Churchill Downs Incorporated (CDI) and FanDuel Group have reached an agreement – a significant and lengthy one. The objective is to introduce horse racing to FanDuel’s user base. Envision sports wagering, consider advance-deposit betting (imagine placing bets on horses from your home!), and contemplate television broadcast – it’s all encompassed.
What implications does this hold? FanDuel gains access to CDI’s technology and expertise, enabling their customers to engage in horse racing directly through FanDuel’s platforms. Moreover, it’s not just any horse racing: FanDuel secured a sponsorship agreement with the Kentucky Derby for sports wagering. That’s monumental!
Bill Carstanjen, the CEO at CDI, is enthusiastic. He perceives this as an avenue to bring premier horse racing to a vast new viewership through FanDuel. Their goal is to create a streamlined experience, simplifying participation for newcomers.
Here are the specifics: FanDuel obtains the right to accept wagers on races owned or managed by CDI nationwide. They also acquire certain television rights to air CDI’s races on their network. Commencing in 2023, FanDuel will compensate CDI for their technology and services via United Tote, facilitating this betting integration across their platforms, including their sportsbook and TVG.
In recent days, FanDuel TV debuted, delivering premier equestrian competition directly to their sports wagering platform. Chief Executive Officer Amy Howe feels this will transform the user experience, allowing patrons to place wagers on both horses and sporting events within a single application.
Their launch is certainly noteworthy, as they are featuring betting on the Kentucky Derby, arguably the most thrilling 120 seconds in athletics. Their coverage extends beyond the Derby; they will broadcast races from Churchill Downs throughout the year, exclusively on FanDuel TV. This represents a significant development for the sport of horse racing, and FanDuel aims to engage an entirely new demographic of enthusiasts.
