Christmas came just a little bit late for sports bettors in West Virginia.
On Thursday, Delaware North, a worldwide hospitality leader who also operates casinos, announced that it was opening up two new retail sportsbook locations along with the Mountain State’s first online sportsbook.
Delaware North teamed up with Miomni Gaming, a sports wagering technology provider, to launch Betlucky.com. The online book and mobile app is available for statewide sports gambling immediately. The app can be downloaded through the website, the Apple App Store for iPhones and iPads or via the website directly for Android.
The retail locations are at the Wheeling Island Hotel-Casino-Racetrack in Wheeling and the Mardi Gras Casino & Resort near Charleston. Both sportsbooks opened Thursday afternoon after the completion of field testing.
Making history in WV sports betting
Miomni Gaming and Delaware North first partnered back in October with the goal of providing both retail and mobile sports betting resources. By creating Betlucky.com, the two will have a jump on the competition when it comes to online sports wagering in West Virginia.
“We think West Virginians and visitors to the Mountain State are going to love how easy it is to register and use the app,” said Luisa Woods, vice president of marketing for Delaware North’s gaming division.
The app is free to download. You must be 21 years old and located in West Virginia to be eligible to bet.
Woods continued, “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.”
One useful feature is the ability to log in with facial recognition or your thumbprint. This allows users to access the app more quickly and without the constant hassle of inputting a password.
More on the WV sportsbooks
The two new retail sportsbooks at Wheeling Island and Mardi Gras have been created to resemble a sports-bar environment with accessible food and drink choices.
Kim Florence, the regional president and general manager for both locations, said:
“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.”
With two more retail locations and the first online book now developed, things appear to be gaining momentum in WV. DraftKings is set to launch its mobile app likely in 2019.
