Delaware's football bet is still paying off

The Delaware Lottery, where parlay bets (three-game minimum) on professional football were legal this year, still has some gambling action in play for the Super Bowl.

Trying to extend their "season," lottery officials allowed customers to parlay the two league championship games played on Jan. 24 with bets on last week's Pro Bowl and today's Super Bowl.

Asked why anyone would bet on the Pro Bowl, Vernon A. Kirk, principal deputy of the lottery, said: "We tried to be customer friendly."

Statistics on those bets will not be available until the next lottery report at the end of the month.

But anyone who played a four-game parlay and picked the Colts and the Saints in the league championship games and the AFC in the Pro Bowl is still holding a potential winning ticket depending on the Super Bowl outcome.

Likewise, anyone who played a three-game parlay and picked the Colts and Saints could still be a winner depending on today's outcome.

Overall, Kirk said, the football lottery was a success, with a little over $1.5 million going into the state's general fund.

Kirk said Delaware still hopes the U.S. Supreme Court will agree to hear the state's challenge of an appellate court ruling limiting professional football betting to a parlay system.

Sports betting took place at the state's three racetracks, Delaware Park, Dover Downs, and Harrington Raceway, which also offer slot machines.

According to monthly lottery reports, $10.85 million was wagered on football through last Sunday. Net proceeds, according to the same reports, totaled $3.18 million.

The state receives 50 percent of the net. The racetracks get 40.2 percent, and the remainder is designated for purse increases at the tracks.

- George Anastasia