After a strong performance in the previous report, West Virginia sports betting experienced a decline in the current week. Despite the presence of March Madness in its second weekend, which attracted a significant amount of betting activity, it did not match the level seen during the opening days.
For the week ending on March 30, there was a decline in both the total handle and revenue at all three operational sportsbooks in West Virginia.
The total handle experienced a significant decline of nearly $1 million, reaching a modest sum of just above $3.4 million. Revenue also witnessed a considerable decrease, plummeting by over 50% as sportsbooks generated a meager amount of slightly over $350,000 for the week.
Despite this, West Virginia’s handle is nearing $100 million since it began accepting sports bets in August 2018. It is important to mention that a significant portion of the $99,317,644 in wagers, over $10 million, were made without the use of a sports betting app.
Regrettably, residents of the Mountain State have limited options with only three land-based sportsbooks accessible and no mobile betting currently available. The absence of a mobile platform has left locals disgruntled, and the emergence of a new one remains uncertain.
The report for this week encompasses the activity from March 24-30 for all five sportsbooks in West Virginia.
- Hollywood Casino Sportsbook
- Mountaineer Sportsbook
- The Greenbrier is home to the renowned FanDuel Sportsbook.
- Mardi Gras Sportsbook
- Wheeling Island Sportsbook
WV Sports Betting Summary
The following data represents the most recent numbers disclosed by the WV Lottery Commission, covering the period from August 2018 when tracking of WV sports betting revenue commenced.
- Handle: $99,317,644.38
- Revenue: $10,062,850.58
- Taxes: $1,006,285.15
Overall, the week starting from March 30 witnessed a significant decrease in activity compared to the previous week. The total handle for this period amounted to $3,443,807.18, which reflects a decrease of 22% from the previous week.
Revenue also took a hit, dropping to $350,614.63, representing a significant decline of 55% compared to the previous week.
WV sports betting revenue for the week ending March 30, 2019
A Closer Look At WV Sports Betting Handle
If it weren’t for the sportsbook at the Hollywood Casino, the WV sports betting market would have a significantly different standing. Once again, the state’s leading book played a pivotal role in a week where most others experienced a decline.
Despite experiencing a significant decrease from the previous week, Hollywood maintained its dominance in terms of betting volume. It amassed approximately $2.4 million in bets, following a remarkable achievement of reaching the $3 million mark just a week ago. This week’s figure represents the second highest betting volume Hollywood has achieved within the last three months.
The performance of the Mountaineer Casino wasn’t as impressive this time. Its handle dropped to below $700,000, having been well above $1 million the previous week.
In a positive development, the FanDuel Sportsbook at The Greenbrier has surpassed its previous record by recording its highest handle ever. The amount wagered, which reached nearly $400,000, demonstrates an 8% increase compared to its former best.
Despite the absence of an online option, these sportsbooks were not experiencing the expected increase in betting volume. The primary reason for this decrease can be attributed to the NCAA tournament, as fewer games were played during the week due to the Sweet 16 and Elite Eight taking place.
The conclusion of the NBA season can pose challenges for betting enthusiasts as well. With numerous teams securing their spots in the playoffs, several games lose their significance. Consequently, this situation may deter some bettors from their usual betting patterns.
These are the rankings of the WV sportsbooks based on their weekly handle.
- The Hollywood Casino has a total amount of $2,384,704.83, while the Mountaineer Casino has $669,984.10. The Greenbrier has $389,118.25, whereas both Mardi Gras Casino and Wheeling Island have no amount listed.
A Closer Look At WV Sports Betting Revenue
Hollywood once again dominated in weekly revenue, as expected. The sportsbook achieved a remarkable milestone, surpassing $300,000 for the third time in the past five weeks.
The revenue figure from Hollywood accounts for 93% of the total gain reported for the state.
The Greenbrier was the sole additional sportsbook that managed to generate a profit.
Greenbrier’s revenue took a significant hit, nearly halving compared to the previous week, despite its growing handle. However, the sportsbook has managed to generate profits for the past three weeks, with its latest earnings of slightly over $36,000 marking its second-best performance in the span of 11 weeks.
All three remaining sportsbooks, except for Wheeling Island and the Mardi Gras Casino, experienced a decline in revenue. Despite not accepting new bets, Wheeling Island and the Mardi Gras Casino are still honoring and paying out settled bets.
Despite a decrease in numbers, it seems that both Hollywood and The Greenbrier are experiencing a small increase in activity, as other sportsbooks remain inactive. These establishments have consecutively delivered two successful weeks.
The following is a ranking of WV sportsbooks based on their weekly revenue.
- Hollywood Casino ($324,388.48)
- The Greenbrier ($36,248.25)
- Wheeling Island ($-472.75)
- Mountaineer Casino ($-3,365.55)
- Mardi Gras Casino ($-6,183.80)
On the board for WV Sportsbooks
The Masters
The Masters, golf’s grandest event, commences on Thursday, signifying the true beginning of the golfing calendar despite the occurrence of prior PGA Tour tournaments this season.
As usual, the golf field is teeming with beloved golfers. Despite the presence of numerous renowned players, Tiger Woods unquestionably remains the most popular figure.
As the first round commences, the online sportsbooks in New Jersey have designated the following individuals as the favored contenders to don the prestigious green jacket:
- Rory McIlroy
- Dustin Johnson
- Justin Rose
- Jon Rahm
- Tiger Woods
- Rickie Fowler
NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs
The NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs kick off on Wednesday, preceding the start of golf. Following an exceptional season, the Tampa Bay Lightning emerge as strong contenders to win this year’s cup.
The NHL playoffs, though, rarely unfold as expected, if anything is certain.
The favored teams to win the Stanley Cup, as displayed by NJ online sportsbooks, are as follows:
- Tampa Bay Lightning
- Calgary Flames
- Boston Bruins
- Nashville Predators
- San Jose Sharks
- Louis Blues
- Vegas Golden Knights
- Washington Capitals
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