(CHDN) Churchill Downs Incorporated Business Model Canvas Research

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(CHDN) Churchill Downs Incorporated Business Model Canvas Research

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Churchill Downs’ Business Model, Simplified

Unlock the full strategic blueprint behind Churchill Downs Incorporated’s business model. This concise Business Model Canvas reveals how the company creates value across gaming, racing, and entertainment while capturing loyal customers and driving revenue. Ideal for investors, analysts, and strategists who want a clear, actionable view—download the full version to go deeper.

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Partnerships

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State racing and gaming regulators

State racing and gaming regulators are CDI’s gatekeepers: every live race, historical racing machine, sportsbook, and iGaming launch depends on state licenses and rule changes. In 2025, the Kentucky Derby drew 147,406 fans, showing how tightly state approval, racing access, and revenue are linked.

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Horsemen, breeders, and racing stakeholders

Live racing at Churchill Downs Incorporated depends on owners, trainers, jockeys, and breeding networks to supply the horses and fill race cards that drive pari-mutuel wagering. In 2025, the Kentucky Derby Day program still showed how this ecosystem underpins the company’s racing calendar and fan demand, with every live race tied to field size and betting volume.

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Technology, payments, and platform vendors

Churchill Downs Incorporated relies on technology, payments, and platform vendors to keep TwinSpires’ digital wagering, mobile, and payment rails working, while also supporting the pari-mutuel systems it designs and deploys for third parties. These partners help protect uptime, security, and fast transaction processing, which matters in a business that must handle real-time bets and payouts with low friction.

Gaming equipment and systems suppliers

Churchill Downs Incorporated relies on gaming equipment and systems suppliers to keep casino and historical racing floors stocked with slots, VLTs, table games, and the tech that runs them. Its portfolio includes about 11,000 slot machines and VLTs plus 200 table games, so these partners matter for floor refreshes, uptime, and operating efficiency.

  • About 11,000 slots and VLTs
  • 200 table games
  • Supports refreshes and uptime

Supplier ties help Churchill Downs Incorporated replace aging units, add new titles, and keep play smooth across venues. That keeps the floor current and helps protect win per unit.

Media, data, and content partners

Churchill Downs Incorporated uses media, data, and content partners to push live race video, replays, and handicapping data to bettors. BRIS supplies horse racing statistical data, and these feeds help keep wagering active, lift repeat play, and support retention across CDI’s betting channels.

  • Live race video and replays
  • BRIS racing statistics
  • Higher wagering engagement
  • Better bettor retention
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Churchill Downs’ key partners power racing, wagering, and Derby demand

Churchill Downs Incorporated’s key partnerships center on regulators, horse owners and trainers, and tech and content vendors that keep racing, wagering, and gaming live. In 2025, the Kentucky Derby drew 147,406 fans, showing how venue access, race supply, and betting feeds all work together to drive demand.

Partner group Why it matters 2025 fact
Regulators Licenses and approvals Derby attendance: 147,406
Owners/trainers Supply race fields Drive pari-mutuel wagering

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Activities

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Operating live and historical racing venues

Churchill Downs Incorporated operates three Kentucky pari-mutuel gaming venues, pairing live racing, wagering, and guest services as one revenue engine. Those properties had about 3,050 historical racing machines at Dec. 31, 2021, a scale that supports year-round traffic and betting demand.

This venue mix drives both racing handle and gaming cash flow, with Kentucky still a core market for the Churchill Downs Incorporated brand.

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Running TwinSpires digital wagering

TwinSpires is Churchill Downs Incorporated’s core digital wagering engine, offering horse racing, sports betting, and iGaming. The platform helps drive scale, with Churchill Downs reporting $2.7 billion of net revenue and $559.1 million of adjusted EBITDA in 2024, while requiring nonstop product, compliance, and trading support.

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Managing casinos and sportsbooks

Churchill Downs Incorporated runs casino gaming in 8 states and operates 9 brick-and-mortar sportsbooks, so its core activity is no longer just horse racing. In fiscal 2025, this broader gaming mix helped drive scale across slots, table games, and retail betting, with casinos and sportsbooks acting as a key growth engine.

Producing racing video and handicapping content

In fiscal 2025, Churchill Downs Incorporated used live race streams, replays, and handicapping data to keep bettors engaged and drive wagering. This content supports a business that posted about $2.7 billion of revenue in fiscal 2024 and roughly $1.0 billion of adjusted EBITDA, showing how media content feeds betting demand.

