Once again, the West Virginia sports betting market has achieved a new record for the best overall betting handle. Just a week after setting a new high in total handle and revenue, the industry received another boost from online sports betting.
WV residents have the advantage of accessing both DraftKings Sportsbook and FanDuel Sportsbook. The evident outcome is a surge in sports betting within the state, with promising prospects for further growth in the future.
In the previous report, WV sportsbooks achieved a handle of more than $6 million. However, for the week ending Sept. 14, they surpassed this figure by accepting wagers totaling over $6.4 million.
Even though the state didn’t reach the same revenue as its exceptional week, the books still generated over $700,000. This marks the sixth consecutive week where revenue has consistently surpassed six figures.
The report for this week covers the activity of all five WV sportsbooks from Sept. 8-14.
- Hollywood Casino Sportsbook
- Mountaineer Sportsbook
- The Greenbrier is home to the FanDuel Sportsbook.
The activity for both WV online sportsbooks is also included.
WV Sports Betting Summary
Since August 2018, the WV Lottery Commission has released the most recent statistics pertaining to WV sports betting revenue tracking.
- Handle: $158,981,870.01
- Revenue: $16,547,880.55
- Taxes: $1,654,788.19
During the week of Sept. 14, WV witnessed an unprecedented surge in betting activity, surpassing previous records. The overall betting handle reached a remarkable $6,442,110.84, exhibiting a notable 7% growth compared to the previous week.
Although there was a significant decline from the previous week, revenue figures remained robust. The total revenue of $717,813.51 represented a notable 57% drop compared to the previous report.
WV sports betting revenue for the week ending Sept. 14, 2019
| Casino | Handle | Mobile Sports Betting Revenue | Retail Sports Betting Revenue | Total Revenue | Taxes (10%) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hollywood Casino | $4,433,372.29 | $154,400.53 | $278,225.72 | $432,626.25 | $43,262.62 |
| Mountaineer Casino | $855,604.05 | N/A | $146,800.65 | $146,800.65 | $14,680.07 |
| The Greenbrier | $1,153,134.50 | $96,225.36 | $42,161.25 | $138,386.61 | $13,838.66 |
| Mardi Gras Casino | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Wheeling Island Hotel | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Total | $6,442,110.84 | $250,625.89 | $467,187.62 | $717,813.51 | $71,781.35 |
A Closer Look At WV Sports Betting Handle
Since the return of online sports betting in West Virginia, sportsbooks have experienced their most productive two weeks. The total amount wagered surpassed $6 million once again, reaching an impressive $6.4 million this time.
Hollywood Casino set a new record by surpassing $4.4 million, beating its previous highest earnings from a week ago. Remarkably, this is the second week in a row that its sportsbook has achieved $4.3 million in wagers.
The opening week for The Greenbrier and FanDuel Sportsbook was fantastic, but this week surpassed all expectations. The Greenbrier achieved a remarkable milestone by accumulating over $1 million in handle for the first time ever.
The Greenbrier has surpassed $1.1 million in bets, following the acceptance of approximately $930,000 last week. Due to its exclusivity, the resort’s land-based sportsbook had limitations, but with the introduction of an online option through FanDuel, The Greenbrier is now gaining a greater market share and increased control.
Despite the absence of an online sportsbook, Mountaineer Casino is thriving during football season, with its sportsbook accumulating a handle of over $850,000.
Mountaineer’s handle has now increased for the fifth consecutive week.
These are the rankings for weekly handle among the WV sportsbooks.
- Hollywood Casino has a total value of $4,433,372.29, The Greenbrier is valued at $1,153,134.50, Mountaineer Casino is worth $855,604.05, while both Mardi Gras Casino and Wheeling Island have no value.
Major takeaway: WV Sportsbooks with an online app have major edge
The Greenbrier acknowledges that in a state where sports gambling is legal, having an online sportsbook is of utmost importance. While physical locations at casinos offer advantages and foster an unparalleled game-day atmosphere, mobile betting apps are the ultimate game-changer.
The growth in The Greenbrier’s handle since the launch of FanDuel is truly remarkable, despite the fact that it is a private betting facility with a unique setup.
The Greenbrier has outperformed Mountaineer Casino in terms of handle within a week, and in the second week, it has now reached an impressive milestone of $1 million. It is worth noting that just a month ago, The Greenbrier’s handle was only approximately $45,000.
Those who do not have access to an online sportsbook need to act swiftly or risk being left behind as online betting continues to revitalize wagering at The Greenbrier.
A Closer Look At WV Sports Betting Revenue
Despite the betting handle surpassing last week’s record, the revenue figures were unable to match it. West Virginia sportsbooks earned less than half of the previous week’s amount, but still achieved a commendable performance.
