West Virginia races to set the sports betting segment

The Lottery Commission plans to issue interim licences as soon as possible to get the segment ready before the football season starts.

US.- West Virginia is one of the states that has made the most progress in legalising the sports betting segment but is still facing some regulatory hurdles. However, officials are optimistic and expect businesses to be ready to take wagers before the football season starts next September.

“I look for the sportsbooks at the brick-and-mortar sites to be in place by the first week of September, the first weekend for the NFL season,” said John Cavacini, president of the West Virginia Gaming and Racing Association, which represents the state’s racetrack casinos.

The segment still needs to get its emergency rules set by the Governor’s Office and said measures have been delayed for the last 18 days. Nonetheless, efforts to get the segment up and running have been doubled and progress is expected to be made over the next few days.

The Lottery Commission has established the ground rules for sportsbooks at casinos but has also allowed gaming venues to set temporary locations for them while they get the permanent ones ready. That’s why the regulatory body’s counsel Danielle Boyd explained that the application forms for interim licences should be available soon: “We’d like to start issuing these interim licences ASAP. We’re still hoping to have them up and running by Sept. 1,” she said.