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Sports betting begins at del Lago

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Sports betting is now allowed at del Lago Resort & Casinoin Seneca County.

The casino is partnering with the online sports betting company DraftKings to offer betting on all major professional U.S. sports.

Del Lago, like other Upstate New York casinos, has struggled to meet its original revenue projections. 

Brent Stevens, the Chairman and managing partner of the casino’s owner, Peninsula Pacific, says having sports betting should help bring in more revenue, but it won’t necessarily help them reach the level of the original revenue numbers.

“It is a positive step forward; I think online sports betting is another positive step forward and realigning the industry in such a way that we’re all encouraged to invest in our properties and to pay attention to the customers; to provide new and entertaining and innovative ways to serve the needs of our customer base,” Stevens said.

Del Lago, like other casinos in New York state, would like to also offer mobile sports betting, but that has not yet been approved by state regulators.

Peninsula Pacific recently took over full ownership of Del Lago. Previously, Rochester area developers, the Wilmot family, had owned half of it. But Stevens says the ownership change will not have any major impact on plans for continuing to develop del Lago.

“The operations will continue to be managed by the same team. Our initiatives, from a capital perspective including for example today’s Draft Kings announcement and opening, is just an example of the way in which we are proceeding down the path of providing a great entertainment experience to our customer," Stevens said.

He told those gathered at Friday’s ribbon cutting for the sports book operation that, in terms of the  casino’s future, “You’re going to see more improvements, more investment in the community, more reasons to come and visit us and to continue to be proud in Upstate New Yort and the Finger Lakes region.”

Randy Gorbman is WXXI's director of news and public affairs. Randy manages the day-to-day operations of WXXI News on radio, television, and online.