A federal appeals court shocked everyone yesterday by yanking the rug out from under Delaware’s plan for single game sports betting. The three-judge panel decided that Delaware (state motto: Our Lawyers Suck) could only offer parlay bets, and not single game wagers as planned. They also have limited the wagering to the NFL. In their infinite wisdom, the jurists interpreted the 1992 federal law banning sports betting except in grandfathered states Nevada, Delaware, Montana, and Oregon as limiting Delaware to the wagering options they offered before 1992. Delaware offered a few months of NFL parlay card betting in 1976.The governor and state officials are understandably upset, as are officials at the three Delaware racetracks that are in the midst of multi-million dollar renovations to turn portions of their facilities into Vegas-style sports books.
Delaware politicians who were counting on a revenue boost were stunned by the unexpectedly far-reaching decision. Fortunately for these officials, I have their solution, it’s called “The First State Parlay.”
Delaware is permitted to offer parlay wagers on NFL football, but not single game wagering. So why not create a parlay that comes as close to possible as mimicking single game wagering. Here’s how it works.
The “First State Parlay” requires the bettor to pick one team at the prevailing pointspread. That team must win to complete the first leg of the parlay. The bettor then picks a second game where they are allowed to move the line 47 points. The bettor must lay 11 to 10 odds on his parlay bet. 11-10 is the standard for single-game wagers in the sports betting industry.
Let’s show an example of how the “First State Parlay” would work. In the first week of NFL action, let’s say Vinnie Cheesesteak from Philadelphia wants to drive down to Delaware Park to bet $110 to win $100 on his beloved Eagles at +2 over the Panthers. He must combine the Eagles at +2 with a second game that he gets to move 47 points, so he takes the Bears, currently a 3-point dog, at +50 over the Packers.
If the Eagles cover +2, and the Bears can stay within 50 points of the Packers, Vinnie Cheesesteak wins $100. If the Eagles don’t cover the spread he loses $110. If either game lands right on the number it’s a push, and his stake is refunded, no matter the result of the other game.
While this comes very close to replicating single game wagering, by stipulating that the second leg of the parlay can be moved by 47-points, and no more, Delaware can claim that there is still an element of chance. In the playoffs following the 1999 season the Jacksonville Jaguars hosted the Miami Dolphins in the what proved to be the last NFL game for both QB Dan Marino and coach Jimmy Johnson. If you took the Dolphins from +7.5 and moved them 47 points to +54.5, you would have lost your bet by a half-point when the Dolphins were filleted by the Jags 52-7.
Is the “First State Parlay” an obvious workaround to try to turn single game betting into parlay betting? Yes. But it seems to fit into the new parameters set by the court. Delaware should hire some new lawyers and have them consider it as a potential solution.
By Kevin O'Neill of Real World Sports.
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