888, Rush Street among finalists in Delaware online-gaming vendor renewal

888 Holdings and Rush Street Interactive are among the finalists to be chosen as Delaware's online-gambling software provider as Delaware prepares to enter its second decade of regulated online gaming.

In January, the Delaware Lottery announced that it would accept applications from iGaming vendors for the exclusive contract to offer online gambling services in partnership with Delaware's three racinos -- Delaware Park in Wilmington, Dover Downs in Dover, and Harrington Raceway in Harrington.

888 has provided online gambling services in Delaware since the the state approved online gaming in 2013. Delaware and 888 also offer some player pooling with WSOP.com players located in Nevada and New Jersey.

888 retains the favored position, but Illinois-based Rush Street Interactive submitted an application to compete for the exclusive contract. Rush Street acquired Phil Galfond's Run It Once online-poker platform in 2022 and continues to search for US markets in which to offer that platform.

888 and RSI appear to be the only two of seven applicants approved by the Delaware Lottery that are already fully capable of continuing or launching online poker in the state without contracting with a third-party partner, though the Delaware vendor contract includes all forms of online gambling approved in the state. The Delaware Lottery also approved all seven entities that applied during the early-2023 application window. Besides 888 and Rush Street, other companies that applied for consideration include Evolution Gaming, GeoComply Solutions, Kambi Group, LexisNexis, and Light & Wonder (previously known as Scientific Games).

All seven finalists will make presentations to lottery officials this spring, with the winner likely to receive a five-year contract to provide online services that will go into effect later this year.