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Bob PockrassNASCAR
Dover International Speedway will sell more than race tickets, concessions and souvenirs outside the grandstands this weekend.
It will sell a chance to win money.
With the adjacent casino one of the authorized Delaware venues for sports gambling, there will be a kiosk in the fan display area where fans not only will be able to bet on Saturday’s NASCAR Xfinity Series race and Sunday’s NASCAR Cup Series race, but also NFL games, college football games, UFC and the MLB playoffs. There also could be bets on head-to-head matchups between select drivers and other potential race scenarios.
NASCAR wouldn’t comment on Dover’s plans, but it’s obvious the industry is watching. Bets likely won’t be taken during practice or qualifying but will be taken at other times during the race weekend. There will be no betting on the K&N East Series race Friday night. The casino also will take bets in its sportsbook all weekend.
“It’s not something I’ve focused on at all,” NASCAR team owner Roger Penske said. “Obviously they have the capability in Delaware because they’ve got the track, they have betting. I think maybe for there, it might work well.
“Some states will allow it, some states won’t, so I think that’s something that the industry really has to focus on and determine whether it’s something we should do. At this point, I don’t really have a position on it, and I don’t know that it’s an option for us in the longer term.”
The question is what would be NASCAR’s options? Dover already has the license through the state. Las Vegas Motor Speedway could have had betting at its track but so far has not opted for any gambling or slots on-site. Sports leagues are trying to determine whether they have the ability to charge integrity fees for their sports being used for sports betting. There also could be ancillary benefits if a sport promotes gambling — higher ticket sales and better television ratings.
“The sports betting world is a big revenue stream and we deserve our fair share of it for sure,” JTG Daugherty Racing co-owner Tad Geschickter said.
The Delaware News Journal reported that NASCAR betting consisted of only $60,000 — 0.2 percent of a total $39.77 million for all sports — over the nearly three months the state has allowed betting on individual games and sports.
“It’s unique,” track spokesman Gary Camp said about the kiosk. “It’s something fun and new for fans when they come to the track. … We hope they take advantage of it and maybe pay a little bit more attention to some of the events that they may fade out on at the end.”
The track won’t earn any money from the gambling take. It technically charges the casino — its sister company, Dover Downs & Entertainment, which is in the process of being sold to casino operator Twin River Worldwide Holdings — for space in the fan zone for each race. It is in that space where the casino sportsbook will run the kiosk.
The take is the same as any bets done at the casino — the state receives 43.75 percent of all money won (the hold). Vendor (William Hill) receives 12.5 percent. The Delaware horse racing purse fund receives 10.2 percent. The state’s three casinos divide the remainder (33.55 percent) by market share, the lion’s share of which goes to Delaware Park.
“We are very pleased to offer our customers the ability to place wagers at this unique tripleheader at Dover International Speedway,” said Vernon Kirk, director of the Delaware State Lottery. “It adds a new level of excitement to the event.”
Some view NASCAR and its recent move to stage racing as a way give fans more of an interest in betting on various outcomes.
“I don’t really care, to be honest with you,” said Penske driver Ryan Blaney. “I don’t personally gamble. I used to. I don’t anymore. I think it’s cool.
“It’s neat that you can just walk up and if you’re a gambling type, walk up and put your money down. … It doesn’t really affect me at all if you bet money on me or somebody else. I wish you the best if you do, but, no, I won’t be making a visit to that just because I don’t gamble.”
Dover Motorsports CEO Denis McGlynn said in May that he didn’t have any worries about integrity issues with gambling on NASCAR races. While apparently in the minority, Geschickter voiced some.
“My fear is integrity — there are so many people that touch my car or do a pit stop that can have an effect on the outcome of the race,” Geschickter said. “NASCAR is doing a nice job of methodically looking through what the pitfalls are.
“I don’t want the attorney general from North Carolina showing up at my door. I think there is a long way to go to understanding the ins and outs.”