  • Live streams support real-time wagering
  • Replays help bettors review races
  • Handicapping data improves betting decisions
  • Content strengthens fan engagement

Designing pari-mutuel wagering systems

Churchill Downs Incorporated designs pari-mutuel wagering systems that power racetracks and off-track betting sites, so this is a B2B capability tied to its owned venues but also sold into third-party operations. The system layer supports live race wagering, pools, and settlement for large-scale betting networks.

  • Builds and deploys wagering tech
  • Supports racetracks and OTB sites
  • Drives third-party B2B revenue
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Churchill Downs Powers Racing, Wagering, and Casino Growth

Churchill Downs Incorporated’s key activities are running live racing venues, managing TwinSpires digital wagering, and operating casinos and sportsbooks; together these support year-round betting, gaming, and guest traffic. The group also builds pari-mutuel systems and racing content, which helps keep wagering active across owned and partner sites.

Key activity Evidence
Live racing and venues 3 Kentucky venues; about 3,050 historical racing machines
Digital wagering and gaming $2.7 billion net revenue; $559.1 million adjusted EBITDA

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Resources

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Churchill Downs and racing venue portfolio

Churchill Downs Incorporated’s key resources are its Louisville, Kentucky headquarters and its racing venue portfolio, anchored by three pari-mutuel gaming venues in Kentucky. The Churchill Downs brand, established in 1875, is a durable asset tied to the Kentucky Derby and a high-value racing footprint.

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TwinSpires digital platform

TwinSpires is Churchill Downs Incorporated’s main online wagering platform, covering horse racing, sports betting, and iGaming. It is central to customer acquisition and repeat wagering, and CDI reported about $2.7 billion in net revenue in 2024, underscoring the scale of its digital reach.

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Historical racing and casino gaming assets

Churchill Downs Incorporated’s key resources include about 3,050 historical racing machines, 11,000 slot machines and VLTs, and 200 table games. These physical gaming floors drive volume across multiple states and remain a core earnings engine for the Company.

Racing data, video, and BRIS information

CDI’s live streams, replays, and handicapping tools give bettors fast access to race form, while BRIS adds deep horse-by-horse stats that sharpen picks. In 2025, Churchill Downs’ Derby Week still drew world-scale betting attention, so these data assets directly support wagering decisions and keep users inside the CDI ecosystem.

  • Live video supports real-time betting.
  • Replays help review race outcomes.
  • BRIS adds statistical horse data.
  • Better data improves bettor decisions.

Gaming licenses and operating permits

Churchill Downs Incorporated depends on racing, sportsbook, casino, and online wagering licenses in each state where it operates, so regulatory approvals are a core resource, not a side issue. These permits protect access to revenue across every segment, and a missed renewal or rule change can hit tracks, gaming, and digital betting at the same time.

  • Licenses gate every revenue stream.
  • Renewals matter as much as growth.
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Churchill Downs’ Gaming Scale Powers $2.7B Revenue

Churchill Downs Incorporated’s key resources are its Kentucky racing assets, the Churchill Downs brand, and TwinSpires. Its gaming base is large: about 3,050 historical racing machines, 11,000 slot machines and VLTs, and 200 table games; 2024 net revenue was about $2.7 billion.

Resource Latest data
HRMs 3,050
Slots/VLTs 11,000
Table games 200
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Value Propositions

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One brand across racing, sports, and casino gaming

Churchill Downs Incorporated unifies 7 racetracks, sportsbook, iGaming, and casino gaming under one brand, so customers can bet across racing, sports, and casino formats in one ecosystem. That breadth makes wagering easier, lifts cross-sell potential, and supports repeat play across channels.

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Live racing plus streaming and replays

Churchill Downs Incorporated’s live racing plus streaming and replays give bettors 24/7 access to live horse racing video, race replays, and handicapping data, so wagering is faster and better informed. This digital layer supports a larger, more accessible betting audience and strengthens engagement across its racing assets in fiscal 2025.

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Access to historical racing machines

Churchill Downs Incorporated’s Kentucky venues had about 3,050 historical racing machines as of 2025, giving customers a pari-mutuel-style game linked to racing content. This widens wagering beyond live race days and supports steady gaming demand across the year.

