By David Madden

WILMINGTON, Del. (CBS)- As a potential battle over sports betting looms in New Jersey, Delaware has expanded its limited sports lottery involving pro football games. Now, you can bet not only in the state’s three casinos, but in 31 retail locations throughout the state.

Seven weeks in (yeah, they bet on the pre-season games too) business is up almost 50 percent for the lottery. And it’s bringing in more customers at the four Buffalo Wild Wings restaurants that offer it.

Buffalo Wild Wings franchise owner Bobby Pancake (left) with restaurant manager (right). (Credit: David Madden)

“We’re seeing an uptick in business anyway because it’s the NFL football season,” says Owner Bobby Pancake. “We were on a good trend anyway. But this is bringing in an element that we didn’t have last year.”

Pancake says the state approached him about putting the terminals in shortly after expansion was approved by legislators in June.

That meant quick training for staffers who man the terminals, but, “We’re a sports bar and when it became available in the state of Delaware it was a good fit.”

Mind you, he says business would normally be up this time of year, what with football season and all. State officials say if interest in the game continues trending up, you can look for even greater expansion next year.