DraftKings has announced it’s been given permission to launch an online casino within the state of West Virginia. This means West Virginians now have four different online casinos to choose from.
The news was announced by DraftKings in the form of a short press release it put out after its official launch. Its online casino has been launched in conjunction with its land-based partner, the Hollywood Casino at Charlestown Races.
Players are already able to access the online platform and play from their Android and iOS devices.
This is exciting news as states increasingly open up to allowing online casinos to operate within their jurisdictions.
DraftKings Aims to Claim a Fresh Market
West Virginia becomes only the fourth state to enable online casinos to be hosted within its borders. The Mountain State will be joined by Michigan in 2021.
DraftKings is aiming to take advantage of a fresh market before competitors begin to pour into the market. DraftKings Sportsbook and DraftKings Casino are now both live in three different states. The only state where DraftKings isn’t available is Delaware.
The organization is looking to differentiate itself from its competitors by using a single online casino app to serve all three states it’s present in. This means every player accessing DraftKings legally will get the same experience, regardless of which state they happen to reside in.
It currently has a catalog of 300 slots, 60 table games, and low-stakes betting as low as $0.01.
DraftKings at the Forefront of Progress
West Virginia initially legalized online casinos in 2019 through the WV Lottery Interactive Wagering Act. Online casinos were then permitted and there were five permits made available. The state appears determined to allow the market to grow gradually, rather than via a deluge.
The only other casino with plans to launch in West Virginia is Flutter, which is going through FanDuel Casino.
DraftKings has a history of getting its product to market before its competitors. Since the company moved away from focusing exclusively on fantasy sports, it’s quickly garnered a strong reputation among players.
Punching a hole in the growing West Virginia market early will allow it to gain a healthy lead over its competitors, which will surely lead to big profits for DraftKings in the coming years.
More States Signal a Gambling Renaissance
Most states have conducted inquiries into online casinos and online sportsbooks. In particular, they have focused on the big success story in New Jersey, which is currently aiming to take down Nevada as the gambling capital of the US.
Michigan has already confirmed that online casinos will be allowed to launch in 2021, with other states signaling their intent to alter their own gambling laws.
It will take time for the gambling renaissance to take hold in the US. Some states will be more willing than others to change the way things are done, but with billions of dollars in gaming revenue at stake, gamblers are hoping this renaissance will continue.
Either way, DraftKings will be watching things unfold and making plans for the markets it can expand into in the coming years.