After just one week of offering legalized sports betting, the state of Delaware has already reported a revenue increase of $257,870. This amount is from the parlay bets that were placed during the past week. The state wanted to offer full sports betting options but due to pending lawsuits is only available to provide parlay betting.

State officials have stated the amount of revenue earned is promising. However needed the $257,000+ was the state could have earned quite a bit more if the types of wagers offered were not limited. The governor Jack Markell had originally promised a revenue stream of $3 million.

A chief spokesman for Markell, Joe Rogalsky, commented: “The first weekend numbers are encouraging. Clearly we don’t have the flexibility that we hoped for to make it as lucrative as possible.”

The only option for the state to make it “lucrative” is parlay bets on three or more NFL matches. The NFL and other major sports leagues went up against the state as they tried to offer more options. Experts have stated that the odds are near zero that the state of Delaware will win an appeal to offer more sports betting options.



- 2009-09-21