Filling the void left by traditional sports
New Hampshire Lottery officials have added eNASCAR to an approved list of sports that bettors can wager on. The addition of eNASCAR helps to fill the void left by traditional sports being canceled or postponed around the globe as a result of the deadly coronavirus outbreak.
The virtual races are based on the NASCAR stock car racing series. With the virtual option, online drivers compete in simulated races. Real cars and official racetracks are part of each simulated race.
Details of the Coca-Cola iRacing Series
eNASCAR was introduced by NASCAR in 2018. The iRacing Series is operated in partnership with Coca-Cola. The virtual racing series sees 40 leading sim racers compete against each other in a 20-race schedule.
According to the executive director of the New Hampshire Lottery, Charlie McIntyre, the eNASCAR offering is a strategic addition to their sports betting portfolio. McIntyre said this new sporting event
offers an exciting new opportunity for our players to experience the thrill of winning.”
The New Hampshire Lottery works in partnership with DraftKings to provide online and mobile sports betting to players in the state. The offering began on December 30, 2019. Since launching, over 36,000 players have registered and over $28.6m in sports bets have been placed.
Already approved in New Jersey and Nevada
Earlier this month, the New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement approved eNASCAR for their sports betting industry. In the Garden State, the iRacing Series is classified as an esport. The series is classified in this manner because a racing simulator is required.
Nevada has also authorized wagering on eNASCAR, providing something for sports bettors to access online during the COVID-19 pandemic. eNASCAR has seen an increase in popularity as traditional professional sports, such as baseball and basketball, continue to be on hiatus.