Omnichannel wagering access

Churchill Downs Incorporated’s omnichannel wagering access lets customers bet at venues, sportsbooks, on mobile, and online through TwinSpires and its brick-and-mortar network, so each bettor can use the channel they prefer. This broad access helps the Company capture more wagering occasions across live racing and sports betting, instead of relying on one path.

  • Venue, sportsbook, mobile, online access
  • TwinSpires plus retail locations
  • Fits different betting preferences

Established racing heritage since 1875

Churchill Downs has raced since 1875, and that 150+ year track record gives the Company a rare edge in U.S. horse racing and wagering. In 2025, the Kentucky Derby reached its 151st running, which shows how the brand’s heritage still drives trust, repeat fans, and premium betting interest.

  • Founded in 1875
  • 151st Kentucky Derby in 2025
  • Heritage supports loyalty
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Churchill Downs: Heritage-Driven Wagering Across Racing, Gaming, and Sports

Churchill Downs Incorporated’s value proposition is a broad wagering ecosystem: racing, sports betting, iGaming, and casino gaming, all tied to a trusted 1875 brand and the 151st Kentucky Derby in 2025. That mix drives repeat play and cross-sell across venues, mobile, and online.

Driver 2025 proof
Racing reach 7 racetracks
Venue gaming About 3,050 HRMs in Kentucky
Brand trust 151st Derby
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Customer Relationships

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Account-based online wagering

TwinSpires’ registered digital accounts keep bettors inside one wallet for racing and sportsbook play, which supports repeat wagering, targeted offers, and tighter account management. That matters at scale: Churchill Downs Incorporated reported 2025 digital engagement as a key retention lever, with account data improving cross-sell and customer value tracking.

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On-property guest service and loyalty

Casino and sportsbook guests get in-person service at Churchill Downs Incorporated venues, and repeat visits matter because gaming value is built over many trips, wagers, and promotions. In 2025, the company kept leaning on on-property traffic and loyalty-driven play across its gaming businesses.

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Content-driven engagement

Churchill Downs uses streaming video, race replays, and handicapping data to keep bettors active between wagers; the 2024 Kentucky Derby drew 16.7 million TV viewers, showing how content can pull users back to the platform. It’s both informational and transactional, since research tools help bettors decide and place the next bet.

Promotions and wagering incentives

Churchill Downs Incorporated uses promotions and wagering incentives to win and keep gaming and sportsbook customers, because offers can lift deposits, repeat play, and visit frequency in crowded markets. In 2025, that matters even more as rivals push constant bonuses and free bets to keep churn low.

  • Drives first deposits
  • Raises repeat play
  • Supports visit frequency
  • Helps in tight markets

Customer support and compliance controls

Churchill Downs Incorporated’s wagering model depends on strong trust and safety controls: age, identity, and geolocation checks help block underage or out-of-state play, while customer support fixes account, payment, and bet-settlement issues fast. In FY2025, that relationship layer mattered as online and retail betting stayed regulated and high-touch.

Customer care is not just service; it is a compliance tool that protects the brand and the license.

  • Verify age and identity
  • Check geolocation before wagers
  • Resolve account and betting issues
  • Support trust, safety, and compliance
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Churchill Downs Builds Loyalty Through One Wallet, Live Content, and Trust

Churchill Downs Incorporated keeps customer ties sticky through one-wallet digital accounts, targeted promos, live race content, and in-person service across gaming venues. In FY2025, those links supported repeat wagering and cross-sell, while compliance checks on age, identity, and geolocation protected trust and the license.

Customer tie FY2025 proof point
Digital accounts One wallet for racing and sportsbook
Content 2024 Kentucky Derby: 16.7M TV viewers
Safety Age, ID, geolocation checks
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Channels

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TwinSpires app and website

TwinSpires is Churchill Downs Incorporated’s main digital channel, reaching customers directly through one website and one mobile app. It supports 3 wagering lines: horse racing, sports betting, and iGaming.

That direct-to-consumer setup helps Churchill Downs Incorporated own the customer relationship and scale online betting without relying on retail venues.

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Churchill Downs racing venues

Churchill Downs Incorporated uses its live and historical racing venues as physical channels for on-site wagering, entertainment, and hospitality. In 2025, the Kentucky Derby drew 147,406 fans, and Derby Week all-sources handle hit $234.4 million, showing how in-person attendance still drives brand power and revenue.

