Mardi Gras Casino is one of two Delaware North casinos in West Virginia affected by the Mionmi Gaming dispute.
Mardi Gras Casino and Wheeling Island Casino are facing a shutdown of their sports betting facilities because of a contract dispute between the West Virginia casinos and a third-party contractor with their supplier, Miomni Gaming. Delaware North, which owns the Mardi Gras and Wheeling Island casinos, signed a deal with Miomni Gaming in October 2018 to manage its two land-based sportsbooks and support the BetLucky sports betting app.
State Lottery Director John Myers said West Virginia regulators had nothing to do with the shutdown, saying it “wasn’t a regulatory thing.” Myers added that the temporary halt to sports betting on the BetLucky app is “completely a contractual thing between the company and their vendor.”
John Meyers released two hotline numbers that sports bettors with concerns or complaints should use: 866-797-5306 for Mardi Gras Casino and 866-807-4007 for Wheeling Island Casino.
The Charleston Gazette-Mail reported that Delaware North had stopped operations in a temporary and unilateral fashion. The dispute is not directly between Delaware North and Miomni Gaming, but instead over a contract between Mionmi and a third-party supplier.
It is a rare case when a casino operator cannot offer bets due to a gaming technology provider. Months ago when the deal began, Delaware North called its sports betting developer as among “the first wave of operators.”
Mike Venner On Mionmi-Delaware North Deal
Since it launched in 2012, Mionmi Gaming has developed a solid reputation in the sports betting industry. With over 50 license holders, Miomni CEO Mike Venner appeared ready to expand into West Virginia. At the time, he stated, “We are proud and excited to be working in partnership with Delaware North.”
“Miomni is the chosen technology provider behind many of Nevada’s leading online sportsbooks because we designed the platform to be flexible, easy to use and reliable, with innovative features designed specifically to engage and entertain U.S. sports fans. This partnership is the perfect fit from our perspective as we share a vision of delivering a world-class gaming experience.”
Brian Hansberry Praises Mionmi Gaming
When the deal was signed between Mionmi Gaming and the West Virginia casino operator last October, Brian Hansberry, president of Delaware North, said of the deal, “In working with Miomni, a recognized expert firm on the technology side, Delaware North is uniquely positioned to become a leader in the emerging sports wagering sector in the United States.”
At the time, Brian Hansberry praised the sports betting support, saying, “We are a hospitality business with operations in nearly 40 states. We have extensive regulated gaming expertise and experience, both through our own holdings and as a business-to-business services provider for our partners. Leaders in West Virginia were proactive in positioning the state for sports wagering, so Delaware North, with two casinos in West Virginia, is now very much part of a first wave of operators.”
“We think that this unique positioning — combined with our professional sports relationships, our ownership and operation of TD Garden in Boston, and our significant hotel and restaurant holdings — will entice other casino companies to want to explore the opportunities this partnership can present them.”
Kim Florence on High-Energy Sports Betting
Kim Florence, the Wheeling Island and Mardi Gras casinos’ regional president and general manager, heaped praise on Mionmi Gaming after the deal was announced. Florenece said, “It all adds up to a high-energy, high-participation atmosphere. We think this will become a great draw to bring people from across the state and outside of West Virginia to experience these exciting resorts.”
About Mionmi Gaming
Mionmi Gaming licenses betting technology for sportsbooks, racecooks, and casinos. Mionmi is licensed by the Nevada Gaming Commission and supports sportsbooks for some of the top Nevada casino operators.
The Nevada company’s current list of clients includes Caesars Entertainment, Station Casinos, Wynn Las Vegas, South Point Hotel, Treasure Island, Aliante Hotel, and the largest sportsbook in Las Vegas, the Westgate Las Vegas SuperBook.
About Delaware North
Delaware North is an institution in the Buffalo business community. The Jacobs Brothers founded Delaware North in 1915 and it has since grown into a travel, hospitality, gaming management, entertainment, and sports management company. Besides owning the two West Virginia casinos involved in the current dispute, Delaware North has 55,000 employees worldwide and generates $3.2 billion in revenues each year.
The gaming division of the company, Delaware North Companies Gaming & Entertainment, operators over 10,000 video gaming machines in New York, Arizona, Illinois, West Virginia, and Florida. Delaware North also owns poker rooms, gaming tables, hotels, restaurants, and retail shops.
Delaware North’s Non-Gaming Business
The company’s gaming venues include Jumer’s Casino & Hotel, Southland Grayhound Park, FInger Lakes Gaming and Race Track, and Miami Valley Gaming (50%). Delaware North provides food service and hospitality to world famous sports venues like Wembley Stadium, Emirates Stadium, and Ricoh Arena. It also provides food service to the Australian Open tennis tournament each year.
Delaware North also provides concessions for world famous parks, including the Yosemite National Park, Niagara Falls State Park, and the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Compex. It also has operations in the Empire State Building, Rockefeller Center, Lincoln Center, Walt Disney World, Disneyland, and Madison Square Garden.
