White Hat announces West Virginia launch with Betly partnership
Casino game developer White Hat Studios has announced the launch of its content in West Virginia, through a partnership with Delaware North to launch on its mobile sportsbook and casino, Betly.
A selection of White Hat Studios’ casino games will be available to Betly players. Among them are several branded slots, including those based on Ted and The Goonies, as well as installments of the 7s Fire Blitz series.
The launch gives players access to the Jackpot Royale and Jackpot Royale Express progressive jackpot networks.
The collaboration includes Betly’s first branded online casino title, Betly Player’s Choice Blackjack, which has been developed with White Hat Studios.
White Hat Studios Senior Vice President of Sales and Marketing Daniel Lechner said, “We’re thrilled to be partnering with Delaware North on the Betly online casino app in West Virginia. This partnership reflects our ongoing commitment to delivering top-tier content quickly and seamlessly to operators across the US.”
White Hat Studios entered the US online gaming sector in 2021, and West Virginia is a significant player as one of seven states in the US where online casino gaming is legal.
The collaboration comes just weeks after Delaware North withdrew its Betly online sportsbook in Tennessee, citing strategic realignment to focus on other markets as the reason.
Abi Bray brings strong researching skills to the forefront of all of her writing, whether it’s the newest slots, industry trends or the ever changing legislation across the U.S, Asia and Australia, she maintains a keen eye for detail and a passion for reporting.
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The Backstory
Why the flurry of moves matters now
West Virginia’s online casino market is pulling in new content, certifications and back-end capacity at a rapid clip, setting the stage for intensified competition. The latest tie-ups expand what players can find on licensed apps, while regulators and vendors fortify technical and compliance rails. That context frames Betly’s newest content addition and helps explain why national suppliers are homing in on a small but active state where online casino is legal and operators can test omnichannel strategies quickly.
Two dynamics are converging. First, local platforms are broadening their lineups to keep users engaged beyond sports. Second, service providers are racing to lock down approvals and infrastructure that let studios deploy content at speed without jeopardizing compliance. This one-two push underpins the newest partnerships landing in the Mountain State and hints at how the market could evolve through 2025.
Betly’s content cadence quickens
Betly, operated by Delaware North, has been steadily adding third-party studios to deepen its catalog. In a move underscoring that strategy, AGS Interactive launched with Betly in West Virginia, putting its full suite on the app, including Rakin’ Bacon and 3x Ultra Diamond. AGS framed the rollout as part of a broader push into U.S. jurisdictions that allow online casino gaming, while Delaware North signaled a focus on top-tier omnichannel entertainment. The deal follows AGS’ recent exclusive launches with BetMGM in New Jersey and Michigan, suggesting publishers are using targeted exclusives and statewide integrations to build recognition across regulated markets.
Aggregation plays are filling out too. SlotMatrix’s Wild Extravaganza expanded into West Virginia after earlier debuts in New Jersey and Michigan, reflecting a pipeline approach where titles move across licensed states once operational frameworks are in place. EveryMatrix, SlotMatrix’s parent, holds multiple U.S. licenses and leans on engagement tools such as free spins, leaderboards and tournaments to lift session times. That toolkit-oriented model jibes with local operators’ need to differentiate with features, not just content volume.
For Betly, the timing is notable. Delaware North recently exited its Betly sportsbook in Tennessee to reallocate resources, signaling a tighter focus on markets where a combined sportsbook and casino can justify ongoing investment. The West Virginia buildout fits that thesis: add branded and familiar IP-led slots alongside table variants, then layer in known performers from established studios to capture cross-sell from sports to casino and back.
Compliance foundations broaden
Parallel to content growth, compliance capacity is widening. Certification and testing providers are expanding their footprints to keep releases and updates moving without bottlenecks. eCogra extended its U.S. presence with a West Virginia launch effective Feb. 26, 2025, adding to approvals in Colorado, Connecticut, Indiana, Michigan, New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Virginia. The firm says it supports more than 200 operators globally and emphasizes frequent monitoring and player safety benchmarks—levers that regulators increasingly expect vendors to prove out in production, not just on paper.
For content pipelines, state recognition of independent labs provides a predictable path to market. Vendors can map submission timelines, align development sprints and stage multi-state launches, while operators gain assurance that updates won’t stall at the last mile. As West Virginia’s roster of licensed titles expands, the presence of multiple qualified certifiers lowers single-point risk and encourages studios to prioritize the state in cross-jurisdictional release schedules.
Infrastructure built for always-on operations
Robust hosting and disaster recovery are crucial as catalogs grow and player activity spreads across dayparts. A recent move underscores that the back end is maturing alongside the front end. Bragg Gaming expanded its West Virginia presence via Internet Vikings, securing two in-state data center environments: one primary and a mirrored disaster recovery site capable of immediate activation. The arrangement is designed to maintain operational continuity and adhere to state residency requirements for gaming systems.
The tie-up extends a partnership that started in New Jersey in 2022 and expanded through Pennsylvania in 2023. It also follows Bragg’s first-quarter revenue growth, buoyed by U.S. gains. For operators and suppliers servicing West Virginia, these in-state builds mean fewer compliance headaches on data localization, clearer incident response plans and faster restoration when outages hit. As more content partners plug into local platforms, infrastructure redundancy becomes a competitive requirement, not a nice-to-have.
Public health stakes rise with access
As product choice widens and engagement tools become more sophisticated, the public health infrastructure is trying to keep pace. The Problem Gambling Help Network of West Virginia launched a new support tool developed with Chess Health, a customized version of the Connections platform. The app integrates with the 1-800-GAMBLER hotline and offers virtual meetings, daily check-ins and educational resources to people navigating gambling addiction. The rollout is detailed in coverage of West Virginia’s gambling addiction app launch, which notes plans to add screening tools for co-occurring conditions.
The move reflects a broader industry shift. As more states legalize and normalize online casino play, often alongside sports betting, stakeholders are elevating responsible gaming tooling. For West Virginia, where options for treatment have been limited, a dedicated app provides another access point and a bridge between real-time digital support and traditional services. Operators and suppliers pushing more content into the state will face ongoing scrutiny over how they direct users to help, tune marketing and deploy features like time and spend controls.
What to watch next
Three threads will determine how the market evolves from here. First, content velocity: the cadence of new studio integrations and branded releases will influence market share and engagement, particularly if operators can rotate marquee titles and loyalty features without disruption. Second, regulatory throughput: with eCogra’s West Virginia approval in place and other labs active, watch how quickly updates clear and whether multi-state launches land in tighter windows. Third, platform resilience: the Internet Vikings–Bragg build is a template for in-state redundancy that others may mirror as catalogs and peak loads grow.
On the consumer side, engagement tools will be a swing factor. SlotMatrix’s feature set—free spins, leaderboards, tournaments—suggests operators will rely on eventized play to drive retention, especially around sports calendars and promotional windows. The counterweight is responsible gaming. The state’s new addiction support app adds a layer of safety net, but adoption and integration will matter. Expect regulators and advocacy groups to press operators to surface help resources prominently, calibrate bonusing and ensure transparent game mechanics as more content arrives.
Put together, West Virginia is becoming a test bed: a market small enough to move quickly yet complex enough to stress content pipelines, compliance and infrastructure. How operators sequence partnerships and how vendors align certifications and hosting will set the pace for growth—and determine whether the state can expand access while maintaining guardrails.
