West Virginia Sports Betting

West Virginia Legal Sports Betting Overview

West Virginia Sports Betting Summary

West Virginia became one of the first US states to legalize retail sports betting in September 2018, just months after the US Supreme Court repealed the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act of 1992 (PASPA). In August 2019, eight months after a false start, online wagering was relaunched too.

Delegate Shawn Fluharty was the driving force behind the first legislation attempt, presenting a bill to the West Virginia House of Delegates in 2018, which didn’t pass. But with so much support and enthusiasm across the Mountain State, SB 415, the bill that legalized sports wagering, passed without Governor Jim Justice’s signature in March 2018, even before the repeal of PASPA.

With some of the biggest betting names in the US available in the state, such as DraftKings and FanDuel, West Virginia is one of the most established and open betting markets in the US. Read our complete guide to discover everything the Mountain State offers sports bettors.

West Virginia Online Sportsbooks Compared

There are seven online sportsbooks to choose from in West Virginia. Household names like FanDuel and Caesars operate here, as well as specialized sportsbooks like Betly, who are otherwise only active in Arkansas. With so many options available to bettors, we’ve ranked the top West Virginia sportsbooks for different betting preferences:

• Best Mobile App – FanDuel

FanDuel’s mobile betting app is loved by bettors and ranks highly on the Google Play Store and Apple App Store. The app’s clear layout makes it easy to tap between markets, and you get all the same account features as on a desktop. You can make deposits, withdrawals, and redeem any FanDuel bonus from your mobile. Most markets load quicker on the app which also features push notifications for events – making it perfect for live bettors.

Get your FanDuel Sportsbook promo code for Nov 2024.

• Best Welcome Bonus – PointsBet

PointsBet’s welcome offer rewards new bettors with two risk-free bets. The first bet is $500 on fixed-odds markets. The second $1500 bet can be placed on PointsBet’s unique point betting feature. If either bet loses, your money is returned as free bets you can use on fixed-odds wagers.

• Best for Competitive Odds – BetMGM

All WV sportsbooks display fair betting odds, but BetMGM edges past the competition by consistently offering you generous betting lines on markets like point spreads and props. BetMGM also provides an excellent selection of daily odds boosts, which is more comprehensive than other operators providing similar benefits, like FanDuel.

Claim your BetMGM Sportsbook promo code for Nov 2024.

• Best for Market Coverage – DraftKings

The DraftKings sportsbook app offers more than 20 different sports markets, most of which feature great live betting options. Some of the most popular sports like the NFL, NBA, and NHL have regularly boosted odds and special bet offers. Even smaller international sports like rugby and snooker get an extensive list of betting options.

Get your DraftKings Sportsbook promo code for Nov 2024.

• Best for Beginner Bettors – Betly

Betly’s user-friendly sportsbook is perfect for new bettors. Everything is presented simply, with a real emphasis on making everything as intuitive as possible. The bet slip at Betly also breaks down odds clearly, showing your stake and profit, a big help for bettors looking to calculate their odds.

• Best for Payout Speed – Caesars

While many US sportsbooks offer similar speeds for payouts, Caesars sportsbook stands above the competition by guaranteeing 72-hour withdrawals on all payment methods. This guarantee, though, applies only if additional checks aren’t needed. However, many transactions are completed sooner than this if you’re using options like Play+.

Claim your Caesars Sportsbook promo code for Nov 2024.

How to Place a Bet in West Virginia

While sports betting in West Virginia has been legal since 2018, some sports fans may be new to placing wagers. Here’s our guide to betting in WV:

1. Choose the best West Virginia sportsbook for you, with each one offering unique benefits and welcome offers.

2. Download the app on your Apple or Android device. If there is no app, you can visit the sportsbook through its mobile browser site. If you plan to use a sportsbook app in WV, you must enable the app to use your device's geolocation services to verify you're in the state. You can do this easily from your device settings.

3. Register an account with your chosen bookmaker. You need to provide information like your full name, address, date of birth, phone number, and the last four digits of your Social Security number. Registration on an app will also require your geolocation services to confirm you are in WV.

4. Make your first deposit with your welcome offer. Visit the cashier section, and then add a payment method for your first deposit. Many welcome bonuses require a deposit, so you can also earn rewards by making one.

5. Look through the sportsbook’s markets for your first bet. When you find a market you like, add it to your bet slip, choose your stake, and place your wagers.

