Steady As She Goes: DraftKings, FanDuel Continue To Lift West Virginia Sports Betting Handle

Online sportsbooks have once again contributed to setting a new record for the highest sports betting handle ever recorded in West Virginia. After another week of having mobile sports betting apps, WV residents placed over $6.6 million in bets for the week of Sept. 21.

The introduction of DraftKings and FanDuel online sportsbooks have reignited the WV sports betting market with incredible speed. Overall betting handle has now set a new high in each of the last three weeks.

Revenue figures have also been really encouraging since the return of online sportsbooks. Although the total of around $560,000 is the lowest of the last three weeks, it’s still a quality showing.

This marks the 10th straight week that WV sportsbooks have earned a profit, with nine of them being more than six figures.

Beyond just making money in general, the online sportsbooks are doing more than their share. In just three weeks time, WV sportsbooks at The Greenbrier and Hollywood Casino have made more money with their mobile books than over two months worth of the BetLucky app.

While having the college football and NFL seasons in full swing certainly helps, both DraftKings and FanDuel have proven track records of producing elite online sportsbooks.

There seems to be no stopping the momentum building around sports betting in the Mountain State. With the WVU Mountaineers set to host Texas this weekend, sportsbooks will likely be busier than ever.

This week’s sports betting revenue report for Sept. 15-21 includes activity from these WV sportsbooks:

• Hollywood Casino Sportsbook and DraftKings Sportsbook WV
• The Greenbrier and FanDuel Sportsbook
• Mountaineer Sportsbook

WV sports betting revenue highlights

The following are the key takeaways from the Sept. 21 figures:

• Online revenue accounts for more than 50% of total revenue generated
• Betting handle increases incrementally to set new high
• Mountaineer Casino thriving even without an online sportsbook

Online sports betting has taken off in WV and seems to only get more popular every week. After accounting for just about 4% of the revenue stream in online’s first week back, it has now grown to 54% in just a month.

This is obviously fast growth, but don’t expect it to slow down. The New Jersey sports betting market typically earns around 80% of its revenue through online sportsbooks.

Even though the betting handle has hit somewhat of a plateau, an increase in betting action is always good. Despite increasing less than $200,000 from the previous week, handle has now grown in each of the last four weeks, totaling a new high for the state for the week of Sept. 21.

Mountaineer Sportsbook is proving that there is still a place for retail sportsbooks in WV. As its handle was just under $950,000 for the week, Mountaineer has been able to remain successful even without a mobile app.

Mountaineer’s land-based book has nearly been on par with the production of The Greenbrier along with its FanDuel Sportsbook. Of course adding an online platform of its own will help, but the Mountaineer Sportsbook has showed that gameday experiences alone can sustain a good portion of the market.

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: $165,607,695.57
• Revenue: $17,111,532.57
• Taxes: $1,711,153.39

It was once again a very busy week for sports betting in the state. Total handle reached $6,625,825.56, a 3% rise from the week prior.

Revenue figures dropped, but still had a good result. Sportsbooks made $563,652.02, a 21% decrease from a week ago.

WV sports betting revenue for the week ending Sept. 21, 2019

WV Sports Betting Handle

The handle rankings have looked similar in recent weeks as the two sportsbooks with online options lead the way.

Hollywood Casino led again this week with more than $4.5 million in wagers. This is the third-consecutive week Hollywood has set a new best for handle.

The Greenbrier came in second, accepting over $1.1 million in bets for the second week in a row. Its sportsbook was able to beat last week’s mark by about $8,000 to record a new high.

Mountaineer came in last, but it had an impressive week considering it doesn’t feature an online sportsbook. Its retail book nearly took in $950,000 in bets this week.

Here’s how the WV sportsbooks rank for weekly handle:

1. Hollywood Casino ($4,519,732.73)
2. The Greenbrier ($1,161,117.53)
3. Mountaineer Casino ($944,975.30)
4. Mardi Gras Casino ($0)
5. Wheeling Island ($0)

WV sports betting revenue

In spite of the fact that revenue numbers have reduced overall in each of the last two weeks, WV sportsbooks have been having a lot of success.

Hollywood Casino led the group here as well, generating almost $375,000 in revenue. While this is a healthy week, revenue has dropped down now for two straight weeks.

Even though Hollywood’s online revenue fell from last week, too, it has now earned over six figures from DraftKings for three weeks in a row.

The Greenbrier took control of second place this week thanks to its online platform with FanDuel. In total, its sportsbook made more than $100,000, however, its online sportsbook was responsible for 78% of that revenue.

Although Mountaineer had a quality week for handle, its revenue report was not great. Its sportsbook made just under $85,000, the least it’s earned in a month.

Here’s how the WV sportsbooks rank for weekly revenue:

1. Hollywood Casino ($372,782.78)
2. The Greenbrier ($106,174.04)
3. Mountaineer Casino ($84,695.20)
4. Wheeling Island ($0)
5. Mardi Gras Casino ($0)

On the board for WV Sportsbooks

WV football

This upcoming weekend is shaping up to be a busy one for active WV sportsbooks. Both WVU and Marshall are on the slate as each tries to get in the win column again.

The Mountaineers play Texas in Morgantown, while the Herd travel to Middle Tennessee to take on the Blue Raiders.

Below are both games’ odds based on the current lines at DraftKings and FanDuel. on Oct. 4.

	Spread	Total	Moneyline
WVU vs. Texas
DraftKings Sportsbook	WVU +10.5	61	WVU +295 Texas -385
FanDuel Sportsbook	WVU +10	61	WVU +300 Texas -390
Marshall vs. Middle Tennessee
DraftKings	Marshall -4	54	Marshall -195 MTSU +155
FanDuel	Marshall -4	53.5	Marshall -180 MTSU +150

NFL Week 5

The NFL heads into its Week 5 as things are looking up for some of the local teams. Baker Mayfield and Nick Chubb rolled past the Ravens for the Browns’ second victory of the year.

Pittsburgh finally found a win as well, as it beat up the Bengals on Monday Night Football. Perhaps this week Washington and Cincinnati will be able to earn their first wins of 2019, too.

Below are the Week 5 lines according to DraftKings and FanDuel.