By 
West Virginia is a bit of an overlooked state. Overlooked cause it shares a name with its neighbor and also overlooked because itâs surrounded by much bigger states in the northeast with bigger populations. Yet, itâs a sneaky-good state in many ways, including adopting sports betting earlier than most.
West Virginian bettors have come to the right spot to get the full lowdown on the stateâs sports betting market. For the next 6-7 minutes, weâll be breaking down everything there is to know about West Virginia betting action here â not on just sports, but everything else too.
Is Sports Betting Legal In West Virginia?
West Virginia accepted its first bet in early 2019 â less than a year before the federal ban on sports betting was lifted. While the majority of states were just barely discussing the prospect, the state was busy acting. Today, there are eight active apps inside the state, plus some retail bookmakers.
Which apps are licensed? And more importantly, which apps are most worth using if youâre inside West Virginia? Thatâs what weâll be covering in the next two sections so read closely cause this is important.
International Online Sportsbooks Available In West Virginia
West Virginia has established a legal sports betting landscape, giving residents access to a variety of wagering options. However, itâs important to note that state-regulated sportsbooks have specific limitations that bettors should be aware of. While you can place bets on numerous sports, West Virginia sportsbooks cannot accept wagers on political events or entertainment props. Additionally, there are restrictions on betting involving in-state college teams, such as West Virginia University and Marshall University, which can limit local fansâ betting choices.
This is where international sportsbooks come into play, offering a valuable alternative for bettors seeking more flexibility. Offshore platforms allow you to wager on political outcomes, engage with a full range of college sports without the same restrictions, and explore various niche markets that West Virginiaâs regulated sportsbooks do not offer. For those looking to bet on local college games or significant political events, international sportsbooks can significantly enhance your betting experience.
When it comes to safety and security, the international sportsbooks we recommend have undergone rigorous vetting to ensure reliability. Our team has used these platforms for years, confirming they offer fast payouts, fair odds, and excellent customer service. By selecting these trusted offshore operators, you can confidently broaden your betting options while ensuring that your funds and personal information are well protected.
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Legal Online Sportsbooks Available In West Virginia
In West Virginia, online sports betting is fully legal, and the sportsbooks listed below provide seamless online access for bettors. However, in other states where sports betting may be legal but restricted to in-person wagering at casinos, bettors often face limitations. Even though local sportsbooks may be available, these restrictions frequently lead users to choose international sportsbooks, which we promote for their wider range of options and convenience. Confused which betting apps are actually licensed in West Virginia? Donât be. Here is a list of most of âem:
| Name of Bookie | Launch Date | Online Betting Available? |
| DraftKings | Aug. 2019 | Yes |
| FanDuel | Aug. 2019 | Yes |
| BetMGM | Jan. 2020 | Yes |
| Caesars | Aug. 2019 | Yes |
| BetRivers | June. 2020 | Yes |
| Fanatics | N/A | No |
| ESPN Bet | Nov. 2023 | Yes |
| WynnBet | Sept. 2020 | Yes |
West Virginia Online Sportsbook Comparison
We get it, picking a single sportsbook (or two) to bet at in West Virginia isnât the easiest. Thatâs why weâre here to help. Weâll be sharing some suggestions based on different features they excel at. Itâs on you to decide what feature you care about most when making this decision:
Best sportsbook for bonuses: BetMGM has a really generous offer going for new users right now. Sign up, and if your first bet doesn't go as planned, BetMGM will refund you up to $1,500 in free play. Thatâs not a typo, itâs truly $1,500 for free! It's a risk-free way to get started â just make sure youâve set aside the funds. With a big cushion like this, it's a great opportunity to take a big shot!
Best sportsbook for betting options: While many sportsbooks offer near-identical odds and betting markets, FanDuel manages to create some differentiation with boosted odds. These promotions arenât just occasional â they happen regularly, ensuring that users consistently get a better return compared to other platforms. If you're looking to get more mileage out of each bet, FanDuel is the way to go.
Best sportsbook for live betting: When it comes to live betting, DraftKings is hard to beat. The app delivers fast, real-time updates on odds, keeping pace with the game better than most. Whether youâre betting on football, basketball, or even niche sports, DraftKings covers almost every major league with live in-play betting. The interface is sleek, and the live odds refresh quickly enough to keep you engaged without lag.
Best sportsbook for rewards: BetMGM Rewards just go a little further in West Virginia. Beyond typical in-app perks like free play, BetMGM Rewards are usable in their physical casino in the state. You can redeem points for hotel stays, dining, and entertainment at The Greenbrier â one of West Virginia's premier resorts. Itâs a bonus for bettors who want more than just free play.
Best sportsbook for user experience: DraftKings is the total package in a lot of ways. The app is slick to use, itâs fast, errors are hard to come by, and things just work like theyâre supposed to. DraftKings is truly a tech company that happens to offer sports betting, and that means theyâve engineered the perfect platform that's user-friendly.
