The Kentucky Derby will run on Saturday, May 1, and Nevada horse bettors and about-to-be-surprised tourists were about to have difficulty placing wagers. But a last-minute agreement will prevent that and bettors can enjoy a full slate of bets on the Derby.
It’s all due to a contract dispute between the Nevada Pari-Mutuel Association, which represents the state’s racebooks, and Churchill Downs Inc. The 18-month dispute has prevented Nevada horseplayers from betting on races from Churchill Downs and other tracks the company or controls.
Like last year, the Nevada Gaming Commission will allow the racebooks to take bets on certain nationally televised races, including the Kentucky Derby. As a result, the sportsbooks will get to keep the share of the wager that would normally go to the host track.
But it’s not an ideal solution for bettors who would not have been able to place multi-race wagers, such as the Pick 4 or the Oaks-Derby double. “Caps” on exacta and trifecta payouts caused wagerers to avoid those pools.
Some observers believe bettors who experienced the situation last year would have left Nevada in order to have access to a full wagering menu.
