VIP Play Inc., an online gaming firm that operates an online sportsbook in Tennessee, will launch a sportsbook and online casino with West Virginia’s Wheeling Island racino via gaming and entertainment company Delaware North next year.
VIP Play Inc. CEO Bruce Cassidy said in a statement that the West Virginia market is an “ideal” choice:
“This is an ideal market for VIP Play, Inc. to expand into as part of our US expansion efforts. We welcome the addition of online casino — ‘iGaming’ — to our list of offerings within the US and are excited to bring the VIP Play mobile app to West Virginia residents and visitors in 2025.”
West Virginia will be the second state where VIP Play’s sportsbook operates; Tennessee is the other (as ZenSports). VIP Play plans to be live by the 2025 college football season.
VIP Play will be Wheeling Island’s second online sportsbook
West Virginia regulations allow three online licenses per land-based sportsbook. With the news of VIP Play’s deal with Delaware North, Wheeling Island now has two of its three skins assigned.
The casino gave its first skin to Betly. Wheeling Island “shares” the sportsbook with sister property Mardi Gras Casino Resort, as both are owned by Delaware North.
As part of the licensing agreement, VIP Play will pay Delaware North a percentage of its online gaming net revenue.
Wheeling Island will likely grab a bigger share of the WV online casino and sportsbook market
West Virginia is a small sports betting market, but it’s only one of seven states where online casino gambling is legal. Wheeling Island is in line to grab a bigger share of that online casino market once VIP Play launches.
How big is that market? In November, West Virginia iGaming generated $23.4 million, putting it fifth among seven states:
| State | November revenue |
|---|---|
| Pennsylvania | $252.2 million |
| Michigan | $226 million |
| New Jersey | $214 million |
| Connecticut | $25.5 million |
| West Virginia | $23.4 million |
| Delaware | $6.2 million |
| Rhode Island (October) | $3.2 million |