What You Canât Bet On In West Virginia?
Compared to other states, West Virginia is way more loose with its regulations. Still, there are a few things that wonât be allowed in-state betting-wise. Hereâs what NOT to expect:
Player props in college: There will be no player prop betting in ANY collegiate sport. Basketball, football, WVU, a national school, it doesnât matter cause all of it is disallowed.
Non-sports events: This one is a bummer on a personal level. Weâd love for in-state bettors to sweat out presidential pick bets or award show outcomes, but unfortunately, regulators have it banned. This is the standard nationwide since these arenât real sports (though politics sometimes feels like a sports game rivalry, doesn't it?).
Do you know where you can bet on these things if youâre inside West Virginia? At offshore sportsbooks, thatâs where! These work perfectly fine inside the state, and because they are offshore, arenât nearly as restricted as licensed apps. This can make for a much more free betting experience.
Who Can Legally Bet In West Virginia?
Like we said, West Virginia is pretty laid-back with its betting regulations. Most things can be freely bet on. Here are a few of the big ones for reference:
Legal age: Like everywhere else, the minimum age to sports bet is 21 in West Virginia (though lottery starts at 18).
Mobile betting: You better believe West Virginia allows mobile app betting. This is where almost all the betting revenue comes, via one of the stateâs licensed apps.
Retail sportsbooks: By our count, there are five retail sportsbooks available around the state. These are great for making betting a social experience.
Remote registration: Getting set up with a West Virginia sportsbook can be done entirely online â no need to go to a physical sportsbook like some states require (cough cough Nevada cough). Registration takes a few short minutes at most apps.
Taxable winnings: Unfortunately, betting winnings count as taxable income. That means it has to be reported at yearâs end. The state and the federal government will get their piece of it too. If only you could write off betting losses in your taxes thoughâŠ
Latest Sports News
Latest West Virginia Legal Betting Updates
Sep 26, 2024 12:18 PM
West Virginia sportsbooks experience a significant 65% year-over-year increase in revenue for January, announcing a total of $6 million in revenue for the month.
West Virginia Sports Betting Legalization Timeline
The West Virginia sports betting timeline for the last two years is documented below, and the latest news is included. Let's take a look!
West Virginia Sportsbooks & Casinos
Casinos have popped up throughout the state of West Virginia. But in this section, we want to highlight the ones that include a physical sportsbook inside of 'em. By our count, there are five and they are the following ones:
- Hollywood Casino at Charles Town Races: This casino has a decked-out, offering a range of betting options with a dedicated area for live sports viewing.
- Mountaineer Casino, Racetrack & Resort: Located in New Cumberland, this casino features a retail sportsbook where guests can place bets on various sports events.
- The Casino Club at The Greenbrier: This exclusive resort offers a FanDuel Sportsbook for sports betting, primarily catering to guests and members.
- Mardi Gras Casino & Resort: Located near Charleston, this casino has a Betly Sportsbook (a little-known bookmaker), providing a venue for live sports betting.
- Wheeling Island Hotel-Casino-Racetrack: This casino also features a Betly Sportsbook too, offering a range of sports betting options.
A Brief Timeline of the Legality of West Virginia Sports Betting
Let's give you a year-by-year breakdown of how West Virginia got into and expanded its betting programs:
Leading up to 2018, WV Legalizes Early
West Virginia does not take guff from anyone! And that includes the federal government, this state's attitude was evident when, even before the PASPA decision, they declared that "the US Congress has no power to prevent state governments from authorizing sports betting." Take that!
With this in mind, the state technically legalized sports betting a few months before the federal government officially allowed them to do so.
2019 Sees Betting Lift-Off
With sports betting already allowed, the state was well-prepared to move even forward on this front. In March 2019, over the state lottery's objections, both chambers passed sports betting legalization on the Internet. This bill faced very little other opposition and did not even require a signature from the governor. And with that, betting goes live across the state borders!
How To Bet On Sports In West Virginia?
Most West Virginia apps share near identical betting options. This includes all the major sports, plus smaller ones too. Furthermore, the betting odds are practically the same too. But no matter where you end up gambling at, youâll likely gravitate toward betting on these markets the most:
How To Bet On Football In West Virginia?
West Virginia falls in line with the rest of the country by making football its number-one betting market. Most states, including West Virginia, get the lion's share of their tax revenue from September to December when both NFL and college football is in full swing. We like football betting as much as the next guy, but given how much general interest there is in it, betting odds are almost always matured. Itâs harder to find mispricings as a bettor here.
How To Bet On Basketball In West Virginia?
If you havenât jumped on the live betting bandwagon yet, we recommend doing so with basketball specifically. Unlike baseball or football, scoring is way more common in hoops, happening almost every play if the teams are hot. This creates a lot of volatility with in-play odds that follow the real game. Itâs chaotic but itâs fun and worth a try if youâre still new to live wagering.
