Wynn Las Vegas will not offer Kentucky Derby 2019 future odds

By this time of year, the Wynn Las Vegas and the director for its race and sportsbook, Johnny Avello, have typically distributed the first batch of early Kentucky Derby odds. A CDC Gaming Reports article published Monday explained the delay: Avello, 65, has moved to DraftKings after 13 years at the Wynn.

In Avello's absence, a Wynn Las Vegas official confirmed with Horse Racing Nation, it has no plans to offer future wagering on the 2019 Kentucky Derby. Betting there remains open for the Breeders’ Cup Classic and Distaff, she said.

Avello’s duties at DraftKings, according to CDC Reports, will involve “oversight of retail sportsbook trading and risk management.” DraftKings previously announced it will move into racing following the U.S. Supreme Court ruling allowing states to legalize sports betting.

“We’re committed to building a world-class sports betting operation by putting together amazing talent with diverse experiences and backgrounds,” Matt Kalish, co-founder of DraftKings, told CDC Reports, “and Johnny’s arrival brings us one step closer to that goal.”

Whereas the Wynn only took bets placed inside the state of Nevada, and they were fixed odds, Churchill Downs hosts the official Future Wager, for which Pool 1 is generally held at the end of November. The Future Wager includes options to bet a set number of individual interests or “All Others” encompassing any 2-year-old horse not listed.

Avello's board, however, listed hundreds of potential Derby starters, and the Wynn future wager is sure to be missed this winter leading into the height of the prep season.