West Virginia Online Sports Betting Handle Jumps By $9.2M

Written By Adam Hensley on October 25, 2024

September 2024 sports betting handle in West Virginia rose over $9M

West Virginia sports betting is making a pleasant comeback as football season returns.

In September, the state of West Virginia experienced a significant increase in its sports betting handle, reaching $46.9 million. This marked a substantial jump of approximately $13 million compared to the previous month of August. Moreover, the online sports betting handle in West Virginia also witnessed growth, rising from $28 million in August to approximately $37.2 million in September, indicating an increase of $9.2 million.

West Virginia accumulated a total of $6.97 million in sports betting revenue during the month of September.

West Virginia takes pride in its thriving sports betting industry, benefiting from the presence of renowned West Virginia University and Marshall within the state. Additionally, its proximity to states hosting prominent college and NFL teams further contributes to its vibrant sports culture.

As college football and NFL football entered full swing, it was expected that sports betting numbers would increase from August to September, even with one less weekend in the latter month. The surge in online betting’s popularity was evident in September, with mobile devices accounting for over half of the state’s sports betting activity.

West Virginia sports betting numbers down compared to last year

Compared to September 2021, sports betting in its entirety witnessed a decline last month. During that particular month, the state recorded a total handle of $60.1 million, out of which $45.8 million was generated through online bets. The revenue collected amounted to $7.1 million.

The slight decline in numbers can be attributed to several factors. Firstly, a significant reason is the difference in the number of weekends between September 2024 and September 2021. This past month, there was one less weekend for fans of college and professional football to place their bets compared to the previous year.

The decline may have been partially due to customers losing interest in sportsbook promotions, which could be attributed to West Virginia having fewer sportsbooks compared to states like New Jersey or Arizona. However, as the market in West Virginia continues to develop, it will eventually stabilize, just like any other industry.

As the calendar year progresses, it is advisable to monitor the sports betting figures of the state. West Virginia experienced record-breaking betting volumes in October ($77.7 million) and November ($84.3 million) of 2021.

West Virginia online casino numbers drop from August

The online casino handle in the state experienced a decline from August to September.

In the previous month, West Virginia observed a decrease of 13.9% in the online casino handle, which amounted to $282,169,332 compared to August’s handle of $327,615,368. However, it is important to note that the average weekly handle was higher in the recent month due to it having one less week than August.

In September, the weekly average amounted to $70.5 million, surpassing the $65.5 million average from August.

Last month, the online casino revenue in West Virginia also amounted to $10,264,190.

What to know about sports betting in West Virginia

Since the state reestablished its online sports betting presence in 2019, more than $100 million has been wagered by sports bettors.

In the state of West Virginia, sports bettors have an abundance of choices with seven legal online sportsbooks available to them.

DraftKings, Caesars, BetMGM, BetRivers, FanDuel, PointsBet, and Betly are all popular betting platforms.

In West Virginia, individuals can legally engage in betting on college sports, as well as professional leagues such as the NFL, NBA, MLB, NHL, and other major sporting organizations. Furthermore, the state allows for legalized esports betting as well.

West Virginia is home to a total of five retail sportsbooks.