For the sixth consecutive week, sportsbooks have achieved revenue in excess of $715,000, surpassing the triple-digit mark.
In addition to its revenue dominance, Hollywood continued its impressive streak by generating over $430,000 in sportsbook earnings this week. This marks the third consecutive time that Hollywood has achieved this remarkable feat.
The DraftKings online sportsbook contributed approximately $150,000 to Hollywood’s overall revenue.
Despite the absence of a mobile app, the Mountaineer Casino secured the second position, generating approximately $147,000 in revenue. This amount was approximately $100,000 lower compared to the previous week.
The Greenbrier failed to replicate its revenue performance from the previous week. Out of its total revenue of $138,000, the online sportsbook contributed over $96,000.
For two consecutive weeks, The Greenbrier has generated a minimum of $135,000 in revenue.
These are the rankings for weekly revenue among WV sportsbooks.
- Hollywood Casino ($432,626.25)
- Mountaineer Casino ($146,800.65)
- The Greenbrier ($138,386.61)
- Wheeling Island ($0)
- Mardi Gras Casino ($0)
Major takeaway: Football upsets will create more revenue for sportsbooks
The revenue reports of sportsbooks are challenging to analyze because they do not provide insights into bettors’ gains or losses, making it difficult to determine the extent of the decrease in profits compared to the previous week.
Despite a high handle in sports betting, the revenue may not be equally high due to the volatile nature of this market.
Naturally, gamblers in the state desire to win consistently every week, although achieving such a feat is highly unlikely. Although we lack information regarding the specific games that aided bettors, it is evident that a larger number of gamblers tend to place their bets on the team considered superior or the favorite.
Sportsbooks stand to gain significantly from a major upset in college football or the NFL, where a heavily favored team unexpectedly loses. This outcome could have a substantial impact on the WV betting market, potentially leading to a significant swing in revenue for those who bet on WVU football games.
On the board for WV Sportsbooks
The increasing number of residents who download online sports betting apps onto their mobile devices will contribute to the continuous rise in betting numbers. Additionally, there will be additional participants entering the market alongside DraftKings and FanDuel.
The online app for William Hill Sportsbook and PointsBet Sportsbook WV is set to launch soon.
The introduction of online sportsbooks has played a vital role, alongside the resurgence of college football and NFL betting. While sportsbooks thrive on the excitement of all types of wagers, WV bettors have particularly excelled in their engagement with WVU Mountaineers games.
WVU emerged victorious once again this week, concluding September with a commendable 3-1 record. Additionally, the Mountaineers managed to surpass the point spread against Kansas, leaving the residents of Morgantown content and satisfied.
WV football
Once again, the WVU football team showcased their impressive skills with a remarkable triumph on the Big 12 road last week. Defeating the Kansas Jayhawks by a five-point margin, the Mountaineers extended their winning streak to 3-1 for the season.
Regrettably, WVU will need to regather its strength prior to facing the Texas Longhorns in their next matchup. WVU will enjoy a bye week before welcoming Texas on Oct. 5.
In contrast, Marshall is returning from its bye week and will be back in action on the football field this weekend. On Saturday, the Thundering Herd will face off against Cincinnati in their home game.
Currently, there are no listed odds for the WVU game. However, the two online sportsbooks available in WV have provided the following lines for Marshall’s matchup.
Marshall vs. Cincinnati
DraftKings odds:
- The Marshall team is favored by 3 points with a moneyline of +125 and an odds of -106.
- The point spread for the Cincinnati team is -3 with odds of -125, while the moneyline is -155.
FanDuel odds:
- Marshall is favored by 3.5 points with odds of -110, and has a moneyline of +150.
- The point spread for this game is CIN -3.5 with odds of -110, while the moneyline stands at -180.
NFL Week 4
Despite some local teams from WV not having a great start to the 2019 season, the NFL still has a packed schedule of games this Sunday, even with some teams having their bye weeks. However, it is important to remember that the season is still in its early stages.
According to DraftKings and FanDuel, here are the present betting odds for Week 4.
DraftKings Sportsbook WV Odds
The football game between the Cleveland Browns and the Baltimore Ravens.
- The point spread for CLE is +7 with odds of -110, and the moneyline is +265.
- The point spread for the BAL team is -7 with odds of -110, while the moneyline odds for them are -315.
The matchup is between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Cincinnati Bengals.
- The Pittsburgh team is favored to win with a point spread of -4 and a moneyline of -200.
- The CIN team has a +4 spread with a -115 Moneyline and a +163 odds.
The matchup between the Washington Redskins and the New York Giants
- The team’s score was +3 (-118) according to the point spread, and the moneyline was +135.
- The New York Giants are favored by 3 points with odds of -104, and their moneyline is -155.
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