Churchill reaches agreement with Nevada casinos on Fair Grounds, Turfway, Oaklawn signals
Churchill Downs Inc. has reached an agreement with Nevada casinos that will allow their racebooks to offer wagering on signals from two of their winter tracks, though an agreement to offer Churchill’s signal remains elusive, the company confirmed on Friday.
The agreement, which includes the signals from Churchill-owned Turfway Park in Kentucky and Fair Grounds Race Course in New Orleans, in addition to Oaklawn Park in Arkansas, was reached with the Nevada Pari-Mutuel Association, which represents the state’s casinos in negotiations with racetracks. The signals have been blocked from Nevada casinos since 2019.
The agreement does not include the signal from Churchill Downs in Louisville and its Kentucky Derby, the most heavily bet race in the U.S., according to Churchill, though a Churchill official with knowledge of the process said that the current agreement “signals reasonable compromises” that could lead to a more inclusive and long-term arrangement down the road. The official spoke on the condition of anonymity.
In an official statement, Churchill Downs said that it is “thrilled that the Nevada horseplayers will have access to these great products and we look forward to continuing the ongoing discussions with our partners at the NPMA on a long-term arrangement for these tracks.”
The Derby signal used to be an important marketing tool for many Las Vegas casinos, which would typically host parties in their racebooks for the event. However, with the rise of mobile betting and simulcasting, the Derby signal in Nevada has become less important to the casinos, and they have resisted demands for the high price and other conditions attached to a contract for the race.
Patty Jones, the executive director of the NPMA, did not respond to a phone call on Friday.