Delaware sports bettors have wagered more and won less than they did over the first two months of the last NFL season.
Approximately $6.26 million was bet on the NFL through the Delaware Sports Lottery in October, according to revenue numbers released Tuesday. That’s a 24 percent increase from last October, as the lottery continues to grow.
Bettors won $3.5 million in October on parlay bets placed at the state’s three race tracks—Delaware Park, Dover Downs and Harrington Raceway—and 69 retailers that offer the lottery.
In the first two months of the NFL regular season, nearly $13.2 million has been wagered, a 28 percent increase from last September and October. Bettors have won $7 million this season, roughly $900,000 less than they won over the first two months of last season.
For perspective, bettors won $27.9 million off of $336 million wagered on football, both pro and college, at Nevada sportsbooks in September. Nevada Gaming Commission does not divide college and pro football into separate revenue categories. The NFL is the only league offered by the Delaware Sports Lottery.
There were 492,290 bets made in the Delaware Lottery in October, with 55.7 percent of them placed at retailers. The average size of the bet was $14.48, up 80 cents from September’s average.
This is the fifth season Delaware has offered a sports lottery. Only $1.4 million was wagered at the state’s racetracks in October 2009. Four years later, $3.1 million was bet at Delaware Park alone this October. Delaware Park, the closest track to the Pennsylvania and New Jersey borders, continues to attract the most and highest-level of action. The average wager at Delaware Park in October was $21.23.
A minimum of three selections is required per lottery ticket. Two dollars is the minimum wager. For the first time, over/under totals on games are offered.