Unexpected shutdown
Delaware North has grown tired of missing out on sports betting revenues due to an unexpected shutdown. On March 6, its sports betting operations ceased in Wheeling Island Hotel-Casino-Racetrack and Mardi Gras Casino & Resort of West Virginia.
The sports betting partner of Delaware North, Miomni Gaming, stopped services because of a dispute with a third-party vendor, Entergaming. Online services via the operator’s site BetLucky were also shut down.
Seeking partnership termination
Delaware North is now seeking a termination of its contract with Miomni Gaming. According to VSO News, the management services provider has been involved in a contract dispute with its technology supplier, which led to the shutdown of services.
The operator of the two West Virginia casinos has been greatly affected by not being able to offer sports betting. Services have remained suspended for almost one month now.
The officials of Wheeling Island notified the West Virginia Lottery Commission last week that they are seeking a termination of the partnership with Miomni Gaming. Delaware North wants to move on and work with someone else so it can resume offering sports betting services.
Since the shutdown, the casinos have missed out on revenues from sports betting. The month of March is known for the NCAA men’s basketball tournament, March Madness. This is a major time for sports betting in the US. Wheeling Island, Mardi Gras Casino and BetLucky have been unable to benefit from the tournament series.
Wheeling Island officials said: “We have notified the West Virginia Lottery Commission that Delaware North is taking steps to terminate its partnership with Miomni Gaming, our management services provider in West Virginia.
“Since March 6, Miomni’s contract dispute with third-party technology supplier Entergaming has resulted in our inability to accept new sports wagers at our Wheeling Island and Mardi Gras casino sports betting operations, as well as via the BetLucky.com mobile app.”
Evaluating options
For now, Delaware North is evaluating its options to be able to provide sports betting once again. The company wants its customers to know that it may take several months to find a solution.
In the meantime, Delaware North will continue to honor and redeem resulted bets. They will also provide customers with detailed information about how they can access their accounts and withdraw funds. The company also apologized for any inconvenience.
Positive developments
Despite the sports betting issue in the state, West Virginia has seen a positive outcome in another gambling sector. Governor Jim Justice recently signed the West Virginia Lottery Interactive Wagering Act into law, legalizing online casino and online poker gameplay.
According to VSO News, the state lottery will be in charge of overseeing this new gambling sector. Several steps must still be taken to see the new industry come to pass. Projected estimates have the online gambling services up and running by the end of 2020 or early in 2021.