Caesars Entertainment has expanded its sportsbook offerings by launching pari-mutuel horse racing betting in Indiana and Illinois right before the upcoming Belmont Stakes at Saratoga Race Course. This new addition brings the total count of states with horse racing integration in the Caesars Sportsbook app to seven.
Caesars Brings Horse Racing to More States via Integrated App Powered by NYRA Bets
This expansion comes after similar launches in Colorado and Kentucky earlier this spring. Now that Indiana and Illinois are included, users in these states can bet on major racing events like the Belmont Stakes as well as daily races worldwide, all through the same mobile app.
NYRA Bets, the online betting branch of the New York Racing Association, powers the integration. It gives users a smooth way to switch between sports betting and horse racing. The platform also lets users watch livestreams from over 300 racetracks worldwide. It provides tools to analyze races and race stats right in the app.
This all-in-one system uses one digital wallet, making it easier to place bets. It also links to Caesars Rewards, the company’s loyalty program. Customers get both Reward Credits and Tier Credits for each horse racing bet. This helps Caesars keep players interested across different types of betting.
Caesars Expands Horse Racing Access Ahead of Belmont Stakes
Executives at Caesars Digital stressed how important this growth is for their strategy. Dan Shapiro, who runs development for Caesars’ digital branch, said putting horse racing together with the sportsbook helps more people discover the sport. This fits with the company’s long-time support for racing. He also suggested they might expand more if they get the okay from regulators in other states.
Tony Allevato, who heads NYRA Bets, liked the move. He said it lets more customers get top-notch racing content and boosts the sport’s standing in the betting world.
Saturday’s Belmont Stakes, the final leg of the Triple Crown, builds on the excitement. The race boasts a strong field, including Preakness winner Journalism and Kentucky Derby champ Sovereignty. The event tops off a busy day of racing that starts in the morning and features several graded stakes.
Caesars has an impact on horse racing beyond the digital realm. The company owns and runs a few racetracks such as Harrah’s Hoosier Park and Horseshoe Indianapolis. It also acts as the main sponsor of the National Horseplayers Championship held each year in Las Vegas.
With this new growth, Caesars keeps working to be a key player where traditional sports betting meets the long-standing world of horse racing.