By PHIL KABLER
Charleston Gazette-Mail
CHARLESTON, W.Va. — In its first month, West Virginia’s share of profits from sports betting totaled $193,306 — or $207,195, counting the two days Hollywood Casino, in Charles Town, had a soft launch of sports betting on Aug 30-31 prior to the official Sept. 1 grand opening of its sportsbook.
While that’s a mere fraction of the $41.23 million in gross profit from state Lottery revenue in September, proponents of sports betting always touted the activity as a way to generate interest and foot traffic in West Virginia’s five casinos, not as a major revenue source for the state.
As of Tuesday’s Lottery Commission meeting, sports betting is underway at only two of the five casinos — The Greenbrier resort launched sports betting on Sept. 13 — and none of the casinos have activated sports betting smartphone apps yet.
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