The online sports betting and casino operator, DraftKings, announced that last month the company expanded its operations in West Virginia to include new live dealer games. The new live dealer games officially launched on the DraftKings website on Friday, June 24, 2022, allowing anyone over 21 within West Virginia state lines to participate.
West Virginia casino players now have three iGaming apps to choose from when it comes to live dealer gaming. DraftKings was second to BetRivers Casino, which became the first online casino in West Virginia to offer live dealer games at the beginning of June. BetMGM announced its live dealer games would go live in West Virginia at the end of June, just after DraftKings. Online casino players in Michigan, Pennsylvania, and New Jersey have had access to online live dealer games for months now.
Players in West Virginia will be able to play live dealer versions of their favorite DraftKings games including, Roulette, baccarat, infinite blackjack, and more. The live dealer versions of these games will have actual live-streamed dealers running the tables and, therefore, will not require a Random Number Generator (RNG).
According to a press release from DraftKings, players in West Virginia will also be able to compete against other players on the site when playing live dealer games.
Many players find live dealer games to be more realistic than RNG games that are traditionally found on casino gaming sites. When players see an actual dealer flipping cards or spinning the roulette wheel, its builds confidence in the results of those games. As online casino gaming continues to grow, live dealer options for games will only become more popular.
DraftKings adds “Rocket” to West Virginia’s iGaming library
Besides the live dealer announcement, DraftKings also announced one of its most popular games, Rocket, will be available in West Virginia. Rocket was developed entirely in-house by DraftKings and features a totally different style of play than other casino games. Rocket requires each player to essentially select a number they believe the system will hit. However, instead of betting on a number similar to Roulette, players bet on whether a digital rocket will “take off” and how long the rocket will stay “aloft.” Rocket is a shared multiplayer and interactive experience where players are forced to make split-second decisions. It’s unlike any other DraftKings casino game or any casino game for that matter.
DraftKings History In West Virginia
DraftKings launched its online casino in West Virginia two years ago, in July 2020, by partnering with Penn National Gaming’s Hollywood Casino at Charlestown Races. The partnership brought online blackjack, roulette, three-card poker, and keno via the DraftKings Casino app. DraftKings sportsbook app has been available in the state since August 2019.
West Virginia is one of six US states to allow online gambling (West Virginia, Connecticut, Delaware, Michigan, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania). The recent development in West Virginia by DraftKings shows how serious the company is about developing West Virginia’s gaming market.
DraftKings is a leader in the iGaming and sports wagering business and is committed to “creating inclusive and responsible pathways for people to build, create, imagine, and innovate through the DraftKings S.E.R.V.E.S. program. Responsible gaming is a key pillar of the S.E.R.V.E.S. program and DraftKings’ collective mission is to protect the vulnerable with groundbreaking technology, training, resources, and the support of evidence-based research.”
The online casino brand currently offers more than 500 games on its website. As the West Virginia online gaming market continues to grow, we expect live dealer games to continue to grow in popularity as well.
Mac Daniel is a South Carolina-based freelance writer for PlayOnlineCasino and PlayOnlineSportsBetting. He has experience writing about a wide variety of topics, including healthcare, tourism, non-profit organizations, and most recently casino and sportsbetting news. To check out more of his work, visit www.playonlinecasinomi.com or www.playonlinesportsbetting.com