Virginia’s handle on horse race wagering is up nearly $10 Million over the same seven month period of a year ago courtesy of increases in both Advance Deposit Wagering (ADW) and Off Track Betting (OTB) handle.
In the month of July, the four licensed ADWs — or on line betting partners — handled over $6.7 million from Virginia residents. TVG handled the most with $3,009,450 while Twin Spires was next with $2,616,924. Xpress Bet came in third with $947,657 and relative newcomer NYRA Bets was fourth with $183,077. ADW handle for the first seven months of 2018 was $52,468,854, up 3.2% over last year’s $50,842,558. ADW handle for the same period in 2016 was $47,457,633.
Despite being second in handle generation,Twin Spires has made considerable gains in Virginia this year. They still trail TVG in terms of overall handle, but are up over 9% so far, processing $20,256,670 in horse race wagers versus $18,582,457 last year and $17,497,440 in 2016. TVG has handled $23,407,489 through July 31st.
OTB handle is up over $8 million this year with four sites operating now versus two sites a year ago. The OTB at Buckets Bar & Grill in Chesapeake, which opened last November, has handled over $7.2 million in the seven months. The Windmill OTB inside Collinsville’s Dutch Inn hotel has handled $2.1 million, though that center did not open until mid-March. Both Richmond sites — at Breakers Sports Grille and Ponies & Pints — continue to do well with respective handles of $6.01 million and $4.3 million.
Overall, when combining both the ADW and OTB monies along with handle generated at the May Virginia Gold Cup event, the seven month handle for 2018 is $72,3423,168, versus $62,568,893 in 2017.
Both Saratoga and Del Mar summer meets continue through Labor Day with their respective signature events still to come — Pacific Classic Day (Del Mar) on August 18th and Travers Day on August 25th (Saratoga). Both circuits run through Labor Day. A complete OTB simulcast schedule is available at virginiahorseracing.com.