Tennessee Sportsbook Operator ZenSports Gains Access to West Virginia Gambling Market
VIP Play, Inc. (VIPZ), doing business as ZenSports in Tennessee, has entered into a definitive agreement with Delaware North for market access into the state of West Virginia for both sports betting and online casino gambling.
Delaware North is a global hospitality and entertainment company with a significant gaming division, including a portfolio of regional casinos in eight states. The deal will require West Virginia regulatory approval with VIP Play hoping to be up and running there before the start of the critical college football season.
As part of the agreement, VIP Play Inc. will pay Delaware North a percentage of their online net gaming revenue during the term of the agreement.
While Tennessee and West Virginia represent a relatively small percentage of the overall U.S. online gambling market, the agreement between the two companies marks what VIP Play says will be its 2025 US expansion effort.
Bruce Cassidy, CEO and Chairman of the Board at VIP Play, Inc. says: "We appreciate Delaware North's access to the wonderful state of West Virginia. 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.
Delaware North is more than just a gaming operator. As primarily a food service and hospitality company, it manages venues in high-profile sports venues, airports, national and state parks, restaurants, resorts, hotels as well as casinos across three continents.
Back in November, ZenSports entered into a deal with Kambi to operate off of that company's sports betting platform.
ZenSports also features on its website Big Game Sweepstakes, a sweepstakes-style promotion.
It's unclear how ZenSports has performed in the Volunteer State as Tennessee Sports Wagering Council does not break down individual operator performance. However, the state's sports betting sector continues to shatter prior records.
Gross wagers during November amounted to $598.6 million (£469 million/€569.4 million). This represented a 16.1% more than in Tennessee last year and 8.6% higher than October’s existing record of $551.2 million.
Data from the Tennessee Sports Wagering Council show $4.2 million worth of adjustments, the details of which were not disclosed. After taking these into account, gross handle for the month was $594.4 million.
Tennessee only offers gambling online as there are no retail casinos in the state. Tennessee does not permit customers to open sports betting accounts or wager via credit cards. It also takes 10 percent off all winnings.
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