The Big Three online casino operators — FanDuel, DraftKings, and BetMGM — may be closely watching the Aug. 27 auction of Greenbrier Hotel in West Virginia. That’s because the operators’s brands are on the gambling license of Gov. Jim Justice‘s property, which is in foreclosure. However, the casino may not be part of the auction.
In the case of DraftKings, its Golden Nugget brand is part of the West Virginia online casino license’s 40% market share, along with BetMGM and FanDuel. In June, West Virginia iGaming generated $19.1 million in gross gaming revenue (GGR).
On Aug. 1, Bonus asked iGaming advocate — West Virginia Del. Shawn Fluharty, D-Ohio County — about the matter:
Casino is [a] separate entity by statute, I believe.
Bonus called The Casino Club at the Greenbrier on Aug. 1 to find out if “America’s only private casino” was still accepting reservations past the auction date for the Greenbrier Hotel Corporation. A surprised “yeah” greeted the question.
Bonus called J. Patrick Jones, the substitute trustee listed as the contact on the auction notice, and got no response on Aug. 1.
Casino vs. WV Greenbrier Hotel Auction
The West Virginia Lottery, the state’s gaming regulator, includes information on its site about the Greenbrier Casino Act and the iGaming Law.
The law appears to state that the lottery will need to approve any changes to operator agreements.
Bonus emailed and called Lottery Director John A. Myers for clarity on Aug. 1:
You will need to talk to the partners in the partnership. I do not have any information regarding that.
Meanwhile, the governor says the foreclosure is happening because the bank, J.P.Morgan, sold his loan to Beltway Capital.
In a lengthy statement he sent to Brandon Eanes of WVNS on Aug. 1, Justice blamed Democrats:
This deceitful move by JPMorgan is nothing more than the latest political stunt by the Democrats to undermine the next Republican Senator from West Virginia.
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