West Virginia Sports Betting and iGaming Rises in June
June was the end of the fiscal year in West Virginia, and the state’s sports betting industry ended on a high note. According to the West Virginia Lottery Commission, the betting handle and revenue rose, which is positive for the surging market.
June Sports Betting Handle in West Virginia
The June sports betting handle in West Virginia was $29.92 million, which rose 17.4% from May’s $25.48 million. The total handle during the fiscal year was $518 million, which makes WV a competitor in the national legal betting industry.
West Virginia reports sports betting numbers weekly instead of by the month. Therefore, June is representative of May 30 through June 30.
The mobile handle in WV accounted for $20.56 million, which was 68.7% of the month’s total. The mobile sports betting handle is down by three percentage points from May.
More people turned to retail sportsbooks showing that the COVID-19 pandemic is behind many Americans, despite the looming fear of the Delta variant.
June Sports Betting Revenue in West Virginia
A rise in sports betting handle does not always translate to a spike in revenue. The revenue grew for the third straight month in the state.
April was only $1.95 million, so the state has come a long way in three months. In June, sportsbooks won $3.46 million, which was close to 30% more than in May. The June figure equated to $294,629 in taxes.
WV is competitive for a small state. However, they are no match for neighboring Pennsylvania. Pennsylvania’s monthly handle is larger than West Virginia’s yearly total.
Nevertheless, West Virginia’s totals rose in June while PA’s handle dropped 6.1%.
iGaming Also Had a Solid Month
WV online casinos had a terrific month along with sports betting. The iGaming handle was $175.21, which was a 26.8% increase from May’s $138.2 million. The revenue slightly improved from $400,000 to $4.73 million.
FanDuel online casino has helped the total rise because the site launched in early May. It was the fourth to join the market.
iGaming may shrink in the coming months with football season beginning. Many bettors will turn to football wagering because of the popularity of the sport. During the pandemic, WV had solid sports betting numbers for football.
West Virginians support a variety of NFL teams which helps enhance the betting handle. Residents will bet on teams in Ohio, Pennsylvania, Maryland, and Virginia, strengthening the demand for NFL football.
Projections have shown that sports betting will improve in the next fiscal year for WV.
