FanDuel and DraftKings have just given sports fans and sports gambling enthusiasts something to be excited about as they introduced online sports betting in the state of West Virginia.
FanDuel, which already provides a land-based sportsbook at The Greenbrier, begun online in tandem with the brand earlier this week. DraftKings also started this week, in collaboration with the Mountaineer Casino.
The twin launch signifies the first time the state has had access to mobile or online gambling since March, when Delaware North saw their online operations halted primarily because of a conflict involving a third-party firm.
FanDuel was the first company to launch, making the call to go for proprietary technology. The iOS and Android app of the popular firm makes use of the IGT PlaySports platform, identical to what they are offering in the states of Pennsylvania and New Jersey. The app is particularly distinct in West Virginia, as FanDuel produced their account and wallet technology in-house.
The new sportsbook is now linked to the company’s fantasy sports app. Clients in West Virginia can utilize their winnings from the sportsbook and fantasy sports contests interchangeably.
Meanwhile, DraftKings worked intensively on the development of their app for several months before finally launching. Players can now download the application for sports betting from the Google Play Store for Android devices, or from the App Store for iOS phones.
West Virginia is only the second state to see DraftKings introduce a mobile sports betting application. The operator began in New Jersey in August of 2018.
DraftKings Chief Revenue Officer and Co-Founder Matt Kalish had this to say regarding the development:
“We are thrilled to continue our DraftKings Sportsbook expansion by getting our product into the hands of West Virginians. We look forward to serving our fans with the top-rated DraftKings Sportsbook app.”
The introduction of FanDuel and DraftKings is a timely one as it arrives right at the start of the new football season. The NCAA football has already kicked off, giving players with a chance to wager on their preferred college teams.
The NFL season kicks off on September 5, when the Chicago Bears play host to the Green Bay Packers. Both brands will be offering NCAA and NFL betting, among a number of other sports betting options.
