After a gap of more than five months, West Virginia finally welcomed online sports betting back into its realm. The recent launch of DraftKings Sportsbook WV has been swiftly followed by FanDuel Sportsbook, providing the much-needed access and variety to sports bettors in the state.
The timing couldn’t be more perfect as WVU football kicks off its season opener this weekend, followed by the NFL opening its regular season the week after.
In an interview with the Herald-Dispatch, Tim Dent, the Chief Compliance Officer of DraftKings, stated
We’re thrilled about our expansion into West Virginia and the upcoming game between West Virginia University and James Madison. We can’t wait for West Virginians to have the chance to place bets on this game.
In WV, DraftKings emerged as the pioneer online sportsbook to successfully conclude the testing phase. Although it appeared poised for launch in April, the West Virginia lottery intervened due to a revised interpretation of the Wire Act, causing a delay.
Ever since then, bettors have been eagerly awaiting news. And today, their long-awaited news has finally arrived.
DraftKings Sportsbook betting app
DraftKings, the latest online sportsbook in West Virginia, offers a wide range of sports for betting in the Mountain State. Whether you enjoy football or cricket, basketball or darts, DraftKings has got you covered.
Unlike New Jersey and certain states, West Virginia allows sports bets on local college games, which means DraftKings will not face the same limitations. This is particularly exciting for a state that holds immense affection for college football and their cherished WVU Mountaineers.
Alongside a plethora of sporting events, DraftKings presents an extensive range of betting options for users to select from, encompassing:
- Moneylines
- Totals
- Parlays
- Futures
Additional thrilling types of bets may involve live betting and sports betting pools. Betting pools are a combination of widely known office pools and fantasy sports games.
In addition, the app offers sport-specific prop bets and an advantageous early cash-out feature. The early cash-out option proves valuable as it effectively mitigates potential losses in the event of unfavorable performance by the team you placed your bet on.
The wide range of offerings available at DraftKings makes it appealing to a diverse audience. Consequently, sports bettors have been eagerly anticipating its arrival.
DraftKings Sportsbook in WV
Hollywood Casino Sportsbook entered into a partnership agreement with DraftKings in December.
Afterwards, speculations began to spread like wildfire, initially suggesting a release before the Super Bowl. However, when that didn’t materialize, the next anticipated timeframe was during March Madness. Clearly, that expectation also fell through.
Following the revised opinion of the Wire Act and the unfortunate situation involving Delaware North and Miomni, the West Virginia Lottery appeared to have reservations about proceeding with the approval of new online betting apps. However, it appears that these concerns have now been alleviated.
Hollywood Casino has consistently dominated the leader board in terms of handle and revenue since its launch last fall.
It is a logical move to collaborate with one of the most widely used apps in New Jersey. The alliance between DraftKings and Hollywood Casino is expected to maintain their dominance in the WV sports betting industry.
DraftKings Sportsbook bringing experience to WV
Last fall, the DraftKings Sportsbook app debuted in New Jersey, marking its entry into the national sports betting industry. Since then, it has established itself as a prominent player and has consistently maintained its position as a market leader. For a considerable period, it outperformed all other sportsbooks in New Jersey in terms of handle.
DraftKings and Resorts Casino, since being introduced in the Garden State, have generated a total handle of $65.7 million, with a significant portion of $63.6 million derived from online sports betting.
It should be noted that Resorts has a partnership with Points Bet Sportsbook, and the revenue generated is not specified for each operator. Nevertheless, it is logical to assume that DraftKings contributes significantly to the majority of that revenue.
At present, DraftKings does not have any intentions to establish a physical sportsbook in West Virginia, despite operating the retail sportsbook at Resorts.
In a conversation with Sports Illustrated, Jason Robins, the CEO of DraftKings, discussed the key focuses of the company.
Since the beginning, our main focus has always been on our online and mobile services. This is our expertise and what we excel at. However, like many other online and mobile companies, we recognize the potential in the retail industry. Therefore, we are actively exploring various strategies to expand our presence in that space.
Given the recent closure of two retail sportsbooks and the BetLucky app, sports bettors in West Virginia may be hesitant to return to online platforms. However, DraftKings’ sports betting experience could greatly benefit the state at this time.
DraftKings boasts a reputable standing among both bettors and regulators, which will be advantageous in alleviating bettors’ concerns. This reputation not only benefits bettors but also contributes to the fulfillment of West Virginia’s sports betting market potential.
The online sports betting industry was slowly picking up steam through the Mardi Gras Sportsbook and Wheeling Island Sportsbook, which were the only two platforms offering online betting via the BetLucky app. Nonetheless, it failed to achieve the level of success witnessed by the NJ market.
The online sports betting handle in New Jersey made up almost 94% of the total handle in the state in July 2019. Although comparing West Virginia to New Jersey may not be practical, it is reasonable to expect that DraftKings and FanDuel will bring about a favorable influence on the online betting landscape in West Virginia.
Although DraftKings and FanDuel may not have been the initial online sports betting apps to launch in WV, they are presently the sole ones available in the Mountain State. This is a significant development for a rural state like West Virginia, as it allows numerous bettors to resume their activities just in time for the busiest betting season of the year.
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