New sports betting retailers across Delaware are easing into the new NFL season.
Preseason wagering began Wednesday at bars, restaurants and convenience stores, with about 30 more locations available to customers this year. In all, over 60 retailers outside the state’s three casinos will offer parlay betting on NFL games.
The newest locations to offer football parlay cards include gas stations, convenience stores and specialty shops.
Minesh Patel, owner of Mike’s Food Mart in Dover, added sports betting at his store. Patel says he decided to carry sports betting to benefit his customers that already play keno or buy scratch-off tickets.
“It’s for the convenience of the customer and there aren’t too many locations for sports betting, so more people come in the store, you know. They get soda, chips and [it’s convenient] for the lottery too," said Patel.
Patel says he believes it’ll also be a boon to his business, even though few customers took advantage of it Wednesday.
“Some customers, you know, they don’t want to play preseason. They wait until the good season when they start. I think it’s starting in September, so maybe we’ll be seeing more players in September,” said Patel.
Those new players can also place over/under bets on the total score of a game for the first time this year, but only when the regular season begins.
Lottery officials haven’t released final audited revenue figures from 2012, but they say there was a 40 percent jump in total wagers last year. Despite more betting, the state’s share remained relatively at $2.2 million because bettors cashed in more winning wagers in 2012.