In West Virginia, Delaware North’s Wheeling Island Hotel-Casino-Racetrack and Mardi Gras Casino & Resort near Charleston both recently opened sports books after weeks of field testing. They’re the first two casinos in the state to accept bets for online and mobile sports wagering, available statewide through the free BetLucky app, available on BetLucky.com or the Apple App Store.
The new sports book openings follow the partnership, established last October, between Delaware North and sports betting technology specialist Miomni Gaming. Prior research indicated 75 percent of sports betting will be done with the app. Besides West Virginia, only New Jersey and Nevada offer legal mobile apps for sports betting.
Delaware North Vice President Luisa Woods said, “We think West Virginians and visitors to the Mountain State are going to love how easy it is to register and use the app. The platform was designed to be flexible, easy to use and reliable, with innovative features designed specifically to engage and entertain U.S. sports fans. Patrons at the casinos can use the app or the betting tellers in the sportsbooks.”
Woods continued, “We are focused on delivering on the promise of integrated destination entertainment and convenience gaming. The partnership with Miomni will allow us to serve a new market of casino operators anxious to benefit from gaming expansion cost-efficiently, while increasing the visibility of their brand, deepening their customer relationships and enhancing the quality of their service offerings.”
Wheeling Island and Mardi Gras General Manager and Regional President Kim Florence said the two sports books offer the casual atmosphere of a sports bar. “Our patrons are going to enjoy these spaces in the casinos and everything else we have to offer in terms of hospitality and entertainment. We are eager to welcome people from throughout the state and the regions surrounding West Virginia to try a new experience at our casinos.”
State Delegate Shawn Fluharty sponsored the legislation allowing legalized sports betting in the state. He commented, “It wasn’t long ago I was told sports betting was nothing but a pipe dream in our state and that the legislation would never pass or be taken seriously. For once our state can say we were at the forefront of something. Let’s keep the momentum going.”
With the addition of Wheeling Island and Mardi Gras, five sports books now operate in West Virginia, including Mountaineer Casino, Racetrack & Resort in Hancock County; Hollywood Casino at Charles Town Racetrack in Jefferson County; and the Greenbrier Resort in White Sulphur Springs.
Also in West Virginia, Hollywood Casino at Charles Town Races owner Penn National Gaming Inc. signed a licensing agreement with DraftKings to offer DraftKings Sportsbook mobile and online platforms, pending regulatory approvals. DraftKings Sportsbook will offer live, in-game betting, wagering on major and niche international and U.S. sports, plus Sportsbook Pools for NFL, NBA, and NHL.
DraftKings Chief Revenue Officer and Co-founder Matt Kalish stated, “We are thrilled to work with Penn National Gaming to bring our online sportsbook product to West Virginia. We look forward to serving sports fans in the Mountain State and building on the immense success we have had in leading the New Jersey market.”
PNGI Vice President of Regional Operations John Finamore Sr. added, “We are pleased to help welcome DraftKings to West Virginia. We believe the state will certainly benefit from DraftKings’ tremendous brand awareness and expertise in providing customers a quality online sports betting experience.”
