West Virginia sports betting was anticipating a revival with the re-emergence of online sports betting in the state. Unfortunately for everyone, DraftKings Sportsbook was unable to launch in the Mountain State because of Wire Act considerations.
DraftKings appears to be prepared to build a new network server in WV to stay in compliance.
With the unexpected delay, the West Virginia Lottery did not release any of the revenue figures from any of the active WV sportsbooks last week.
This revenue report will examine the previous two weeks of betting action through May 25 and June 1.
As expected, the overall handle for the state is suffering from the lack of an online sportsbook. It fell below the $2 million mark for the first time since Sept. 2018, when the WV sports betting market was just getting started.
Although handle moved back above $2 million for the week ending June 1, it only increased by about $50,000.
Somehow, the sportsbooks were still able to make a profit both weeks. It is now three-consecutive weeks revenue is in the black after losing around $10,000 for the week ending May 11.
Last week was actually very impressive. Sportsbooks made more than $300,000, the most in over a month.
After it seemed as though DraftKings was going to be the first sports betting app to return to WV, that’s now in question.
It’s possible that either FanDuel Sportsbook or William Hill Sportsbook could beat them to the punch. Of course, they are likely to face similar constraints as DraftKings.
This week’s report includes activity from May 19-25 and from May 26 – June 1 for all five WV sportsbooks:
- Hollywood Casino Sportsbook
- Mountaineer Sportsbook
- The FanDuel Sportsbook at The Greenbrier
- Mardi Gras Casino Sportsbook
- Wheeling Island Sportsbook
Mardi Gras and Wheeling Island sportsbooks are still closed, but they continue to pay out on bets placed before shutting down.
WV Sports Betting Summary
Here are the latest figures released by the WV Lottery Commission since WV sports betting revenue tracking began in August 2018:
- Handle: $120,356,396.09
- Revenue: $11,554,796.29
- Taxes: $1,155,479.74
Sports betting was slow in WV for both weeks reported. The week of May 25 saw handle decrease by 9% to $1,984,382.12. It then saw a slight increase of 3% and rose to $2,036,090.79.
Revenue, on the other hand, has been relatively healthy, considering how the handle has been stagnant. Even though it decreased 57% for the week ending May 25, the books still made $67,688.47. However, revenue increased 376% and totaled $321,912.09 for the week ending June 1.
WV sports betting revenue for the week ending May 25, 2019
| Casino | Handle | Mobile Sports Betting Revenue | Retail Sports Betting Revenue | Total Revenue | Taxes (10%) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hollywood Casino | $1,407,304.92 | N/A | $72,030.32 | $72,030.32 | $7,203.03 |
| Mountaineer Casino | $523,735.20 | N/A | $-24,606.90 | $-24,606.90 | $-2,460.69 |
| The Greenbrier | $53,342.00 | N/A | $21,744.2 | $21,744.2 | $2,174.43 |
| Mardi Gras Casino | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
| Wheeling Island Hotel | N/A | N/A | $-1,479.20 | $-1,479.20 | $-147.92 |
| Total | $1,984,382.12 | N/A | $67,688.47 | $67,688.47 | $6,768.85 |
WV sports betting revenue for the week ending June 1, 2019
| Casino | Handle | Mobile Sports Betting Revenue | Retail Sports Betting Revenue | Total Revenue | Taxes (10%) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hollywood Casino | $1,359,744.89 | N/A | $206,072.09 | $206,072.09 | $20,607.21 |
| Mountaineer Casino | $617,769.90 | N/A | $110,520.95 | $110,520.95 | $11,052.10 |
| The Greenbrier | $58,576.00 | N/A | $6,510.25 | $6,510.25 | $651.03 |
| Mardi Gras Casino | N/A | N/A | $-893.40 | $-893.40 | $-89.34 |
| Wheeling Island Hotel | N/A | N/A | $-297.80 | $-297.80 | $-29.78 |
| Total | $2,036,090.79 | N/A | $321,912.09 | $321,912.09 | $32,191.22 |
A Closer Look At WV Sports Betting Handle
While breaking down the handle and revenue figures for the individual sportsbooks, we’re going to combine the previous two weeks for each casino’s total.
Hollywood Casino continues to lead the charge despite not having DraftKings’ help just yet. Although it comfortably led in total handle for both weeks, Hollywood’s handle fell each week.
It dropped to around $1.4 million and then again to just over $1.3 million the week of June 1. These are the lowest handles for Hollywood since the second week the sportsbook opened.
Mountaineer Casino’s sportsbook settled both weeks with around the same handle it’s been receiving. The book did take in more than $600,000 in wagers for the week ending June 1 for the first time in a month, though.
The Greenbrier also saw similar results to what it’s been getting. The two-week span brought in just over $100,000 in bets.
This number is a positive one for the casino. Its handle was more than $50,000 each week for the first time in five weeks.
The only way the handle figures are going to improve is through online sports betting. Unfortunately, WV residents are still without a mobile option. It makes it more difficult when other states are launching online sportsbooks. In fact, our neighbors to the north just went live. Pennsylvania online sports betting is now a reality.
Hopefully, things will move quickly in WV so that residents can bet on football from their homes by the end of summer.
Here’s how the WV sportsbooks rank for weekly handle:
- Hollywood Casino ($2,767,049.81)
- Mountaineer Casino ($1,141,505.10)
- The Greenbrier ($111,918.00)
- Mardi Gras Casino ($0)
- Wheeling Island ($0)
A Closer Look At WV Sports Betting Revenue
While handle figures aren’t looking great, the WV sportsbooks are still making money from the bets they are accepting.
Hollywood led both weeks by a substantial amount. It made more than $200,000 in the week of June 1 alone. It is the first time Hollywood’s revenue cracked that mark in over a month.
The Mountaineer Casino finished second, but it wasn’t nearly as consistent as Hollywood. Its sportsbook lost money for the week ending May 25 but recovered nicely with a profit of more than $100,000 the following week.
This is the first time Mountaineer has generated that much in five weeks.
The Greenbrier also had a solid week of revenue when it pulled in more than $20,000 for May 25. It’s the first time the sportsbook took in five figures of profit in six weeks.
Wheeling Island and Mardi Gras Casino still find themselves paying out settled wagers. The two non-active sportsbooks lost almost $3,000 combined for the two weeks.
Here’s how the WV sportsbooks rank for weekly revenue:
- Hollywood Casino ($278,102.41)
- Mountaineer Casino ($85,914.05)
- The Greenbrier ($28,254.50)
- Mardi Gras Casino ($-893.40)
- Wheeling Island ($-1,777.00)
On the board for WV Sportsbooks
Stanley Cup Game 7
The NHL’s season will come to an exciting close on Wednesday night when the Boston Bruins and St. Louis Blues play in a decisive Game 7.
The Bruins are slight favorites at home, but both teams have played well on the road this series. According to DraftKings Sportsbook in New Jersey, here are the odds to win the Stanley Cup:
- Boston Bruins -162
- Louis Blues +138
NBA Finals
The finals in the NBA are also coming down to the wire. After a tight victory in Game 5 in Toronto, the Golden State Warriors head home with plenty of injuries looking to force a Game 7.
With the Raptors leading 3-2 in the series, DraftKings NJ lists the following odds to win the 2019 NBA title:
- Toronto Raptors -250
- Golden State Warriors +210
