West Virginia sports betting had yet another disappointing week as both the overall handle and revenue figures experienced a decline. Due to the limited presence of just three active sportsbooks in the Mountain State, this downward trend is expected to persist until online sports betting is reintroduced.
For the second consecutive week, there was a slight decrease in the handle, which remains consistently around $2.6 million for a month now.
Despite the consistent positive revenue generated by the state, there was a deviation from this trend for the week ending April 27, as the total handle remained stagnant.
The revenue experienced a significant decline, reaching negative values for the first time in a span of 10 weeks.
Regrettably, the decline in sports betting in WV seems unlikely to reverse unless an online option is introduced. Fortunately, this change may occur sooner rather than later as three reputable online sportsbooks are expected to join the WV sports betting market soon.
The latest additions to the online sportsbooks scene in West Virginia will consist of three new platforms.
It will be fascinating to witness which of these launches takes place first, aiming to secure an early advantage over the competition in WV.
The report for this week encompasses the activity of all five WV sportsbooks from April 21-27.
- Hollywood Casino Sportsbook
- Mountaineer Sportsbook
- The Greenbrier is home to the FanDuel Sportsbook.
- Mardi Gras Casino Sportsbook
- Wheeling Island Sportsbook
WV Sports Betting Summary
Since August 2018, the WV Lottery has released the most recent figures for tracking WV sports betting revenue.
- Handle: $109,652,366.15
- Revenue: $10,617,731.14
- Taxes: $1,061,773.19
Sports betting in the state experienced yet another challenging week, as the handle decreased by 2% compared to the previous week, resulting in a total of $2,607,302.28.
Revenue had a disappointing performance, plunging into negative territory after a considerable period. The sportsbooks incurred a loss of $29,989.42, marking a significant decline of 115% compared to the previous week.
WV sports betting revenue for the week ending April 27, 2019
A Closer Look At WV Sports Betting Handle
Analyzing the handle reveals consistent trends, mirroring previous weeks’ outcomes. Hollywood Casino continues to dominate the market in terms of handle consistently. Without the significant contribution of Hollywood, the sports betting market in West Virginia would barely exist.
Despite its clear position at the top, the Hollywood Casino also experienced a challenging week as its handle dropped below $2 million for the first time in three weeks.
Conversely, Mountaineer Casino experienced a minor increase in handle, surpassing $600,000 for the first time in a month.
Unfortunately, the Greenbrier experienced another setback as its handle dropped once more, falling below the $35,000 mark.
The handle remains stagnant at an average level. Bettors in WV are unlikely to make an effort to visit a physical sportsbook unless there is something truly exciting that justifies the trip.
It will be interesting to observe whether the upcoming report, which covers the prime event of the horse racing calendar, the Kentucky Derby, reveals any variations.
Legal sportsbook apps are essential for the survival of the sports betting market in rural states like West Virginia. With the convenience of online platforms, individuals would be more likely to engage in casual wagering from the comfort of their own homes.
These are the rankings of the WV sportsbooks based on their weekly handle.
- The Hollywood Casino has a total revenue of $1,945,470.33, followed by the Mountaineer Casino with $626,925.45. The Greenbrier has earned $34,906.50 in total. On the other hand, both the Mardi Gras Casino and Wheeling Island have not generated any revenue.
A Closer Look At WV Sports Betting Revenue
Except for The Greenbrier, all of the WV sportsbooks experienced a challenging week in terms of revenue generation, ending up in the red.
Despite only making less than $4,000, The Greenbrier can still celebrate being the sole casino to turn a profit. This is particularly encouraging considering the sportsbook had incurred losses of nearly $9,000 in the previous week.
Unfortunately, the good news ends there.
Following nine consecutive weeks of positive performance, the Hollywood Casino experienced a loss of nearly $7,000 this week.
At least the loss was small, unlike the previous five instances when Hollywood’s revenue dipped by over six figures.
In spite of generating higher handle, the Mountaineer Casino experienced its most unfavorable week to date. After earning approximately $70,000 in the previous week, it incurred a loss of over $25,000. This marks the third instance within the last five weeks that Mountaineer has reported negative revenue.
The betting windows at Wheeling Island and Mardi Gras Casino are still closed, resulting in a loss of approximately $700 from settled bets.
The need for a mobile option in WV sports betting becomes increasingly clear with each passing week of reporting. Without it, both the handle and revenue will continue to struggle.
These are the rankings of the WV sportsbooks based on their weekly revenue.
- The Greenbrier ($3,393.25)
- Wheeling Island ($-350.85)
- Mardi Gras Casino ($-372.00)
- Hollywood Casino ($-6,913.17)
- Mountaineer Casino ($-25,746.65)
On the board for WV Sportsbooks
Champions League
This week, the second leg of the Champions League semifinals will take place, with each matchup progressing forward.
Lionel Messi’s mastery led Barcelona to a victory over Liverpool in their first match at home, giving them a commanding 3-0 lead heading into the final leg.
Ajax emerged victorious in the away match against Tottenham, securing a 1-0 win in the other semifinal. As they return to the Netherlands, Ajax aims to maintain their narrow advantage.
The updated odds to emerge as the victor in the final, as per DraftKings Sportsbook in New Jersey, are as follows:
- Barcelona -225
- Ajax +300
- Tottenham +1000
- Liverpool +2200
NBA Playoffs
As the second round of the NBA playoffs comes to a close, numerous intense series can be witnessed in both conferences.
After securing a Game 4 victory in Philadelphia, the Toronto Raptors and Philadelphia 76ers appear to be ready for an extended series. Currently, the Eastern semifinal stands at a 2-2 tie.
The Denver Nuggets have leveled the series against the Portland Trailblazers in the Western Conference. As they return home after their victory, they will aim to secure a crucial Game 5 triumph.
These series’ current odds to win are available at the FanDuel Sportsbook in NJ.
- Philadelphia 76ers +205
- Toronto Raptors -260
- Portland Trail Blazers +126
- Denver Nuggets -152
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