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Caesars Adds Pari-Mutuel Wagering Ahead of Kentucky Derby

Ziv Chen

Last Updated: April 30, 2025 1:30 PM EDT • 1 min 51 sec read.

Caesars Adds Pari-Mutuel Wagering Ahead of Kentucky Derby
Pictured: A security guard stands in front of one of the betting windows on the second floor of the Caesars Sportsbook at Chase Field. Photo by Alberto Mariani / The Republic via Imagn Images.

Sports betting and iGaming company Caesars Entertainment has announced that it has added pari-mutuel horse racing wagering to its Caesars Sportsbook app in two more US states.

Now, horse racing bettors in Kentucky and Colorado can switch between the Caesars Sportsbook app and the Caesars Racebook wagering UI, which horse racing data specialist NYRA Bets will provide.

The news of the expansion into two new states comes as racing fans gear up for the 151st running of the Kentucky Derby, the most famous and popular thoroughbred racing event in the US, staged at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky.

“Integrating pari-mutuel horse racing into the Caesars Sportsbook app is a significant milestone for both our digital business and the sport of horse racing. Our customers will be able to bet on horse racing, whether it’s the sport’s biggest events or daily races from tracks around the world,” said the Senior Vice President and Chief Development Officer at Caesars Digital, Dan Shapiro.

Making pari-mutuel wagering on horse racing available in Kentucky and Colorado is a significant achievement for Caesars, which has been working with the New York Racing Association and NYRA Bets to expand the service across more states.

“Horse racing plays an important role in the betting marketplace, and we appreciate Caesars’ longstanding commitment to elevating the sport and growing fan engagement,” added Tony Allevato, President of NYRA Bets. “Launching the shared wallet functionality allows Caesars Sportsbook to provide its large customer base with premier racing content through a comprehensive and easy-to-access wagering menu. We congratulate Caesars on their successful expansion.”

FanDuel Joins the Fun

Caesars Sportsbook's expansion will include live streaming from over 300 racetracks worldwide, along with events from the company’s partner tracks at Del Mar, Red Mile, Keeneland, and Monmouth Park. Other streaming venues include Saratoga Race Course, Gulfstream Park, Santa Anita, Aqueduct, and all of the Caesars-operated tracks. 

The sports betting app includes access to horse racing statistics and wagering data, and will be linked to the Caesars Rewards loyalty program. 

Yet, Caesars isn’t the only online operator gearing up its sportsbooks for the 151st Kentucky Derby. FanDuel is another one of our best sportsbook operators that has released a plethora of Derby-themed exclusive promotions and events before the upcoming race. This includes around-the-clock streaming content on its FanDuel TV service and giving out a $500 No Sweat First Bet to new customers. 

Caesars Wagering History

Caesars has a long association with US horse racing. The company is the presenting sponsor of the National Horseplayers Championship, which is held every year at Horseshoe Las Vegas, and also operates racetracks at Harrah’s Columbus, Harrah’s Hoosier Park, Horseshoe Indianapolis, Harrah’s Philadelphia, and Eldorado Gaming Scioto Downs.

Caesars will also hope to contribute to wagering history during Kentucky Derby week. Last year, the race broke the record for the highest amount wagered on it, at $210.7 million, and this year’s event could set the bar higher.

Written By:
Ziv Chen
Ziv has over two decades of experience in the igaming and sports betting industry, having served in senior marketing and business development positions with both B2C and B2B companies, including Playtech and Microgaming. In 2019, Ziv decided to pursue his passion for writing and became a fulltime industry journalist, covering casino, sports, and gambling business news. He’s specialties include casino games and technology, US state gambling regulation, company performance, as well as gambling affiliates and marketing. As a Pitt graduate, Ziv is a diehard fan of all Pittsburgh sports teams, with the Steelers at the top of the list. In his free time, he enjoys reading crime fiction, biographies (mainly of sports personalities, but not only) and American history. Ziv’s Favorite quote: “We're going to pursue perfection, knowing full well we won't catch it, but we're going to relentlessly chase it," Mike Tomlin, Pittsburgh Steelers Head Coach.