6. If your bet wins, revisit the cashier section and follow the instructions to request a withdrawal.

Who is Eligible to Bet in WV?

To bet on sports in West Virginia, you must be at least 21 years old. You also need to be physically present in the state, although you don’t need to be a resident. Sportsbooks will require you to enable geolocation services on your mobile device to ensure that you play from within the state. People in certain positions and circumstances are prohibited from betting in WV, including:

• Employees of companies with a sports betting license from the West Virginia Lottery Commission, including owners, key staff members, officers, and directors.

• Professional sports team members, staff, and coaches.

• College sports team members, staff, and coaches.

• Referees of professional leagues, minor leagues, and college sports.

• Individuals who own a stake in a sports team.

• Individuals with authority to influence players.

• Individuals who can access non-public information about sports teams or leagues (e.g., player medical records).

• Individuals employed by regulation making sports leagues (e.g., NCAA, NHL)

• Individuals restricted from betting at a state or federal level (e.g., due to criminal history).

• Individuals that have voluntarily excluded themselves from gambling activities.

Latest West Virginia Sports Betting Updates

Timeline for Sports Betting in West Virginia

• March 7, 2022: HB 4826 is passed by the House of Representatives and will advance to the Senate.

• February 21, 2022: HB 4826 is introduced to legalize betting on eSports.

• February 2022: January figures show a 21% decrease in WV’s sports handle.

• August 2021: PointsBet sportsbook arrived in West Virginia.

• 2020: BetMGM became the third sportsbook operator to launch in the state, followed by William Hill (who rebranded as Caesars Sportsbook in August 2021) and Betly.

• August 2019: Online sports betting launched for the second time, with FanDuel and DraftKings sportsbooks going live in the state.

• February 2019: BetLucky ceased operations after a dispute between the providers of the betting site. West Virginia was left without online sports betting.

• December 2018: BetLucky launched its online sportsbook, making it the first betting site available in WV.

• August 2018: Hollywood Casino at Charles Town allowed the first legal sports wagers in WV’s history.

• May 14, 2018: The US Supreme Court overturned the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act of 1992 (PASPA), allowing each state to legalize online sports betting. The overruling of PASPA also made the West Virginia Lottery Sports Wagering Act valid in the eyes of federal law.

• March 2018: The West Virginia Lottery Sports Wagering Act was passed by lawmakers in the state two months before PASPA was overturned. Gov. Justice, the owner of Greenbrier Casino West Virginia, did not support the bill. However, he allowed it to become law without his signature.

• 2017: The first sports betting bill appeared, introduced by Del. Fluharty. HB 2751 aimed to add language to the existing constitution to legalize and regulate sports wagering at casinos in WV.

• 2016: Daily Fantasy Sports are legalized in the state. DFS games are declared as a game of skill rather than chance.

West Virginia Sports Betting Background

West Virginia has always been ahead of the curve with sports wagering. Other states waited for the PASPA verdict to pass sports wagering laws. West Virginia took the initiative and legalized sports betting in the state two months before the decision to repeal the PASPA in May 2018.

Thanks to a proactive attitude towards legal sports betting, West Virginia was able to launch its first online sportsbook that very same year. The state’s attitude made it one of the first to legalize online sports wagering. However, the first online sportsbook, BetLucky, only lasted three months. Similarly, Daily Fantasy Sports were legalized in West Virginia in 2016, while it’s still not legal in states like Nevada and Idaho.

There are also very few limits on which sports are available for wagering. Unlike many states, wagering on collegiate level events is legal in West Virginia with parlays, futures, props, live betting, match-ups, and straight bets. That includes teams from within the state.

Bettors in West Virginia are still waiting for online poker to go live. Though legalized in 2019, proceedings initiated by the West Virginia Lottery Commission were halted by the COVID-19 pandemic, and state-regulated sites have not yet been launched. It is hoped that these poker sites will become available soon.

Future of West Virginia Sports Betting

eSports betting might also be legalized in West Virginia soon, with HB 4826 passing the House of Representatives and moving on to the Senate. In addition to this, the state is trying to welcome more operators, with Caesars, PointsBet, and Barstool Sportsbook all launching in late 2021. For example, WynnBET recently signed a partnership with the Mardi Gras Casino, which could pave the way for its launch. theScoreBet is also looking likely to arrive in West Virginia too after its recent sale to Penn National, that owns Hollywood Casino WV.

