At this time, the states of New Jersey, Nevada, and Delaware have implemented forms of regulated online gambling. For the most part, those who have ventured into the world of regulated online gaming are casinos located within Las Vegas and Atlantic City. However, as more states are weighing the pros and cons of offering online gambling, it is opening the door for new contenders in the industry outside of these two hot-spot gambling locales.
Case in point – Churchill Downs, the Kentucky-based race track that opened its doors back in 1875 and is still going strong. Churchill Downs is the home of the legendary Kentucky Derby, and is well-versed in sports betting.
While sports betting and casino gaming have a multitude of differences, they have a fair amount in common, too. Churchill Downs CEO Bob Evans was recently quoted as saying that the growing market for online gambling provides a “significant opportunity.”
It is for this reason that Churchill Downs has invested well over $1 million in developing an in-house, online gambling platform and plan to invest another $1 million or so per quarter through the remainder of 2014. They even attempted to purchase the Showboat Casino in Atlantic City, yet were not able to close the deal.
Evans stated, “We can’t make states legalize Internet gaming any faster than they would otherwise. But as that occurs, we want to be a player. We will make the appropriate investment to do that.”
While Churchill Downs is open to speaking publicly about their ambitions to enter the world of online gambling, they are surely not the only ones with the same thought.
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