How To Bet On Baseball In West Virginia?
Betting should be fun, but letâs be honest, we want to win and actually profit from this thing. Let us tell you, no sport gives you a better chance at doing so than baseball. Daily betting opportunities for six months straight is unlike any other sport, that's for sure.
How To Bet On Fighting In West Virginia?
Combat sports deliver fight cards almost every weekend, yet most casual bettors only show up for the headline matchups. The reality? Thereâs nonstop action if youâre willing to look a little closer. West Virginia bettors can dive into all the big promotions â whether itâs UFC, boxing, PFL, Bellator, or even the up-and-coming Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship. Fight-game opportunities are everywhere during the weekends.
Betting On West Virginia Teams
Hereâs the thing: West Virginia doesnât have any pro sports teams. The state doesnât have a big enough city to warrant one. However, the state is centrally located near a ton of major cities â Pittsburgh, Washington DC, Baltimore, and even New York City isnât that far away. Therefore, those teams seep their way into the local culture, creating a hodge-podge state with favorites all over the Northeast.
You already know those teams will be bet- able at West Virginia apps, especially if itâs a âBig 4â league. Locals will get their fix, trust us.
The state does have some collegiate programs that count as âhomeâ teams though. The West Virginia Mountaineers are the big one, but thereâs also Marshall, which is famous for being Randy Mossâ alma mater.
West Virginia Betting Revenue Statistics
Due to a small population, West Virginia revenues for betting probably wonât wow you. Not when the state is next to bigger markets like Pennsylvania, for instance. But thereâs one thing interesting going on with the numbers the state provides every month: theyâre doing an exceptional job at âholdingâ whatâs bet.
In June 2024, the state reported an impressive hold of 11.9% during the month. That was better than the previous two months â 11.3% in May and 10.3% in April. All double digit holds though. For reference, a hold of 8% or so is considered average so West Virginia is blowing the norm out of the water.
Could it be that local bettors are just really bad at âbeatingâ the sportsbook and casino? Or is the hold high because of something the Mountaineer State is doing? Itâs probably a little bit of both if weâre being honest.
Other Types Of Betting In West Virginia
Outside of sports wagering, West Virginia has become big on casinos â and we mean big! Casino games like slots, table games, video poker, and so on can be had a resort-style casinos but also racinos that are hybrids with race tracks. The state is also one of a few that allow iGaming to be done online. West Virginia legalized online casinos as early as 2019.
We mentioned racetracks and those are on the table too. Horse-race betting can be made there or via online apps â both work across the state.
Lottery is also available. We donât recommend it from an estimated-value perspective, but for locals who want to test their luck, lottery games can be purchased at local stores. They offer random draw games and scratch-off tickets.
Sports Betting Rules In Each State
West Virginia isnât the only state weâve whipped up one of these guides for. No way â weâve actually done it for all other 49 states too. See below for a complete list of âem. Feel free to click around in case youâre visiting one of these soon and want to know the betting rules:
Responsible Gaming In West Virginia
Every bettor in West Virginia should follow this golden rule: set a betting budget. Anytime weâve seen a bettor âgo off the railsâ, it typically couldâve been prevented with basic risk management. Most of the bad things happen when bettors lose control of themselves and this hobby. A budget, however, helps maintain some control.
Hereâs our budgeting advice: start by determining how much disposable income youâre truly okay with losingâthis has to be money that wonât impact your essentials like rent, bills, or savings. Once youâve set that amount, break it down into daily or weekly limits and stick to it. Chasing losses will only dig you deeper, so when you hit your limit, itâs crucial to step back.
If you start noticing that betting is negatively affecting your life, itâs important not to ignore it. West Virginia has resources to help with problem gambling including the following:
West Virginia Problem Gambling Help Network (http://www.1800gambler.net)
A 24/7 confidential helpline offering support, counseling, and treatment referrals. Call 1-800-GAMBLER for immediate help.
First Choice Services â Problem Gamblers Help Network of West Virginia (https://www.1800gambler.net)
This organization offers free and confidential support, including counseling and treatment programs for individuals affected by problem gambling. Their helpline is available 24/7 at 1-800-GAMBLER.
And here are more nationalized resources:
Gambling Addiction Support Network (https://www.gamblingaddictionsupport.org/)
A non-profit organization providing resources and support for individuals struggling with gambling addiction.
Center for Responsible Gaming (https://www.centerforresponsiblegaming.org/)
The Center for Responsible Gaming (CRG) is a research institution dedicated to promoting safe gambling practices and addressing gambling-related issues.
24/7 Gambling Support Line (https://www.gamblinghelponline.org/24-7-helpline)
A round-the-clock helpline offering immediate assistance and guidance for those experiencing gambling-related problems."
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