West Virginia Sports Betting Locations

All five of West Virginia’s land-based casinos are permitted to partner with up to three sportsbook brands. Hollywood Casino at Charles Town Races is the only one to distribute all three of its sportsbook licenses.

Hollywood Casino at Charles Town Races

• Address: 750 Hollywood Drive, Charles Town, WV 25414

• Website: https://www.hollywoodcasinocharlestown.com/

• Phone Number: (800) 795-7001

• Operator: Barstool Sportsbook

DraftKings was the first to launch at Hollywood Casino in July 2020, followed by PointsBet in August 2021. The third and final online skin was awarded to Barstool Sportsbook in November 2021. While DraftKings and PointsBet are only available online, bettors can visit Barstool Sportsbook at its retail sportsbook in the casino. The casino sportsbook features high-top table seating and 50 feet of large-screen TVs, featuring coverage of all your favorite live sporting events.

The Greenbrier

• Address: 101 W. Main Street, White Sulphur Springs, WV 24986

• Website: https://www.greenbrier.com/

• Phone Number: (844) 837-2466

• Operator: FanDuel

The Greenbrier has already given out two of its sportsbook skins, one to FanDuel in August 2019 and the second to BetMGM in January 2020. FanDuel offers a retail sportsbook at the casino. However, the Greenbrier is a private establishment, so only members and guests can access the retail sportsbook. You can still wager at both the FanDuel and BetMGM online sportsbooks.

Mountaineer Casino

• Address: 1420 Mountaineer Circle, New Cumberland, WV 26047

• Website: https://www.cnty.com/mountaineer/

• Phone Number: (800) 804-0468

• Operator: Caesars

Caesars is currently the only sportsbook partnered with Mountaineer Casino. The sportsbook offers both retail and online facilities. The retail sportsbook is open seven days a week from 11am-11pm. Caesars' sportsbook provides one of the most relaxing betting experiences in West Virginia, where bettors can sit and watch live events on the giant wall of TVs.

West Virginia Land-Based Casinos

West Virginia Lottery Locations

The West Virginia Lottery Commission was initially founded to handle the state’s lottery draws and still regulates this alongside sports betting. However, there aren’t any partnerships between sports betting operators and lottery retailers. You can wager anywhere in West Virginia using your mobile, but you cannot place retail bets with retail lottery ticket sellers. West Virginia is perhaps cautious about trusting operators after BetLucky failed due to a conflict between the providers and left the state without online betting for months.

Off-Track and Stadium Betting Locations

Horse race betting in West Virginia was legalized in 2020, but there are no off-track or betting locations in West Virginia. However, four casinos with retail sportsbooks also offer horse race betting and simulcast betting. WV is also one of four states that still allow greyhound racing, and you can wager on this and watch races at two of these casinos. The West Virginia Racing Commission oversees racing in the state.

West Virginia Responsible Gambling Resources

• Problem Gamblers Help Network of West Virginia – Provides accredited helpline service for individuals struggling with problem gambling, administered by the West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources. (800) 426-2537

• National Council on Problem Gambling – Offers free live chat, test, or call options for those seeking help with their addiction. It also offers links to additional resources for problem gambling. (800) 522-4700

• Help 4 WV – Addiction recovery and mental health service. This includes a database with over 1,000 resources and a free live chat and phone line. (844) 435-7498

Individuals worried about their gambling can initiate a self-exclusion ban by submitting a written request to the director of the West Virginia Lottery. Sports betting laws in WV require sportsbooks to include a range of responsible gambling resources on their site. These tools allow bettors to set deposit, bet, and loss limits, view their account banking history, take temporary account breaks, and impose a voluntary self-exclusion from the site. Sportsbook operators must also include information, links, and phone numbers for problem gambling resources like those above.

Teams to Bet on in West Virginia

• Pro Sports

There are no major league sports teams in West Virginia, but that’s not to say the Mountain State doesn’t love sports. Considering how close states like Pennsylvania and Ohio are with established major league franchises in leagues like the NFL, NBA, MLB and NHL, West Virginia bettors have plenty of pro teams to follow and bet on. Here are the pro teams from neighboring states:

• Minor League Sports

There are a few minor league teams in West Virginia, including the Charleston Dirty Birds, a baseball team playing in the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball. The team won one league championship in 1990 and moved to its current league after the MLB restructure in 2020. Also, the Wheeling Nailers of the ECHL and West Virginia United, who play in the 4th tier of US soccer, have a strong following.

