The decline in West Virginia sports betting has reached a new low as the state recently lost two retail sportsbooks and its sole mobile option. This setback led to the lowest sports betting activity in the Mountain State since October 2018.
The total handle for the week ending May 4 plummeted below $2.3 million, marking the lowest reported figure since sportsbooks first began accepting sports wagers in their initial two months.
Naturally, the absence of online sports betting apps in WV stands as the primary reason for the decline. The sports betting industry is in a state of limbo as enthusiasts eagerly await the launch of one of the newly authorized online sportsbooks.
Although the handle was disappointing, the active sportsbooks had a successful week in terms of generating revenue. For the first time in over a month, all three West Virginia casinos with active sportsbooks managed to turn a profit. It is worth noting that there are currently no online casinos operating in West Virginia.
After losing money a week ago, the state’s recovery showed great promise.
The report for this week encompasses the activity of all five WV sportsbooks from April 28 to May 4.
- Hollywood Casino Sportsbook
- Mountaineer Sportsbook
- The Greenbrier is home to the FanDuel Sportsbook.
- Mardi Gras Casino Sportsbook
- Wheeling Island Sportsbook
WV Sports Betting Summary
Since August 2018, the WV Lottery Commission has released the most recent figures for WV sports betting revenue tracking.
- Handle: $111,948,568.47
- Revenue: $11,019,017.70
- Taxes: $1,101,901.85
Sports betting in WV had a disappointingly sluggish week starting on May 4, with a total handle of $2,296,202.32. This marked a 12% decline compared to the previous week.
There was a significant positive shift in revenue figures. Sportsbooks experienced an astounding 1,438% surge, generating $401,286.56 in revenue, which was a remarkable increase compared to the previous week.
WV sports betting revenue for the week ending April 27, 2019
A Closer Look At WV Sports Betting Handle
Just when it seemed like the number of handle figures had reached a plateau, circumstances managed to deteriorate even further.
Despite another off week, Hollywood Casino continues to lead all sportsbooks. The total amount of wagers, amounting to $1.6 million, was the highest in the state. However, it fell short by approximately $320,000 compared to the previous week.
For the second week in a row, Hollywood has failed to reach the $2 million mark.
The Mountaineer Casino experienced an increase in handle for the week, with a growth of nearly $20,000, totaling close to $650,000. This marked the highest handle it has reached in the past five weeks.
The Greenbrier’s handle continues to decline, marking the third consecutive week of decrease. Since the end of March, the Greenbrier has not managed to surpass six figures in handle.
Until online sportsbooks return to the state, it appears that the handle figures in WV will continue to decline. Despite significant sporting events such as the Kentucky Derby, the retail sportsbooks are struggling to maintain a steady flow of activity.
The availability of online betting options in WV is expected to result in a significant surge in sports betting. The absence of a mobile app, despite having one for almost three months, has likely left many residents in the area feeling frustrated.
These are the rankings of the WV sportsbooks based on their weekly handle.
- Hollywood Casino has a total balance of $1,620,385.92, Mountaineer Casino holds $643,014.90, The Greenbrier has $32,801.50 in funds, while both Mardi Gras Casino and Wheeling Island have a balance of $0.
A Closer Look At WV Sports Betting Revenue
Despite facing challenges with the volume of wagers, sportsbooks managed to generate impressive revenue during the week. Notably, all three active books concluded the week with positive financial results.
In this area as well, Hollywood takes the lead. Following a rare downturn in the previous report, it experienced a significant resurgence this week. Hollywood generated over $240,000, marking its highest earnings in the past five weeks.
Last week, Mountaineer Casino made a remarkable recovery from its financial decline. It achieved a significant milestone of surpassing $150,000, marking the first time in six weeks.
Even though The Greenbrier had positive revenue, it fell short of reaching $5,000.
The bets that have recently been resolved caused Wheeling Island and Mardi Gras Casino to suffer a collective loss of approximately $800.
The ability of WV sportsbooks to consistently earn profits on a weekly basis is rather astonishing, considering the lack of an online presence within the state. Despite a decline in the handle, the revenue figures mostly remain robust.
The revenue growth is anticipated to be noteworthy upon the launch of the mobile app. Both gamblers and casinos are looking forward to the introduction of a new online sportsbook in the upcoming period.
These are the rankings of the WV sportsbooks based on their weekly revenue.
- Hollywood Casino ($245,591.46)
- Mountaineer Casino ($151,952.95)
- The Greenbrier ($4,510.25)
- Wheeling Island ($-332.55)
- Mardi Gras Casino ($-435.55)
On the board for WV Sportsbooks
NBA Playoffs
This season, the NBA playoffs have advanced to the conference finals, where notable changes are evident in the Eastern Conference due to the absence of LeBron James.
Kawhi Leonard and the Toronto Raptors will face off against Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Milwaukee Bucks in an exciting battle.
The West appears to be more recognizable.
The Golden State Warriors have returned to the conference finals, aiming to secure another spot in the NBA Finals. Their opponents, the Portland Trail Blazers, are striving to reach the Finals for the first time since 1992.
DraftKings in New Jersey has provided the following NBA title odds:
- Golden State Warriors -155
- Milwaukee Bucks +240
- Toronto Raptors +650
- Portland Trail Blazers +1500
NHL Playoffs
The NHL conference finals have begun, with the Boston Bruins taking an early lead in the East. They have defended their home-ice advantage and currently hold a 2-0 series lead against the Carolina Hurricanes.
Now, as the Canes aim to rebound, the series will head to Raleigh, North Carolina.
The San Jose Sharks and St. Louis Blues, competing in the Western Conference, have evenly divided the first two games of their series. The upcoming Game 3 will take place in Missouri on Wednesday as the teams hit the road.
In New Jersey, DraftKings offers the following Stanley Cup winning odds:
- Boston Bruins -105
- Louis Blues +290
- San Jose Sharks +320
- Carolina Hurricanes +1250
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