Associated Press – Delaware lottery officials are beginning real-stakes Internet gambling in Delaware with an element of secrecy. State lottery director Vernon Kirk said Tuesday that officials will conduct a “soft launch” of online gambling on Thursday with a select group of preferred players. He refused to say who those players are, how they were selected, or how many there are, saying state officials have decided to keep that information confidential. Kirk’s remarks came after a meeting of the state Video Lottery Advisory Council, an industry group that says Delaware’s casinos are suffering financially and plans to push lawmakers to…