• College Sports

Marshall Thundering Herd: Marshall University's Thundering Herd may not have as many national championships overall as West Virginia University, but its football team has seen more success than the Mountaineers with two national championships to its name. Pro Football Hall of Famer Randy Moss played for the team in its 1996 triumph. The team also won one national championship for soccer in 2020.

West Virginia Mountaineers: The Mountaineers are a Division I school that boasts 20 national championships awarded by the NCAA across all sports. An impressive 19 of these have come in rifle shooting. West Virginia University also has an acclaimed football team that competes in the Big 12. The football program holds the unwanted title of most wins without a national championship.

NCAA Division II Teams

Alderson Broaddus Battlers, Bluefield State Big Blues, Charleston Golden Eagles, Concord Mountain Lions, Davis & Elkins Senators, Fairmont State Falcons, Glenville State Pioneers, Salem Tigers, Shepherd Rams, West Liberty Hilltoppers, West Virginia State Yellow Jackets, West Virginia Wesleyan Bobcats, Wheeling Cardinals

• Women’s Sports

There are no professional women’s sports teams in West Virginia. However, most colleges have women’s teams in sports like basketball, baseball, and football. For example, the rifle shooting team at the Mountaineers is mixed gender and has featured many female shooting stars.

How Does West Virginia Compare to Other States?

• Market Coverage

West Virginia features some of the biggest brands in the US and offers similar sports betting to many other jurisdictions. West Virginia is one of the most welcoming states for college betting, putting no restrictions on teams or bet types. Only Pennsylvania has college betting laws that are equally open. In addition, West Virginia is one of the few states to allow online casino gambling.

• Competitive Odds & Prices

BetMGM, DraftKings, FanDuel, Caesars, and PointsBet are available across many states in the US. Looking at these sportsbooks, it doesn’t appear there are any significant differences between odds in WV and other states. Any betting lines in the Mountain State will be competitive with other regions.

• Gambling Revenue

Having one of the longest-running sports betting markets in the US means there is plenty of data to draw from to see how West Virginia gambling revenue is performing. The results are pretty good for the 11th least populous state in the US with no major league sports teams.

From the launch of sports betting in the state, WV has handled $1,340,003,908 and has a revenue of $105,053,038. That’s a hold of 7.8%, which is about average compared to other states in the US. The state has continued to grow its market, with its first ever monthly handle of $7,322,225 far surpassed by the $49,271,583 handled in February 2022. The state also posted two record-breaking handles during 2021, with the highest number being $84,259,419. Its highest revenue came in September 2021 at $7,141,066, helped by an unusually high 11.9% hold.

• Betting Taxes

There is an excise tax of 0.25% on every sports bet placed enforced by the Internal Revenue Code in every US state. There is a further $50 tax for every employee that receives wagers for every legal sportsbook operator.

West Virginia has one of the lowest gambling tax rates in the US, with operators only needing to pay 10% to the West Virginia Lottery Commission. Comparatively, the tax rate is 51% in New York and 36% in Pennsylvania.

Any gambling winnings in the US count as income and must be reported on a W-2G form. Sportsbooks should provide this form if the win is large enough. If you win over $600 across a year, you must declare your winnings for sports betting. West Virginia law requires sportsbooks to withhold 6.5% on taxable winnings.

Who Oversees Sports Betting in West Virginia?

The West Virginia Lottery Commission is the regulatory body in charge of all gambling in the state. The commission comprises seven elected members, chosen by the governor with advice from the Senate, and is asked to oversee all regulatory and licensing issues regarding online gambling. Those seven members must include a public accountant, a lawyer, a computer expert, a market specialist, and someone with more than five years in law enforcement. The other two members must represent the “public at large.”

The commission is the only regulatory body in the state with the power to grant operators a license to operate and is responsible for collecting all taxes and fines relevant to online sports betting.

To get a license, operators must pay a $100,000 license fee and have background checks on the people behind the application. These checks include taking fingerprints for the Criminal Identification Bureau of the West Virginia State Police and the Federal Bureau of Investigation to check.

The West Virginia Lottery Commission enforces Minimum Internal Control Standards (MICS) to ensure this process is fair. These MICS are advised by the sportsbooks already holding a license in the state and guide on sports betting administration.