Delaware North first to launch digital sports betting in W. Virginia

West Virginia’s sports bettors got a late Christmas present Thursday via the launch of two more retail sportsbooks and the state’s first online and mobile betting options.

On Thursday, hospitality and gaming operator Delaware North announced that its two West Virginia casinos — Wheeling Island Hotel-Casino-Racetrack and the Mardi Gras Casino & Resort – had officially launched their sportsbooks following a week of field testing and the approval of the West Virginia Lottery Commission.

Delaware North also announced the debut of its BetLucky website and mobile app (for both iOS and Android), marking the first digital wagering options since the state launched its legal betting market in August at Penn National Gaming’s Hollywood Casino at Charles Town Races. (For the moment, at least, the BetLucky.com website appears intended purely to promote betting app downloads.)

From the start, Delaware North put a priority on a simultaneous digital-retail betting launch. The company had planned a November start but digital delays reportedly nixed that schedule. Regardless, the launch means that all five of the state’s gaming venues now include wagering among their gaming options.