The resurgence of college and NFL football has brought about positive developments in the West Virginia sports betting market. As the most popular sport for gambling enthusiasts is set to resume, the WV market is experiencing a significant increase in betting activity.
In summary, the three operational land-based sportsbooks in WV experienced another surge in total handle for the week ending Aug. 10. Following a promising performance the previous week, the overall handle surpassed $2 million this week, marking the first time in two months.
For some time now, the betting numbers in the Mountain State have been on a decline. However, it is evident that the current market is being propelled by football wagers. Despite the absence of an NFL team within the state’s borders, numerous regional teams have gained popularity among bettors.
Although people in WV are fans of the NFL, their passion for gambling on WVU football surpasses it. In less than two weeks, the Mountaineers will kick off their season in Morgantown, starting with a game against James Madison, an FCS opponent, before diving into their challenging schedule.
Despite skepticism from many bettors, the WV Lottery has reiterated their belief that a WV sports betting app will likely be available in time for the football season.
Since March, gamblers in the state have been deprived of an online sportsbook. While the return of football will offer a much-needed boost to the WV betting industry, it will not be able to thrive in the long run without a mobile betting alternative.
The residents have been eagerly anticipating the arrival of one of the three state-approved operators.
In addition to the handle showing improvement, the revenue figures for this week were also remarkable. Sportsbooks achieved earnings of nearly $200,000, marking their fourth consecutive week of profitability.
The current report encompasses the activities of WV sportsbooks for the period of Aug. 4-10.
- Hollywood Casino Sportsbook
- Mountaineer Sportsbook
- The Greenbrier now features the FanDuel Sportsbook.
Both Mardi Gras Sportsbook and Wheeling Island Sportsbook remain closed and it appears highly unlikely that either of them will be open for accepting bets in time for the commencement of the football season.
WV Sports Betting Summary
Since August 2018, the WV Lottery Commission has released the most recent figures on WV sports betting revenue tracking.
- Handle: $137,902,439.52
- Revenue: $12,833,043.81
- Taxes: $1,283,304.50
The sports betting market had yet another successful week as WV sportsbooks saw a 12% increase in their handle, reaching a total of $2,146,221.23.
The revenue figures demonstrated a positive progression, with sportsbooks generating $194,544.43, marking a remarkable 774% surge compared to the previous week.
WV sports betting revenue for the week ending Aug. 10, 2019
A Closer Look At WV Sports Betting Handle
In three out of the past four weeks, there has been a notable rise in the sports betting handle. As the football season approaches, it seems that futures wagers have played a significant role in bringing the handle back to a respectable level.
Since the week of June 15, WV has accepted over $2 million in bets, marking the first occurrence of such a high amount.
Hollywood Casino has achieved one of its most successful weeks in a long time, leading the way in the WV market. For the first time since late April, its handle surpassed $1.8 million. This is an excellent indication of Hollywood Sportsbook’s dominance in driving both handle and revenue.
Although Mountaineer Casino had a satisfactory week, there was a notable decrease in its handle. The casino received approximately $275,000 in bets, compared to the previous week’s total of over $400,000.
The Greenbrier ended the week with a handle exceeding $40,000, which is over twice the amount it generated just a week prior.
These are the rankings of WV sportsbooks based on their weekly handle.
- The Hollywood Casino has a total of $1,827,603.88 in revenue, while the Mountaineer Casino has $276,901.60. The Greenbrier casino has earned $41,715.75 in revenue. However, both the Mardi Gras Casino and Wheeling Island have not generated any revenue.
Major takeaway: Football creates a major difference
It is difficult to comprehend the concept of a slow betting period until one experiences it firsthand. The scarcity of available sports to wager on, coupled with the limited number of sportsbooks in West Virginia, has significantly restricted the state’s betting activity over the past few months.
There has been a change in one of these factors.
As football season draws nearer, the state’s overall handle has steadily grown. It has consistently remained above $1.6 million after surpassing $1.1 million a month ago.
Within a span of only four weeks, the handle has rebounded to an impressive amount surpassing $2 million.
The presence of numerous bettors in the state indicates a positive outlook for the WV market. This is further reinforced by the considerable increase in handle resulting from football futures, which is indeed promising.
If this trend continues, sportsbooks are likely to experience an even larger handle once the football season officially begins.
A Closer Look At WV Sports Betting Revenue
WV sportsbooks had yet another successful week in terms of generating revenue, marking their fourth consecutive week of profitability, with three weeks surpassing six figures in earnings.
After a disappointing performance last week, Hollywood Casino reclaimed its leading position by generating a remarkable revenue of over $115,000 through its sportsbook this week.
Mountaineer Casino experienced a fantastic week as it generated more than $60,000 in revenue, marking its highest earnings in a span of six weeks.
After a loss of over $10,000 the previous week, The Greenbrier made a remarkable recovery, earning nearly $14,000.
While Wheeling Island failed to distribute any winnings, Mardi Gras experienced a loss of $100.
These are the rankings for weekly revenue among the WV sportsbooks.
- Hollywood Casino ($119,714.23)
- Mountaineer Casino ($61,038.70)
- The Greenbrier ($13,891.50)
- Wheeling Island ($0)
- Mardi Gras Casino (-$100.00)
Major takeaway: An online sportsbook will change everything
It is evident that there is a substantial number of football bettors in West Virginia. Considering the significant increase in handle and revenue from futures bets for the upcoming season, the potential outcomes for the regular season are unpredictable.
This statement holds even more significance if WV eventually introduces a new mobile betting application.
Once the season is in full swing, bettors are unlikely to have the opportunity to visit a physical sportsbook on a regular basis, although they may manage to do so once prior to the start of the year.
If the state does not implement an online option, it faces the potential of losing thousands of dollars every week. Given the availability of several mobile platforms for sports betting in Pennsylvania, many residents of West Virginia find it more convenient to travel north rather than visit one of the limited retail books within their own state.
On the board for WV Sportsbooks
WV football
The WVU fans seem to have placed their bets on the Mountaineers’ lineup for their first-week game against JMU. Initially favored by 5.5 points, DraftKings in New Jersey now presents the following odds for week 1:
- The point spread for the WVU game is set at -6.5 with odds of -110, while the moneyline stands at -265.
- JMU is the underdog with a 6.5-point spread and odds of -110, while their moneyline stands at +210.
- Over 5 (-110)
- Under5 (-110)
Here, you can find our comprehensive manual on WV College Football betting.
- Guide to Betting on College Football in West Virginia
NFL
As the NFL season approaches, bettors are eagerly placing their bets on various NFL options, with the most popular being the prediction for this year’s Most Valuable Player. DraftKings NJ has provided the odds for the 2019 league MVP as follows:
- Patrick Mahomes +600
- Andrew Luck +900
- Aaron Rodgers +1200
- Tom Brady +1400
- Drew Brees +1400
- Carson Wentz +1400
- Baker Mayfield +1600
Here is our comprehensive guide to NFL betting in West Virginia.
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