick in traffic in November.
Delaware Online Casino Revenues Show Improvement
Delaware online casino revenues were in line with other months this year. Online slots and video poker won $139,234 in October. That was up 46 percent over the previous October and 11 percent from September.
Blackjack and roulette won $55,394 last month. That nearly doubled September. That was down six percent from the previous year.
There were just 213 new accounts created at Delaware poker and casino sites. This is the third lowest in the history of the regulated Delaware online gaming market. The record low is 209, set in August of this year.
New Jersey Online Poker Liquidity May Improve Delaware Market
Good news may be coming for Delaware’s online poker industry. New Jersey agreed to enter into liquidity sharing agreements with Delaware and Nevada. This means that sites will be able to cover all three states and pool those players after going through the proper licensing process.
The current player pool connects the two monopoly sites in Delaware and Nevada. Adding New Jersey players, a state that generates about $2 million per month in rake, should substantially increase the number of active cash games and tournament entries.
Each New Jersey poker site would need to go through a regulatory process. That licensing strategy is not yet defined in either Delaware or Nevada. Currently, WSOP.com and the three Delaware Lottery iGaming skins are the only ones in the US regulated market that network across state lines.
The three Delaware poker and casino sites are also racinos in the state. Delaware Park, Dover Downs and Harrington Raceway are the three Delaware skins.
