With 1st legal sports bet at Dover Downs, Gov. Carney doubles his money on Phillies

Jeff Neiburg | The News Journal

Show Caption Hide Caption Carney places first sports bet outside of Nevada Governor John Carney welcomes single-game sports betting to Delaware by placing the first bet outside of Nevada Tuesday.

Delaware casino heads aren't sure legalized sports betting will result in an influx of extra profit, but it paid off for Gov. John Carney.

Carney placed the first legal sports bet at Dover Downs Tuesday afternoon when Delaware launched its single-game sports wagering at the state's three casinos.

He placed a $10 wager on the Philadelphia Phillies to beat the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field Tuesday night. The Phillies were 2/1 (+200) underdogs, having lost 6 of 8 games while the Cubs were riding a four-game winning streak.

Carney earned a $20 win on his $10 bet, thanks to Zach Eflin's pitching that helped the Phillies come away with a much-needed 6-1 win in Chicago.

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Will the historical winning ticket go to the Delaware Archives? Might it end up in a suit jacket, never to be found again? Or has Carney already spent his winnings?

Turns out, he spent the money before the game even ended.

"I was so confident the Phils would win that I've already spent the winnings – on a haircut before my 25th anniversary dinner with Tracey last night," Carney tweeted Wednesday morning.

I was so confident the Phils would win that I’ve already spent the winnings— on a haircut before my 25th anniversary dinner with Tracey last night. pic.twitter.com/gZtBC4rp9Y — Governor John Carney (@JohnCarneyDE) June 6, 2018

The governor's bet was small potatoes compared to a bettor who made the first bet at Delaware Park. Tom Barton, a professional sports handicapper, wagered $1,000 on the Yankees to win the World Series at 5/1 odds.

It's unclear how much money was bet yesterday at Delaware Park, Dover Downs and Harrington Raceway. The Delaware Lottery, which regulates sports betting in the state, will likely report figures on a monthly basis.

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Contact reporter Jeff Neiburg at (302) 983-6772, jneiburg@delawareonline.com or on Twitter @Jeff_Neiburg.