Dover Downs Online Poker
Online Poker Review
Delaware became the first state to legalize online gambling when it did in 2012, but it has yet to produce a high quality online casino. Real casinos Delaware Park, Dover Downs, and Harrington raceway all have created an online gaming section of their website, but all are run by the Delaware Lottery, contracted by 888 Holdings, so they are all very similar. Dover Downs has a very similar layout to the other two sites in terms of its game selection, deposit methods, and overall software for running the games. Dover Downs offers both an online casino and poker games.
Pros:
- Legal and licensed casino in the state of Delaware
- Preferable option to offshore casinos
- Excellent mobile app
Cons:
- Poorly laid out website
- Limited gaming options
- Non-secure website
Pros
Dover Downs is a legal and licensed gambling site in the state of Delaware. This does provide some extra security for players that don’t want to play on offshore sites. Offshore sites offer no protection for the fairness of monetary transactions and chances of winning, but Dover Downs is regulated by a United States gambling body which offers players protection. One of the biggest pros of Dover Downs is that a single account allows a player to play both casino games and poker games. While the overall layout of the site is subpar, each game looks and performs great. The mobile app is a major upgrade from the website and is very easy to use. Delaware Downs online casino is available on all desktop setups.
Cons
There is a very limited game selection on Delaware Downs. The site currently offers just 45 slots and two table games, blackjack and American roulette. The software for the website is very clunky and out of date. The look and feel of the site is very outdated, and the navigation can be difficult. For mobile users, the graphics are much improved, but the app has to be used in landscape mode. This requires all players to turn their phones sideways to play the mobile games. The mobile version also only carries 16 slot options and the two table games. Another con for Dover Downs is its website security standards. The site is safe and legal to use, but it does not have https encryption. This can be a reason to stay away for some players.
Poker
The online poker tables at Delaware Downs have a player sharing agreement with New Jersey and Nevada. This creates a larger traffic base for online games. However, it can still be difficult to find active games during off peak hours. If a player wants to play a game other than No Limit Holdem or Pot Limit Omaha, it can be difficult to find an open match at all. There is an average of a few hundred players online during the peak hours of game time. Most of the poker games are either low or medium stakes, but some high stakes matches can be found. Much like the online casino, the poker site has poor design and functionality which has been the number one user complaint for years. And, if you are a mac or mobile user, you cannot participate on the site. Delaware Downs poker software is used exclusively on PCs.
How To Deposit
There is a $10 no deposit bonus for all first time users on the site. Players must be physically present in Delaware when signing up in order to receive this bonus. The $10 bonus allows players to play whatever casino games that they would like on the site. The player is given 30 days to use the $10 bonus, and all winnings from the bonus can be withdrawn after earned status points. 3.75 status points is equal to $1 in winnings withdrawal. Each status point is earned at a rate of one point per $16 wagered. So, a player would need to place $600 in wagers to remove their bonus of $10 of winnings.
First time depositors to the casino can receive a 100% deposit bonus up to $100. This means that a $100 deposit will receive an extra $100 bonus. This bonus is not available for withdrawal until a player reaches a certain number of status points on the site. A status point is earned for every $16 wagered, and it takes 2.5 status points to clear $1 in bonus money. So, it would take wagering 40x the original deposit amount to receive the full bonus. For example, a player would need to wager $4,000 to receive their full $100 deposit bonus. This is not a good bonus and should not sway players one way or another on this site.
First time depositors to the poker site can receive a 100% deposit bonus up to $500. Much like the casino, this bonus will be released in increments the more a player is on the site. The first $20 of the bonus is released in $5 increments for every 40 status points earned. The rest of the bonus will be released in $10 increments for every 80 status points earned. Two status points are earned for every $1 contributed in rake or tournament fees.
All deposits can be made through Visa or Mastercard, a Neteller, or ACH Bank Transfer. Neteller is an e-wallet that is similar to PayPal. The minimum deposit amount on all methods is $10. All withdrawals can be made either through Neteller, ACH Bank Transfer, or a mailed check.
Conclusion
Overall, from software and graphics to game variety, the Delaware Park casino online could be a lot better. However, it is one of just four online options in the state of Delaware. So for accessibility and ease of access, it is a serviceable website for anyone looking to play slots or limited table games.
- Reputation and Licensing: 5/5
- Game Variety: 2/5
- Game Quality: 3/5
- Bonuses and Promotions: 1.5/5
- Deposits and Withdrawals: 4.5/5
- User Experience: 3/5