The Mountaineer State’s sports betting operators had the highest win rate for a single month this year in September, generating 48% more revenue year-over-year.
The West Virginia Lottery reported that the online and retail sportsbooks combined produced $7.1 million, the second-most ever, from a $46.4 million handle. The 15.3% hold ranked among the top five of all-time in the Mountaineer State and was nearly six points higher than the same month in 2023.
September marked the sixth consecutive month with a double-digit win rate, up from 14.4% in August. The last time West Virginia operators didn’t combine to reach a 10% hold was March’s 9% win rate.
The profit windfall came despite a 7% year-over-year drop in the handle, despite a full month of college football and the NFL
However, the amount wagered in Sept. represented a 47.5% month-over-month increase while revenue rose a staggering 61.5% compared to August.
The Mountaineer State filled its coffers with over $604,000, up nearly $200,000 from the same month in 2023.
Retail surges
Online betting sites accounted for 90% of the total amount wagered, but a full month of football wagering continued to drive high retail numbers in West Virginia.
A 21% hold led to a combined $1 million in revenue, the highest monthly amount this year for brick-and-mortar sportsbooks. The $4.7 million handle was up 42% month-over-month and a whopping 261% compared to July, the last month before football.
Hollywood Casino at Charles Town took in $2.6 million in retail wagers and used a 25.7% hold to produce over $664,000 in revenue. Mardi Gras Casino enjoyed a 22% hold on the second-best handle of $483,000, while The Greenbrier’s September handle jumped 100% from August.
Tight race at the top
| Operator | Sept. Handle | Revenue |
|---|---|---|
| Charles Town (DraftKings, ESPN BET, Fanatics Sportsbook) | $20 million | $2.9 million |
| The Greenbrier (FanDuel, BetMGM) | $19.4 million | $3 million |
| Mountaineer (Caesars, BetRivers) | $1.9 million | $248,000 |
| Mardi Gras (Betly) | $319,000 | $28,000 |
Last month's battle between Charles Town and The Greenbrier partners was a very close race.
DraftKings, ESPN BET, and Fanatics Sportsbook helped Charles Town generate $20 million in wagers, the most in the Mountaineer State among online operators. The trio also hauled in a combined $2.9 million behind a 14.3% win rate.
But FanDuel and BetMGM got The Greenbrier close with a $19.4 million handle and about $100,000 more revenue than the Charles Town partners, thanks to a 15.3% hold.
Both sides saw significant month-over-month rises, nearly doubling August’s handles and hauling in more than an additional $1 million each in revenue.
Mountaineer’s partners Caesars and BetRivers generated $1.9 million in wagers, up from $1.3 million in August, and a 12% hold led to a slight month-over-month revenue increase.
Even Mardi Gras’ Betly saw its monthly handle rise 45% while revenue nearly doubled compared to August.
