Delaware Gov. Carney makes state's first legal sports bet as New Jersey waits for clearance

Delaware Governor John Carney made the country’s first legal sports bet on Tuesday -putting $10 on the Philadelphia Phillies to beat the Chicago Cubs- at Dover Downs, as he became one of about 36 people who made bets within the first 20 minutes of legal wagering. 

“I'm a big sports fan, a big Philadelphia sports fan,” Carney said, who also flew out to Minnesota to watch the Philadelphia Eagles defeat the New England Patriots in the Super Bowl.

Delaware became the first state, outside Nevada, to legalize sports betting as well as wagers on professional sports including baseball, basketball, football, hockey, soccer, golf and auto racing.

Karriem Keys, 53, was one of a couple dozen who were wagering on games at Dover Downs along with Carney. Keys, who is from New York and now lives in Dover, bet the New York Giants to win the Super Bowl.

“In New York, we would go right to the corner store, to the bodega, and bet,” Keys said. "That's not legal, but, you know, everybody was doing it. But now it's legal so it's great.”

Keys is like many from the northeast who now don’t have to travel to Las Vegas or use illegal offshore websites to gamble on sports with Delaware so close by. And for some, sports betting might get a little closer to home with New Jersey set to vote on gambling measures as soon as Thursday.

The New Jersey bill is expected to move through the legislature with ease, with Gov. Phil Murphy set to sign it a day or two later. “He may take a day to look at it and review it with the attorney general and make sure it’s technically correct,” confirmed Assemblyman Ralph Caputo, D-Belleville.

As soon as it passes, Monmouth Park is expected to immediately open in time for Game 4 of the NBA Finals.

Meanwhile, Atlantic City casinos could stand the most to benefit. DraftKings fantasy sports recently announced a partnership with Resorts Atlantic City, while the new Ocean Resort Casino is expected to have sports betting on its first day of operations later this month, according to NJ.com.