For the first time in over three decades, gamblers last Thursday could visit “racinos” in the state of Delaware and place bets on their favorite National Football League teams. With the start of the National Football League season, punters from all over the northeastern United States could put down a bet on the season-opening contest between the Tennessee Titans and last year’s Super Bowl Champion Pittsburgh Steelers.

The good news is that players could start making bets on Thursday. The bad news was that they could not collect any winnings until after the Sunday slate of games. This delayed payment is due to the fact that only “parlay” bets are allowed at Delaware gaming establishments. Bettors must place bets on at least three games and win all of them to collect their profits.

As a result of lawsuit brought by the professional sports leagues and the National Collegiate Athletic Administration, the state cannot offer single-game wagering. The appeals court that heard the case decided that the state’s three gaming centers could only offer parlay bets on NFL matches rather than the more popular (and profitable) option of single-game wagering.

Ed Sutor, Chief Executive Officer of Dover Downs Hotel and Casino in Dover, stated his belief that many of his customers will be interested in placing parlay bets during the first few weeks of the NFL season, which will conclude on February 7, 2010, in Miami at Super Bowl XLIV. Another executive with Dover Downs expressed disappointment with the ruling and concerns about the new complex built to handle sports betting customers.

Traditionally, the amount of money bet on the Super Bowl is higher than on any other single-day sporting event in the world. Under the current rules, Delaware casinos will not be allowed to offer bets on the Super Bowl or on any college football games, such as New Year’s Day bowl games and the Bowl Championship Series National Championship Game. The ruling also bars betting on professional baseball and basketball games.