It was a quick turnaround for Betly, which shut down services to its online sportsbook on June 18 with the promises of relaunching a new West Virginia online casino and sportsbook app this summer.
Parent company Delaware North announced the launch of its integrated online casino and sportsbook last week, available on PC and Mac browsers and from the Apple App Store and Google Play Store
The new software runs on the Gamewise platform, marking a switch from International Gaming Technology (IGT). However, West Virginians will still have access to IGT slot titles, including:
- Wheel of Fortune Elegant Emeralds
- Ruby Riches
- Triple Gold Gold Spin
- Hawaiian Getaway
- Fortune Coin
- Fortune Coin Boost Classic
- Cleopatra Grand
- Wild Fury Jackpots
“We thank the West Virginia Lottery Commission for its responsive review of Betly and are very excited to have our new online and mobile casino and sportsbook available in the respective online app stores,” Gamewise General Manager Todd San Jule said in a press release.
Betly joins WV online casino market
Betly only offered WV sports betting before its six-week shutdown. Now, it has become the latest online casino in the Mountain State and the second to launch in 2023.
The other, WynnBET Casino, also went live under Delaware North’s license through its retail casinos, Mardi Gras Casino Resort and Wheeling Island Hotel-Casino-Racetrack. Though now the WynnBet Casino will cease operations in the coming weeks.
That number will soon become 12, too, as Play’n Go and Hacksaw Gaming are licensed and will launch soon. In the meantime, these online casinos currently operate in West Virginia under the following retail casino partnerships:
- Delaware North: Betly and WynnBET (it was just announced Wynn cease online gambling operations in the state)
- The Greenbrier: BetMGM, FanDuel, Golden Nugget
- Hollywood Casino Charles Town: DraftKings, PointsBet, Barstool
- Mountaineer Casino: Caesars, BetRivers
Will new casino increase market share?
With an integrated online casino, Betly steps into a new arena of competition among the industry’s titans. It was one of the smallest sportsbooks in the state, accounting for single-digit revenue percentages. However, it has new opportunities in a WV online casino market that grew by 61% year over year in FY 2022/23.
Though small, West Virginia’s online casino market is highly competitive. It will surpass $150 million in annual revenue in FY 2023/24, meaning even a small percentage will amount to seven-figure totals for Betly.
The new casino stands no chance of competing with leaders like DraftKings, BetMGM and FanDuel, which turned revenues in the tens of millions over the last year. However, it doesn’t need to overtake those operators to carve a profitable niche.
Online casinos generate more revenue than sportsbooks, and Betly stayed afloat in the smaller of the two verticals. Its iGaming market share won’t shake up the landscape, but there’s plenty of room for its presence in the overall picture.
New app, same user-friendly interface
The new Betly app will look familiar to anyone who used the sportsbook app before the relaunch. Its user-friendly interface is one of the best in the state, as sports bettors already know from features like in-play betting, live streaming and detailed statistics.
San Jule said:
“Betly will afford our loyal Wheeling Island and Mardi Gras casino patrons, everyone across West Virginia and visitors to the state a full array of popular games from the largest suppliers, including IGT. We’re bringing the same easy-to-use and unintimidating type of platform to the Betly online and mobile casino as what we have provided for sports betting. It’s also a familiar and convenient extension of the gaming experiences we provide at our two casinos.”
That said, Betly’s offerings are limited for now. Fewer than 100 games appear across all verticals, including around 20 table games and 16 jackpot slot titles.
