Don't bet on NASCAR gambling at Dover
Saturday, Sep. 26, 2009
Jimmie Johnson leads the field to a restart in May's race at Dover International Speedway. (Photo by Chris Trotman/Getty Images)
DOVER, Del. – Gentleman, stop your wagering. The idea of putting $5 to win on the No. 5 has gone bust at Dover.
This could have been the weekend when gamblers and sports fans wagered on the NASCAR race at the Dover Downs casino and walked over to the Dover International Speedway to see if they picked a winner or should tear up their tickets.
Those plans are now on hold.
After an expensive court battle, plans by state leaders and casino operators to offer betting on single games in multiple sports were struck down. Delaware can only offer betting on at least three NFL games per wager, called parlay bets.
The only NASCAR action Sunday at the newly opened Race & Sports Book will be on the big-screen TVs.
"We're a small state with a small population and we need all the help we can get," Dover Motorsports president Denis McGlynn said Saturday. "I think the sports betting could have had the ability to draw new people into NASCAR just to give them some other reason to watch."
The sports betting parlor, which likely would have been stuffed with bettors on a Friday night, instead had plenty of good seats available to stop in for a burger, beer and good view of the Phillies game.
Sports betting in Delaware officially got under way on Sept. 10. Sports wagers made at the state's three racetrack casinos totaled only $257,870 during the first week of the betting lottery.
State officials are fighting the ruling by the federal appeals court and are still hoping to offer more popular single-game bets, and wagering on a variety of sports.
"I have hopes. Not sure they're realistic," McGlynn said.
NASCAR did not take a public stance on the issue, but has held races in Las Vegas for years.
"To the extent that our fans would like it and enjoy it, I think it's a good thing," NASCAR spokesman Ramsey Poston said.
The casino will have live table games by next summer, though not in time for the first Cup weekend at Dover. That race, which was traditionally run the last weekend in May or early June, was moved to May 16 in 2010.
"At least we're still first in the Northeast, so we're happy about that," McGlynn said.
The sports betting issue isn't the only roadblock at Dover. The five-year improvement project that started in 2006 has come to a halt as funds have dried up.
Most of the major projects, most notably an expanded pit road on the Monster Mile, have been completed. The new garage that would also incorporate rooftop viewing for fans has not been started. Same with new ticket and merchandise sales buildings.
The Cup garage at Dover is perhaps the tightest and most dangerous in the series.
"With the economy the way it is and the finance industry being so slow to lend money, we've got to wait a little while," McGlynn said. "Maybe another year or two, but we're going to do it."
Even with a sagging economy, track officials still expect over 100,000 fans on Sunday.
"We're not that bad off," McGlynn said.
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