FanDuel scores sports betting deal in West Virginia

Daily fantasy sports company, FanDuel, has reportedly agreed a deal with The Greenbrier Resort (pictured) located near White Sulphur Springs in West Virginia that will see the New York City-based operator provide online, retail and mobile sports betting services throughout “The Mountain State.”

Pro Football Talk reports that in a press release issued to the football news website, Chief Executive Officer for FanDuel, Matt King, said that they are “honored” to have been selected to be the sports wagering services provider at the iconic resort.

King added, “As we work towards building out a top sports betting product for the upcoming NFL season, we look forward to bringing West Virginia residents, sports fans, and visitors to The Greenbrier the best interactive sports experience on the market.”

According to the news outlet, the final details of the agreement are dependent on the regulations put into effect by the West Virginia Lottery Commission.

The commission which also regulates slot machines or “video lottery,” unanimously passed the rules governing the debut of sports wagering at West Virginia’s five casinos in an emergency meeting last week. The WV Sports Lottery Wagering Act, passed in March 2018, legalizes sports betting in the state, courtesy of the Supreme Court decision last month, which declared the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act (PASPA) unconstitutional.

In regard to the new rules, State Lottery Commissioner, Alan Larrick, reportedly said that they will now be sent to the state’s casinos. “This will enable them to go forward to make sure their systems meet the requirements set forth in our rules, so that’s why we tried to get this done as soon as possible to expedite the process.” Larrick added, “The goal, hopefully, would be when football season starts. If not, shortly thereafter.”

According to Pro Football Talk, the general consensus is that, via FanDuel, both residents and non-residents, who are physically located in the state of West Virginia, will be able to place wagers through the FanDuel app. Additionally, a sports wagering platform will also be available at The Casino Club at The Greenbrier, as well as Mountaineer Casino Racetrack, Hollywood Casino at Charles Town Races, Mardi Gras Casino & Resort in Cross Lanes and Wheeling Island Casino Racetrack.

Unique in the U.S., The Casino Club is only open to overnight resort guests, members of The Greenbrier Sporting Club, its Golf & Tennis Club, and “attendees of an event or convention staying off-property when more than 400 rooms are occupied.”

The plan by FanDuel and The Greenbrier is for the betting service to be operational by this fall, with the exact date to be determined by the Lottery Commission’s finalization of the regulations.

Late last month, European online and retail sports betting and gaming operator Paddy Power Betfair announced that it had inked a definitive agreement that will see it purchase a controlling stake in FanDuel.