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As of early August, customers of Betly in WV may now wager on sports and play online casino titles from the same app, Betly Casino and Sportsbook.
Great news for gamers across WV, as was previously reported, Betly finally launched its app with a new design, new focus, and new content, after shutting its online services on June 18. Delaware North, the company that runs two casinos in WV, stated that it has relaunched Betly after moving from IGT to Gamewise, a company headquartered in Belgium, as its platform supplier.
According to a news statement from the Regional Director of Marketing of Delaware North David Morris, the company is excited to provide its many devoted customers in West Virginia access to the Betly Casino and Sportsbook on mobile and online. They may now enjoy the thrill of casino gambling from the comfort of their homes, no matter where in WV they are.
Delaware North is the operator of Wheeling Island Hotel-Casino-Racetrack and Mardi Gras Casino Resort. Additionally, the business collaborates with WynnBet, a West Virginia-based online sportsbook and casino.
Betly’s Move from an Online Sportsbook App to an Integrated Online Casino
Delaware North said earlier in 2023 that it would be switching to an integrated casino and sports betting platform that as a result, bets would no longer be accepted on its Betly sportsbook app as of June 19. Clients were able to withdraw any remaining money from their accounts until July 31. The remaining amount would be sent to those who choose not to withdraw their money via cheque.
During the outage, Delaware North collaborated with Gamewise to redesign their betting app. The project’s primary focus is to combine the business’s sportsbook and online casino applications for West Virginia.
After Betly’s 2020 online sportsbook debut, the software has developed into the integrated platform Delaware North had anticipated for three years. Todd San Jule, the Gamewise General Manager, said that Betly would provide a wide selection of well-known games from the biggest providers, such as IGT, to all West Virginians, including tourists and the devoted customers of the Mardi Gras and Wheeling Island casinos.
He continued by saying that the company is providing the same user-friendly and approachable platform for sports betting at the Betly mobile and online casino. Additionally, it’s a recognizable and practical continuation of the gambling options the business offers in its two casinos.
Will Market Share Grow with the Relaunched Product?
With an integrated online casino, Betly enters a new market where industry heavyweights will compete. With profit margins in the single digits, it was among the state’s lowest bookmakers. It does, however, have fresh prospects in the WV online casino business, which expanded by 61% in FY 2022–2023.
The online casino industry in WV is very competitive despite its tiny size. FY 2023–2024 will see revenue above $150 million, thus even a small portion of that will translate into seven-figure sums for Betly.
With sales in the tens of millions over the last year, industry heavyweights like DraftKings, BetMGM, and FanDuel are unbeatable rivals for the new casino. It need not, however, surpass those operators to carve itself a lucrative niche.
Sportsbooks are not as profitable as online casinos, yet Betly managed to survive in the smaller of the two markets. Although its iGaming market share won’t significantly alter the situation, it still has a lot of space to operate in the larger scheme of things.
