Since August 2018, sports betting has been operational in West Virginia. Although the revenue generated for the state has been growing gradually, the volume and potential for sports betting in the Mountain State are contributing to its earnings.
As of October 13th, the state’s portion of revenue from sports betting amounted to $237,443. This sum corresponds to 10 percent, which is the required tax rate for sports betting in the state.
The contribution from state lottery proceeds far surpasses that figure. The Charleston Gazette-Mail reported that the state earned a staggering $41 million from traditional and scratch-off lottery sales, as disclosed during the Oct. 23 Lottery Commission meeting.
The seemingly insignificant figures from sports betting may cause both external and internal observers of the new offering to hesitate. Nonetheless, supporters of sports betting might contend that its contribution to the state lies in its potential to attract tourism to the area.
West Virginia sports betting still in its infancy
At present, only two casinos in West Virginia provide sports betting options. The sportsbook at Hollywood Casino at Charles Town has recently started operating, while the FanDuel Sportsbook at The Casino Club at Greenbrier Resort has been in business for an even shorter duration.
Mardi Gras Casino and Wheeling Island Hotel-Casino-Racetrack are currently in the initial stages of testing their sportsbooks, as stated by lottery officials. These two casinos are yet to fully establish their operations.
The launches of the books at these two casinos are still being delayed. The initial target of opening by October was disrupted partially because of a recent collaboration between parent company Delaware North and software provider Miomni.
Until recently, it was unclear whether The Mountaineer Casino Racetrack & Resort, the fifth casino, had any interest in having a sportsbook. However, the property in New Cumberland has now filed for a license.
In addition, customers are unable to access mobile sports betting services at any of the five state casinos. To place wagers, bettors must be present physically at the sportsbooks.
Delaware North is preparing to launch its retail and online sports betting operations simultaneously. Lottery officials anticipate the debut to take place in November.
The debuts of apps at Hollywood Casino or the Greenbrier do not have a specific date. The management at Hollywood Casino has mentioned that their mobile platform will be available soon, but no definite timeframe has been provided.
The Racing Commission thinks racing would help sportsbooks, obviously
During the monthly hearing on Oct. 23, the West Virginia Racing Commission discussed the inclusion of parimutuel betting kiosks in the sportsbooks of the four racetrack casinos, as suggested by racing officials.
Commissioner Ken Lowe stated that gamblers have a strong desire for action, emphasizing that he believes taking action in this matter is necessary.
To date, the only attempt at exploring this concept has taken place at Hollywood Casino. The sportsbook has introduced two betting kiosks and an information machine, yet all three have exhibited inconsistency in their functionality.
It is yet to be determined if management at other racetracks views the idea as feasible or dismisses it as mere noise. Frankly speaking, the task of accepting any sports bet is proving to be an immense challenge.
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