Even with tracks emerging from coronavirus shutdowns throughout May, Thoroughbred racing handles for the month plummeted compared to their 2019 totals, according to Equibase’s monthly report on horse racing’s economic indicators. The biggest individual culprit for May’s decline was easy to pinpoint: no Kentucky Derby and no Preakness Stakes. The […]
Business and Commerce
Roger Federer Forbes Highest-Paid Athlete at $106 Million
Tennis pro Roger Federer takes the top spot in the latest Forbes ranking of sports’ highest earners. Federer, who was fifth on last year’s list, overtook some of soccer’s biggest stars who sustained salary cuts amid the global pandemic. This spring, sporting events and major league seasons abruptly came to […]
Las Vegas Casinos Offering Free Flights, Parking Upon Reopening
Las Vegas casinos will reopen to gamblers on Thursday, June 4, and Derek Stevens, who co-owns three downtown properties, is helping some lucky tourists with free one-way flights to the city. That’s one of a few ways resorts are enticing patrons back through their doors. Casinos have been closed since […]
Sportsbooks See Busiest Weekend of COVID-19 Shutdown Thanks to UFC, NASCAR, Golf Events
The sports betting world still has a long way to go before it returns to normal. But a weekend of actual, live sporting events provided some relief for sportsbooks that have been searching for content during the COVID-19 pandemic. Sportsbooks reported their best numbers since early March this past weekend, […]
Under Armour Delaying Payments to Athletes as Losses Mount
The athletic apparel company Under Armour said it’s negotiating with athletes to delay their sponsorship payments. While Under Armour didn’t name any of the athletes it is working with on payment deferrals, the pros it has under contract include Stephen Curry, Jordan Spieth, Tom Brady, and Bryce Harper. Under Armour’s […]
Minnesota Race Fans Can’t Attend, Can’t Bet on State Races
Minnesota horse racing fans find themselves in the strange place of not being able to bet on races at state tracks after a bill provision allowing advance deposit wagering (ADW) for in-state races failed in the state legislature. The amendment allowing in-state ADW came out of a bill just as […]
After Three Races, Charlatan’s Breeding Rights Sold to Kentucky Farm
He has all of three races and one stakes victory under his tack. And now, Charlatan has a new home once his racing career is finished. Hill ‘n’ Dale Farm in Lexington, KY. announced it bought Charlatan’s breeding rights for an undisclosed amount. The announcement came less than a week […]
The Jockey Club Introduces New Limit on Stallion Breeding
In a significant effort to reduce overbreeding among thoroughbred horses, The Jockey Club implemented a new rule limiting stallions to covering (or mating with) 140 broodmares per year. The new rule, which The Jockey Club said is “to preserve the health of the Thoroughbred breed for the long term…†goes […]
South Point, William Hill Opening Drive-Through Sports Betting Signup Stations Ahead of UFC 249
With the biggest sports betting event since the COVID-19 shutdown began in March on the horizon this weekend, both William Hill and the South Point Hotel Casino are offering drive-through sports betting stations in the hopes of signing up new Nevada bettors. South Point announced earlier this week that it […]
Private Equity Fund to Buy Minority Stakes in Professional Sports
Arctos Sports Partners, a new private equity firm, is looking to buy minority stakes in US major league sports teams and European soccer clubs. Private equity firms often buy troubled assets and — in the coronavirus era — sports franchises now fit that model. But high franchise valuations may be […]
Nevada Sports Betting Handle Plummets 76 Percent in March During COVID-19 Pandemic
The Nevada Gaming Control Board (NGCB) reported Wednesday that the state’s sportsbooks took in a handle of just $141.2 million in March, down about 76% from March 2019. The Nevada sports betting industry took a dramatic hit due to the coronavirus pandemic, which began impacting leagues, tournaments, and other competitions […]
Fasig-Tipton Combines Three Major Horse Auctions Into One Showcase
Recognizing a sagging market for yearlings amid the coronavirus pandemic, renowned thoroughbred auction house Fasig-Tipton announced plans to consolidate three yearling sales into one. The company merged the Saratoga and New York Bred sales scheduled for July into the 2020 Selected Yearlings Showcase, scheduled for Sept. 9-10 at its Lexington, […]
Kentucky Derby Goes Virtual: NBC to Televise eRace Featuring All Triple Crown Winners
The mint juleps are your responsibility, as are the party decorations and hats. But Churchill Downs promised a big event in 2020 on the first Saturday in May — and Kentucky Derby fans will get one, virtually. No, the Kentucky Derby hasn’t been un-postponed. It’s still scheduled to run on […]
New Jersey Sports Betting Handle Nosedived in March as Leagues Shut Down Play
New Jersey sports betting generated just $181.9 million in handle during March, a drop of more than 50% when compared to March 2019, according to numbers released by the New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement. The drop in handle was predictable, given the rapid shutdown of sports leagues around the […]
Costly Two-Month Delay Might Not Derail Eldorado Caesars Merger
The merger between Eldorado Resorts and Caesars Entertainment could be delayed until June, putting more pressure on the ambitious union. Adding insult to injury, Eldorado must pay Caesars roughly $2.3 million a day until the deal closes. Even as their casinos were forced shut during the coronavirus outbreak, Eldorado and […]
Millions Tune in to Watch, Bet on Virtual Grand National (VIDEO)
The good news was, no horses were injured during the Virtual Grand National, which was viewed by a peak audience of nearly 5 million viewers throughout the United Kingdom. And the bookmakers earned a respectable profit, which they donated to charity. The bad news? No real horses ran in Saturday’s […]
Nevada Allows Betting on Virtual NASCAR iRacing
The Nevada Gaming Control Board announced on Friday that sportsbooks can accept bets on the 2020 eNASCAR iRacing Pro Invitational Series starting this weekend. Now that Nevada has paved the way for betting on NASCAR’s virtual races, other states and eSports may follow. The outbreak of the coronavirus has left […]
Washington D.C. Delays Launch of Mobile Sports Betting
After a series of controversies and delays, Washington, D.C.’s sports betting platform is finally ready to launch. But without any American sports to wager on, officials now plan to wait on taking their first bets in the nation’s capital. The D.C. Office of Lottery and Gaming announced a March 31 […]
Wilpons Push Mets Sale Amid Flagging Revenues and Pandemic
According to reports, the New York Mets are still up for sale. While this is arguably the worst time to sell a major league team, the Wilpons have never been known for their timing. Like most major league sports, MLB’s season is on hiatus due to a global pandemic. Would-be […]
PokerStars Founder Isai Scheinberg Pleads Guilty to Running Illegal Gambling Business
Isai Scheinberg, founder of online poker operator PokerStars, pled guilty to one count of operating an illegal gambling business on Wednesday, according to a press release from the US Attorney’s Office in the Southern District of New York. Scheinberg faces up to five years in prison, though he is still […]