Hollywood Casino in Charles Town is the first casino licensed to offer sports betting in West Virginia.
The West Virginia Lottery Commission made the announcement Monday. Commission legal counsel Danielle Boyd told The Charleston Gazette-Mail the casino expects to start accepting bets Sept. 1, after installing software and training employees.
Boyd said two other casinos are planning to launch in early- to mid-September, and two more several weeks later.
She said the state should have a regional monopoly on sports betting for now despite a delay in the commission's target launch of Sept. 1 at all five casinos. Boyd said she expects sports betting to bring people to West Virginia to place wagers, either at the casinos or other venues. She says it'll also prompt people to wine, dine and stay the night.
