Suffolk Downs Looking To Partner With DK Horse In Massachusetts

When DK Horse, DraftKings’ horse betting platform, is launched in May, Suffolk Downs, one of Massachusetts’ two horse racing simulcast facilities, is seeking to collaborate with them.

According to the Thursday meeting agenda of the Massachusetts Gaming Commission, it has been stated that the racing division will present five requests. Out of these, four requests will be from Plainridge Park Casino, which is responsible for hosting harness racing at its racetrack.

Suffolk Downs submits the fifth request.

The agenda for Thursday states, “Approval Request for DK Horse, LLC as an Account Wagering Provider at Suffolk Downs.”

Providers such as TVG, Twinspires, and AmWager facilitate legal online horse betting in Massachusetts.

What DK Horse partnership could mean for sports betting

DraftKings, having obtained an online sports betting license in MA, is likely to pursue the launch of DK Horse in Massachusetts. This inclination is implied by the request made by Suffolk Downs. Furthermore, the request also hints at the possibility of Suffolk Downs collaborating with DraftKings if they decide to establish a physical sportsbook on their premises.

Michael Buckley, the chief operating officer at Suffolk Downs, stated in an email to the director of racing in Massachusetts that DK Horse has already obtained approval in Oregon, Virginia, Minnesota, and Montana. DK Horse intends to utilize the infrastructure of Churchill Downs Technology Initiatives Company (CDTIC), the operator of the TwinSpires app. This app has been legally facilitating horse betting in Massachusetts for more than ten years, as stated in the publicly available materials for Thursday’s meeting.

It seems highly likely that the MGC will give its approval to this request, granting DK Horse the opportunity to kick off its operations in Massachusetts.

Suffolk Downs, being a licensed MA horse betting simulcast center, has the capability to operate a physical sportsbook and grant an online sports betting license to an established provider. Initially, BetRivers was considered a probable partner for Suffolk Downs in the Massachusetts market, but they decided not to pursue it.

Raynham Park, another simulcast facility located in Massachusetts, has announced its plans to launch a large-scale retail Caesars Sportsbook by June. The Massachusetts Gaming Commission (MGC) will commence the evaluation of the joint application between Raynham Park and Caesars during its meeting on March 28. At present, Raynham Park has not formed a partnership with any app for its online license.

Why Suffolk Downs is a prime spot for retail sportsbook

Located approximately 8 miles northeast of downtown Boston, Suffolk Downs presents as an ideal spot for a retail sportsbook. Notably, Encore Boston Harbor, situated 6 miles north of downtown Boston, witnessed a sports betting handle in February that exceeded Plainridge Park Casino’s by nearly $10 million, solidifying its position as the second-largest handle for the month.

Being in (or close to) Boston is beneficial.