The Greenbrier Opens FanDuel Sportsbook, Making Two in the State
The Casino Club at Greenbrier Resort has opened its sportsbook inside the only private casino in America. The sportsbook, operated by daily fantasy sports and sports betting operator FanDuel, went live on Sep. 13. In doing so, the private facility became the second facility to offer sports betting in West Virginia.
Like most of the offerings at The Greenbrier, the FanDuel Sportsbook emphasizes intimacy and exclusivity. Despite the 21 television screens on the walls, the room is smaller than most sportsbook operations.
In fact, it more closely resembles a sitting room or lounge in a fancy mansion. The walls are adorned with maroon cloth. The chairs are wide-backed easy chairs more appropriate in a home theater.
As usual, we don’t really know much about what’s happening at the Greenbrier
Part of the Casino Club at Greenbrier’s allure is its air of mystery. The resort carries itself as one of the last bastions of truly high society in the country.
There is something delightfully opulent about a resort personally owned by the state’s governor. In keeping with that vibe (and, well, the law), the casino only allows hotel guests, club members and onsite homeowners to use the facility.
As such, the property feels no need to be overly forthcoming with information about what’s happening there. So, the announcement was a mild surprise.
However, other bits of information that had previously trickled from White Sulphur Springs made the resort the favorite to open a sportsbook next. The Greenbrier had secured a partnership with FanDuel. In turn, FanDuel had received its permit to operate a sportsbook in the state.
So, it was only a matter of time. And, despite its exclusivity, the Greenbrier does still need a few people to rent hotel rooms from time to time.
Where do things stand in West Virginia?
So, there are now two operational sportsbooks in West Virginia. Hollywood Casino Charles Town began receiving wagers on Aug. 30, and celebrated its official opening two days later.
So far, the Charles Town property has reported excellent results. In its first four days of operation, the sportsbook accepted wagers totaling $640,000. Of that figure, the casino managed to enjoy a hold percentage around 50 percent, far in excess of hold percentages in more mature markets, like Nevada.
Mardi Gras and Wheeling Island
The other three casinos in West Virginia are still in some phase of preparations. Both Mardi Gras Casino in Cross Lanes and Wheeling Island Hotel-Casino-Racetrack are showing affirmative signs that progress is moving forward on sports betting.
Gaming operator Delaware North owns both properties. Both properties acquired their licenses to operate a sportsbook in August 2018.
Mardi Gras, for its part, has had a section of its casino under construction since July. The debut of its sports betting facility cannot be terribly far away.
In a similar vein, Wheeling Island opened a sports bar at the beginning of September in the very center of the gaming space. Wheeling Island management confirms that the bar is part of the process towards opening the sportsbook.
Mountaineer
The only casino that is moving slowly towards opening a book is the Mountaineer Casino Racetrack & Resort. To date, the property in the northern tip of the state has yet to receive its license to operate.
However, the Mountaineer’s parent company, Eldorado Resorts, just partnered with sports betting titan William Hill earlier in September. One of Eldorado’s newly acquired properties, Tropicana Atlantic City, struck a deal with William Hill at almost the same time.
So, with a sportsbook company onboard, things might happen quickly at the Mountaineer after all. For now, West Virginia gambling enthusiasts will have to make do with the two open sportsbooks in the Mountain State.
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