Betting venues continue to be limited for Kentucky Derby
Plus an update on early wagering on the Eagles' Week 1 game against Washington.
The explosion of sports betting in the region does have its limits when it comes to wagering on the Kentucky Derby, and horse racing in general.
Casinos not licensed by the Horse Racing Commission to offer pari-mutuel wagering are prohibited from offering action on the Kentucky Derby and the other Triple Crown races.
So, just as in years past, customers must have either an HRC-sanctioned phone or online account or go to area racetracks or their satellites to play the biggest horse races of the year.
>>READ MORE: Stats, staff picks, and horse-by-horse analysis
In Southeastern Pennsylvania, that means Parx’s locations in Bensalem, Oaks and South Philly — as well as Harrah’s in Chester — are taking Kentucky Derby wagers, but SugarHouse and Valley Forge Casino Resort are not.
Delaware is OK, because its casinos are at racetracks.
But the only spot in Atlantic City taking action on the Derby is the Borgata, which has maintained its horse-racing license. There should be plenty of energy in the race book Saturday. Post time for the Derby is 6:50 p.m.
“While other operators have chosen to close their books over the years for a variety of reasons, Borgata has taken the approach that we were going to keep an operating race book, realizing how important our customers are, both from a direct horse-betting standpoint, as well as generating ancillary revenue throughout the property [gaming, food and beverage, etc.],” said Tom Gable, director of operations for Borgata’s race and sportsbook.
“This decision also provided us with the ability to be the first casino in Atlantic City to take a sports wager due to the fully functioning horse-betting infrastructure already in place.”
>>READ MORE: Dick Jerardi hands out one of his exacta plays for the Derby
The Borgata is building an expanded sportsbook just across from its horse-racing room which it hopes to open in the summer. Gable said seats in the current race book were reserved for Saturday’s action weeks ago. The Derby is the obvious jewel, but Churchill Downs’ entire card on Saturday is, as the kids say, lit.
“In terms of handle, number of tickets written, and overall volume in the venue, the Kentucky Derby is the biggest weekend of the year for us in horse racing,” Gable said. “While all of the Triple Crown race weekends are busy along with the Breeders’ Cup, the Kentucky Derby is on another level.”
Eagles-Redskins update
The early wagering on the Eagles’ 2019 opener is heavily on the Redskins, at least at William Hill’s sportsbooks nationwide.
Bettors are jumping on Washington at +8.5 at clips of 83 percent of money wagered and 72 percent of tickets written. William Hill’s two area locations are at the Ocean Casino Resort and Tropicana in Atlantic City.
The Eagles have won four straight against Washington, each by more than eight points.