There is an upcoming increase in the number of places in West Virginia that will offer sports betting.
Two state casinos are introducing sports betting along with mobile wagering options.
On November 29, John Myers, the lottery director, informed the state’s lottery commission that mobile wagering will soon be available at two casinos owned by Delaware North. Both Mardi Gras and Wheeling Island casinos are preparing to introduce retail and mobile wagering options.
Myers announced that sports gaming at the Mountaineer Casino began on November 20th. He also mentioned that testing at Delaware North, which includes Mardi Gras and Wheeling Island casinos, was successfully completed on November 19th. He further added that both of these locations would have the mobile app available for receiving wagers when they commence operations.
Not all casinos will have mobile wagering
Sports betting was introduced in West Virginia in early September, with Hollywood Casino being the pioneer in this venture. The Greenbrier’s FanDuel Sportsbook followed suit shortly after. On November 21, the Mountaineer Casino, Racetrack, and Resort joined the ranks by opening their own sportsbook, becoming the third establishment to provide this service.
In theory, Mardi Gras and Wheeling Island casinos have the potential to be the pioneers of mobile wagering, being the first ones to offer this service. However, at present, they will be the only two casinos offering this feature, as Hollywood, the Greenbrier, and Mountaineer do not currently provide mobile sports betting.
At present, Myers informed the commission that no other casinos have undergone the necessary testing for mobile applications.
Revenue forecast should brighten with mobile
Dean Patrick, the deputy director of finance and administration, provided an update on the Lottery’s revenue, revealing that sales in October amounted to $101.6 million. Notably, the sports betting sector accounted for the lowest revenue stream, generating only $59,000 in sales.
In the initial two weeks of November, exclusive retail sports betting in West Virginia generated a total handle of $22,406,637. However, if this rate persists, the state’s sports betting would significantly miss the projected $5.5 million tax revenue estimated prior to its launch.
Once West Virginia introduces mobile wagering, the revenue forecast is likely to experience a boost, following the trend observed in New Jersey. In just a few months, mobile handle surpassed retail in New Jersey.
During the month of October, approximately $175 million worth of wagers were reported to have originated from online and mobile platforms in New Jersey. This amount constituted nearly 66% of all wagers placed in the state during that period.
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