Penn National, William Hill US to kick-off legal sports betting in West Virginia

August 17, 2018 3:48 PM
  • Howard Stutz, CDC Gaming Reports
August 17, 2018 3:48 PM
  • Howard Stutz, CDC Gaming Reports

Penn National Gaming and William Hill US are on track to help West Virginia become the fourth state to launch legal sports wagering since the U.S. Supreme Court opened the gates to the activity in May.

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The companies announced Friday that sports betting will officially begin Sept. 1 at Penn National’s Hollywood Casino at Charles Town Races. For now, the casino is on line to be West Virginia’s legal first sports betting location.

“This region is a hotbed of both professional sports and college athletics, and we look forward to becoming a destination for fans in West Virginia, Virginia, Maryland, and Washington, DC,” Hollywood Casino General Manager Scott Saunders said in a statement.

West Virginia follows Delaware, New Jersey and Mississippi into the legal sports betting world after the court ruled on May 14 that the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act was unconstitutional, allowing for states outside Nevada to offer single-game sports wagering.

Penn National announced Thursday it was launching legal sports wagering operations at its casinos in Mississippi this month, on both the Gulf Coast and in Tunica.

With West Virginia beginning, William Hill US, which operates sports betting facilities at more than 100 locations in Nevada, will have sports books in every state where the activity is legal.

“I’m really proud of the incredible work our team is doing to get us operational in Mississippi, where we were licensed yesterday, and at Hollywood Casino at Charles Town Races,” said William Hill US CEO Joe Asher. “We’re proud to be working with Penn National and appreciate their confidence in us.”

Penn National is developing a sports book near the Hollywood Casino’s Skybox Sports Bar, installing new walls and adding dozens of televisions for customers to watch the games.

“The enthusiasm around sports betting has been growing since the federal ban was repealed in May, and we look forward to providing our patrons with another great amenity,” Penn National CEO Tim Wilmott said in a statement.

The West Virginia Lottery Commission licensed Hollywood Casino on Monday. Commission legal counsel Danielle Boyd told The Charleston Gazette-Mail the casino would start accepting bets after installing software and training employees.

Boyd said two other casinos are planning to launch in early- to mid-September, and two more several weeks later.

She said the state should have a regional monopoly on sports betting for now despite a delay in the commission’s target launch of Sept. 1 at all five casinos. Boyd said she expects sports betting to bring people to West Virginia to place wagers, either at the casinos or other venues.