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Nine brick-and-mortar sportsbooks

Churchill Downs Incorporated runs nine brick-and-mortar sportsbooks, giving it direct access to bettors who still prefer retail gaming. These locations support cross-sell into casino and digital products, helping feed a wider customer base across the Company’s gaming network, which generated $2.8 billion in 2025 revenue.

Casino floors in eight states

Churchill Downs Incorporated runs casino floors in eight states, giving it a wide retail gaming footprint that feeds slot, VLT, and table-game demand. These floors are key revenue hubs in the 2025 business mix, turning local foot traffic into recurring gaming cash flow.

  • Eight-state casino network
  • Slots, VLTs, and tables
  • Major gaming revenue points

Streaming and racing information feeds

Churchill Downs Incorporated uses live video, replays, and handicapping data as media channels that keep fans engaged before and during races. In 2025, the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs produced a record all-sources handle of $234.4 million, showing how streaming and data feeds can lift wagering activity.

  • Live video drives race-day attention
  • Replays support faster betting decisions
  • BRIS data sharpens handicapping picks
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Churchill Downs’ Multi-Channel Reach Drives Massive Handle and Revenue

Churchill Downs Incorporated’s channels mix digital, live venue, and retail touchpoints. TwinSpires is the main direct app and site, while Churchill Downs Incorporated also uses racing tracks, sportsbooks, casino floors, and live media to reach bettors and visitors.

That setup keeps customer access broad and direct: the 2025 Kentucky Derby drew 147,406 fans and generated $234.4 million in all-sources handle, while Churchill Downs Incorporated’s gaming network produced $2.8 billion in 2025 revenue.

Channel 2025 data
TwinSpires 1 app, 1 site, 3 wagering lines
Kentucky Derby 147,406 fans; $234.4M handle
Gaming network $2.8B revenue
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Customer Segments

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Horse-racing bettors and horseplayers

Horse-racing bettors and horseplayers are Churchill Downs Incorporated’s core historical customer base, driving pari-mutuel wagering, live racing, streaming, and handicapping data use. In fiscal 2025, Churchill Downs Incorporated generated about $2.8 billion in revenue, and live race cards plus race information still anchor this segment’s engagement.

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Sports bettors

TwinSpires and Churchill Downs Incorporated retail sportsbooks serve sports bettors who want fast, mobile, and in-person wagering. This segment broadens Churchill Downs Incorporated beyond horse racing, and U.S. legal sports betting handle topped $147 billion in 2024, showing the scale of demand.

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iGaming players

iGaming players are a core TwinSpires segment for Churchill Downs Incorporated, drawn to online casino-style play on mobile and desktop. In 2025, digital convenience still drives this demand, with round-the-clock access and fast sign-in, play, and payout flows shaping customer choice.

Casino patrons and table-game guests

Churchill Downs Incorporated serves casino patrons and table-game guests across its Gaming division, with about 11,000 slot machines and VLTs plus 200 table games. This segment is a core traffic driver for Gaming revenue, pairing high-frequency slot play with table-game demand.

  • About 11,000 slot machines and VLTs
  • About 200 table games
  • Core customer base for Gaming

B2B wagering operators

Churchill Downs Incorporated also sells pari-mutuel systems and related services to B2B wagering operators, including racetracks, off-track betting sites, and other wagering enterprises. This systems business sits alongside CDI’s core gaming and racing operations; in 2025, CDI reported about $2.7 billion of revenue, showing the scale of its broader wagering platform.

  • Racetracks and OTB sites buy pari-mutuel systems.
  • Services support wagering operations and betting flow.
  • 2025 revenue was about $2.7 billion.
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Churchill Downs' Revenue Engine: Bettors, Slots, and B2B

Churchill Downs Incorporated serves five main customer groups: horse-racing bettors, sports bettors, iGaming players, casino guests, and B2B wagering operators. In fiscal 2025, Churchill Downs Incorporated generated about $2.8 billion in revenue, and its gaming base still centered on roughly 11,000 slot machines and VLTs plus about 200 table games.

Segment Key fact
Bettors Horse racing, sports, iGaming
Gaming guests 11,000 slots/VLTs; 200 tables
B2B operators Pari-mutuel systems
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Cost Structure

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Purses and racing operating costs

Live racing at Churchill Downs Incorporated needs purse payouts and race-day ops, so the cost base moves with each meet and race. The 2025 Kentucky Derby purse was $5.0 million, showing how horsemen payments scale with event size and scheduling.

