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May 04, 2023

Mr. Ed. Silver. Trigger. Spirit. Maximus. Black Beauty. Flicka. Regarding horses, what I've seen in movies and television is as far as my knowledge goes (oh, yeah – and Seabiscuit).

But I am looking forward to putting $20 down on a horse to win the Kentucky Derby on Saturday.

Am I trying to throw my money away since I don't know a thing about horse racing? Absolutely not! What I'll do is read the Derby-related content our team has created this week, and armed with that knowledge, I'll make my pick.

And I'll place my wager with FanDuel to take advantage of its Kentucky Derby Promo — a $20 'No Sweat Derby Bet.' If I win, fantastic! But if I lose, I'll get my stake back as a bonus bet, up to $20. The deal is offered to new and existing customers alike.

Learn more here: FanDuel Racing Kentucky Derby Promo

There is more going on this weekend than the Kentucky Derby, of course. The NBA and NHL postseasons continue, the MLB season is in full swing, UFC 288 is on tap for Saturday night, and the USFL rolls into Week 4.

Let's get right to it. Time to talk about sports betting, and May the Fourth be with you!

2023 Kentucky Derby: 149th Run for the Roses

If you want a good excuse to enjoy a mint julep and wear a funny hat, then the Kentucky Derby is the event for you. Twenty horses are set to go the 1 ¼ miles at Churchill Downs with a $3 million purse on the line.

As for betting the race, you can gain valuable insight by checking out the fantastic Derby content from our team of writers, who have tapped into the minds of some of the top horse racing bookmakers around. Among the highlights:

Here’s the accompanying video podcast of our Kentucky Derby panel, featuring DraftKings’ Avello, Catena Media turf writers Alicia Hughes and Andrew Champagne, and moderated by Gaming Today Senior Writer Brant James:

Also, with news Thursday that No. 10 Practical Move, a reasonably priced 10-to-1 in the morning-line odds, has been scratched, here’s an updated look at the 2023 Kentucky Derby field.

As with every Friday preceding Kentucky Derby Day, the ladies take center stage tomorrow in Louisville. Read up on the field of 3-year-old fillies here:

Kentucky Oaks 2023 Betting Guide: Wet Paint Set as Favorite

NBA Postseason: Conference Semifinals

Now that the NBA Playoffs have moved on to the conference semifinals, the action has only gotten more intense, as teams battle for the right to move one step closer to the NBA Finals.

There is only one game tonight, Game 2 of the Lakers-Warriors series. Anthony Davis led LA to a 117-112 win in Game 1. Can the Lakers win both games in San Francisco?

Check GamingToday.com for coverage of each day’s games, and keep an eye on the latest NBA Finals odds and prices for NBA Finals MVP:

NBA Playoff Game Betting Lines

On the Ice …

Bettors also have the Stanley Cup Playoffs for their wagering enjoyment this month into next, and we’re serving up daily betting previews for the games. Here's what's on deck tonight:

Also Check: Odds to Win 2023 Stanley Cup

It’s Never Too Early for the NFL

I'll post my preview for the weekend's USFL games tomorrow, but with the NFL Draft behind us, here are some fun betting markets to check out as the season approaches:

UFC 288

Coming at you Saturday night from Newark, New Jersey, Aljamain Sterling and Henry Cejudo tangle in the main event at UFC 288.

UFC 288 Odds, Props, Predictions: Sterling vs. Cejudo for Bantamweight Title

This Week On The Sports Betting Legal/Business Landscape…

Sports fans in Vermont got some excellent news this week. A mobile sports betting law is expected to pass through the state legislature this week, allowing up to six sportsbooks to launch early next year.

But in Missouri, the news is not good. Once again, a bill that made it past the House is not likely to be approved by the Senate.

Back on the East Coast, the news is promising for gamblers in Rhode Island. Two bills, Senate Bill 948 and House Bill 6348, that would make Rhode Island the seventh state to legalize online casinos (i.e., slots, table games, etc.) have been referred to a committee.

Sportsbook Promotions: May 4, 2023

The following promotions could come in handy this weekend:

I mentioned this earlier, but I'll repeat it: FanDuel is running a Kentucky Derby promotion, a 'No Sweat Derby Bet' up to $20. Bet $20 on the Derby this weekend, and if your wager loses, you'll get your stake back as a bonus bet. New and existing customers can take advantage of this promo!

Here are a few more offers from the sportsbooks:

BetRivers: NBA Playoffs Live Bet & Get! Place a real money, LIVE (in-play) wager of $10+ on any NBA Playoff Game, and receive a 50% Matched Bet as a Bonus Bet, up to $25.
DraftKings: Bet $5+ and get $150 in Bonus Bets instantly: For new customers only.
PointsBet: Power Hour, 60 Days of Bonus Bets: Start the countdown for 60 days of Bonus Bets! Starting April 1, log in from 6-7 p.m. ET daily to get your Same Game Parlay Bonus Bet. Use it on ANY sport during Power Hour.
FanDuel: Bet $5, Get $150 in Bonus Bets: For new customers only.

Terms and conditions apply. Check out our promo page for the best sign-up offers sportsbook apps have to offer.

That's it for this edition of the Gaming Today Playbook. I hope you enjoyed reading it as much or more as I enjoyed writing it. If you have any questions or want to request a topic to get covered in a future newsletter, you can reach me via email at travis.pulver@catenamedia.com or via Twitter at @FatManWriting.

To close out the GTP this week, in honor of the unofficial Star Wars holiday:

This one makes me laugh every time I see it.

Bet wisely, my friends.

Until Next Week,

Travis Pulver, Sports Betting Writer