Virginia’s Advance Deposit Wagering (ADW) handle on horse races continued to surge in July, extending an upward trend that began when the Covid-19 pandemic started in mid-March.
For the third straight month, handle generated from four online partner betting providers — TVG, Xpressbet, Twinspires and NYRABets — reached eight-digit territory. July’s $15,378,223 was a touch below June’s $15,624,034 figure, but ahead of the $14,651,615 wagered in May. Since January, when $7,053,900 was bet via the four, handle has increased each month.
Through June, online betting handle was up 32% compared to the same time frame in 2019. Incorporating July’s numbers, the increase stands at 42% over last year’s seven-month comparison. All totaled, $77,181,503 has been wagered this year versus $54,047,229 in 2019.
TVG continues to generate the most handle from Virginia residents with $7,696,248 million in July and $41,028,668 for the seven months. That is up 56% over last year’s $26,272,804. Twinspires is up 22% — $22,489,884 this year versus $18,779,052 in 2019. Xpressbet, who has accepted $10,161,543 in bets so far, is up 41% while NYRABets, newest of the four, is up 95% from handling $3,501,408.
Colonial Downs’ Rosies’s Gaming Emporiums and VA-Horseplay Off Track Betting Centers reopened in July for the first time since closing March 16. For 2020, Historical Horse Racing (HHR) handle stands at $676,030,433 from Rosie’s sites in New Kent, Hampton, Richmond and Vinton. The Richmond location on Midlothian Turnpike has handled $252,645,399 alone.
For the year, live simulcast handle is $10,394,824 from the Rosie’s and VA-Horseplay OTBs combined. Breakers Sports Grille in Henrico leads the way with $2,239,894 while Buckets Bar & Grill in Chesapeake is next at $2,102,318. The OTB inside Rosie’s Hampton follows with $1,724,840
Combining all categories, total all-sources handle through July was $763,606,761.
With major racing events like the Kentucky Derby (September 5) and Preakness (October 3) still to come, interest in racing should continue to remain strong.