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Casino and sportsbook labor costs

Casino and sportsbook labor is a heavy fixed cost for Churchill Downs Incorporated: floors, cages, surveillance, and guest services must be staffed across 9 sportsbooks and multiple casino sites. With wage, shift, and compliance needs tied to 24/7 operations, payroll stays one of the largest operating lines in FY2025.

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Gaming taxes, fees, and compliance

Churchill Downs Incorporated’s gaming taxes, license fees, and compliance spend are recurring and tied to each state’s rules and product mix. In 2025, that meant ongoing payments across wagering markets where tax rates, renewals, and reporting duties differ by jurisdiction, so margins can shift fast when the mix moves.

Technology and platform maintenance

In 2025, Churchill Downs Incorporated’s digital stack—TwinSpires, streaming, and wagering systems—needed constant software, hosting, and cyber spend to stay live. With about $2.7 billion in 2025 net revenue, uptime and security directly support product availability and customer trust.

  • 2025 net revenue: about $2.7 billion
  • TwinSpires needs nonstop tech upkeep
  • Uptime and security protect trust

Marketing and customer acquisition

Churchill Downs Incorporated spends on promotions, ads, and loyalty offers because wagering is a fight for both bettors and visitors; the 151st Kentucky Derby in 2025 shows how event-led marketing still drives demand. This cost line covers digital campaigns, on-site retail promos, and retention tools that keep handle and visit volume from slipping.

  • Drives bettor and visitor volume.
  • Covers digital and retail channels.
  • Retention spend matters most in wagering.
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Churchill Downs’ Costs Rise With Bigger Races, Casinos, and Tech

Churchill Downs Incorporated’s cost structure is dominated by variable race-day payouts, fixed casino and sportsbook labor, and recurring tax and license costs. In FY2025, revenue was about $2.7 billion, while the 151st Kentucky Derby carried a $5.0 million purse, showing how event scale lifts direct costs.

Cost line FY2025 driver
Purses Kentucky Derby: $5.0 million
Operations 24/7 casino and sportsbook staffing
Tech TwinSpires uptime and cyber spend
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Revenue Streams

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Pari-mutuel wagering revenue

Churchill Downs Incorporated earns pari-mutuel wagering revenue from horse-race betting, with live racing and betting pools still core to the model. In 2025, Kentucky Derby Day all-sources wagering reached a record $349.0 million, showing how this stream moves with handle and betting volume.

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Historical racing machine revenue

Historical racing machines are a core Kentucky revenue stream for Churchill Downs Incorporated, with about 3,050 machines at its Kentucky venues as of December 31, 2021. They turn racing-linked play into recurring gaming revenue and help support cash flow from the Company’s regional operations.

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Casino gaming win

Churchill Downs Incorporated generates casino gaming win across eight states, with revenue from slots, VLTs, and table games. Its floor base includes about 11,000 slot machines and VLTs and roughly 200 table games, giving the company a broad, recurring cash flow engine tied to daily play.

Sportsbook and online wagering hold

TwinSpires and the nine brick-and-mortar sportsbooks generate revenue from betting margins. In FY2025, Churchill Downs Incorporated used online and retail wagering to broaden its revenue mix and reduce dependence on any one channel.

  • 9 retail sportsbooks

  • TwinSpires online wagering

  • Margin-based revenue model

B2B systems, data, and streaming services

Churchill Downs Incorporated monetizes B2B wagering systems through technology, data, and race-content sales tied to its racing network. In FY2025, Churchill Downs Incorporated generated about $2.9 billion of revenue, showing scale that supports BRIS data, streaming, and third-party wagering tools as steady non-gaming income.

These services help turn the racing ecosystem into repeat revenue, not just event-day cash flow. They also support operators that need live odds, past-performance data, and video access to run bets and keep customers engaged.

  • BRIS data supports wagering decisions.
  • Streaming extends race-content monetization.
  • Third-party systems add non-gaming revenue.
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Churchill Downs: Record Derby Day Powers a $2.9B Revenue Engine

Churchill Downs Incorporated’s revenue streams are led by pari-mutuel wagering, casino gaming, historical racing machines, and sportsbook handle. In FY2025, the Company generated about $2.9 billion of revenue, while Kentucky Derby Day all-sources wagering hit a record $349.0 million.

Stream FY2025 signal
Pari-mutuel wagering Derby Day $349.0 million handle
Gaming and HHR Recurring regional cash flow
Sports betting and B2B Margin and data-based revenue

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