Gamblers wagered $1.6 million more on the Delaware Sports Lottery this September compared to last, a 34.5 percent increase, according to revenue numbers released Wednesday.
Approximately $6.6 million was bet on NFL parlays in September, with bettors winning $3.3 million, 49.8 percent of the total amount bet. Included in those winnings was a $35, 11-team parlay that paid out $49,000 in Week 4 at Delaware Park.
There were 130,000 more wagers placed this September compared to last, with an average bet of $13.67.
The Delaware Sports Lottery is parlay-based, requiring bettors to make a minimum of three correct picks to win. NFL is the only sport offered. The state more than doubled the amount of retailers offering the sports lottery this season, the biggest reason behind the increase, says lottery director Vernon Kirk.
“We generally thought it would increase by around 20 percent,” Kirk added. “But 35 percent certainly exceeded our expectations.”
The lottery is available at the state’s three race tracks—Delaware Park, Dover Downs and Harrington Raceway—as well as at 66 retailers across the state, including convenient stores and sports bars, like Buffalo Wild Wings. The state also offered over/under totals on the parlay cards this season.
Delaware Park remains, by far, the most popular of the three racetrack sportsbooks. Delaware Park received more wagers (10,127) than Dover Downs and Harrington Raceway combined (7,638).
The top 10 retail locations, according to lottery officials, were: Stanley’s Tavern, Convenient Story, Airport News & Tobacco, Fairfax News, The Reef Restaurant, Express Food Mart, Delaware News Center, Buffalo Wild Wings (Bear), Buffalo Wild Wings (Middleton) and Wize Guys.
The minimum wager is $2. The average wager at the retail outlets in September was $9.62. The average wager at the tracks was close to double that, at $17.75.