Sports Betting

Bet365 Strikes a Chord in West Virginia With Appalachian Banjo Commercial

Posted on: August 28, 2026, 12:25h.

Last updated on: September 1, 2026, 07:55h.

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Devin O'Connor Devin O'Connor is a senior reporter for Casino.org, covering politics, casino business, and gaming news. Devin came on board with Casino.org in 2014...
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Key Points

bet365 launched its online sportsbook and iGaming platform in West Virginia
bet365 is promoting the launch with an Appalachia-themed TV commercial featuring a banjo-playing mountain man
bet365 enters a crowded West Virginia market alongside DraftKings and FanDuel

Bet365 launched its online sportsbook and iGaming platform in West Virginia on Thursday (Aug. 27). To appeal to and connect with customers in the already competitive market, British-based bet365 rolled out an Appalachia-themed marketing campaign.-to-Bet365 launched its sportsbook and iGaming platform in West Virginia on Thursday (Aug. 27), backing the expansion with an Appalachia-themed marketing campaign to connect with local bettors.

bet365 West Virginia sportsbook — A screengrab from a bet365 television commercial airing in West Virginia shows a rugged mountain man playing a banjo. A person appears who tells the man that bets can be paid out early on the new online sportsbook in West Virginia. (Image: *Casino.org*)

The latest television commercial from bet365, airing in West Virginia and nearby states, features a banjo-playing mountain man sitting on his cabin’s front porch. The character says he “hears things early,” including “man’s fear before he knows he’s scared.”

Suddenly, a man appears holding a mobile phone with the bet365 app open. “Hear about all the ways to win early with bet365?” the approaching man asks.

The mountaineer’s head spins. “Say what now?”

“Oh! Like boosting your profit with the early bird special, and you can cash out early before the final notes play,” the man says, while playing the air banjo.

“Nothing ends before it ends,” the mountaineer responds.

“This did, with early payout,” the man responds.

“You can pay me early,” the rambler concedes.

The spot concludes with a narrator saying, “Bet365. The home of winning early,” as a banjo jingle plays.

Bet365 Expansion

West Virginia represents the 18th mobile sports betting market and fourth iGaming jurisdiction for Bet365. The British gaming giant is owned and controlled by the billionaire Coates family.

West Virginia represents another important step in bet365’s continued expansion across North America. As we grow our presence across the region, our focus remains on bringing customers the quality, depth, and functionality that define the bet365 platform,” said bet365 Head of Development Trip Stoddard.

Stoddard said the platform’s launch in West Virginia comes at a most opportune time, as the football season readies to kick off. It’s year two of the Rich Rodriguez era in Morgantown, and while excitement is high, sportsbooks have the season-long over/under win total for the Mountaineers at just 5.5 wins.

Bet365’s expansion into West Virginia follows its online sports and casino debut in Canada’s Alberta last month. The bet365 iGaming and sportsbook debuted in Michigan in April 2026, following 2025 sportsbook entries in Kansas, Maryland, and Missouri.

West Virginia Crowded Betting Landscape

Bet365 will need to aggressively market in West Virginia to poach customers from the many other online sportsbooks and iGaming platforms already in operation.

The current operators include the biggest names in the industry, including DraftKings, FanDuel, BetMGM, Fanatics, Caesars Sportsbook, theScore, and BetRivers.