Before mid-2018, sports betting was still considered illegal. The legalization of sports betting a couple of months earlier sets the precedence for West Virginia. As is the case with most legal sports betting states in the U.S that kick off with validating sports betting, there are always a few hiccups for the first stakeholders. BetLucky, the pioneer WV sports betting brand, experienced an abrupt closure. Eventually, their operations were restored under a different name - Betly Sportsbook.
Now, WV sports betting has gone on for over three years in the state and has experienced impressive growth over the years. In just a few years, more legalized sportsbooks have sprouted in the state, like DraftKings Sportsbook, BetMGM, Caesars Sportsbook, FanDuel, and PointsBet.
Best West Virginia Sports Betting Sites
In this section, we will be showing you a table detailing the top five licensed west Virginia online sports betting sites with their respective welcome bonuses.
| Best WV Sports Betting Sites | Bonus Details | Sign Up Links |
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Up to $1,000 First Bet Offer |
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$1,000 Deposit Match Bonus |
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Get Up To $1,250 On Caesars + 1000 Tier Credits + 1000 Reward Credits®! |
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$1000 No Sweat First Bet |
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Upto $2,000 Risk-free bet |
Latest Updates on West Virginia Sports Betting
West Virginia was among the first states to allow sports betting in the U.S., but the market is growing, and new developments are happening in the industry virtually every week: Below is the latest on West Virginia Sports Betting 2022:
- As of January 18, 2022, Sportsbooks in West Virginia took a whopping $74.5 million in bets in December.
- West Virginia’s House of Representatives is proposing a new amendment that would approve esports betting in the state. Introduced in mid-February 2022, House Bill 4826 would expand WV’s legal sports betting market and allow players to bet on esports events.
- The bill is expected to pass, and West Virginia would become the latest state to allow esports betting alongside sports betting.
More on esports legalization in West Virginia
An esports event, according to the bill, is everything that fits the following description. "An electronic sport or competitive video gameplay as a game of skill for spectators." Furthermore, the amendment seeks to classify esports as a professional sports discipline.
The bill, which has been sponsored by Moore Capito, Steve Westfall, Bennett Queen, Shawn Fluharty, Clay Riley, Daniel Linville and William Nestor, makes it clear that if you are a licensed sportsbook within the state, then you will be allowed to offer esports betting on any professional event that fits the category and provided that it does not conflict or breaks the states rules on betting on minors.
The esports industry has seen its popularity grow dramatically in the recent past. This has been fueled by the 2019 lockdown, where conventional sports leagues and tournaments had to cease their activities.
Several US states have already legalized esports betting, with Connecticut being the most recent. Most notably, Nevada already recognizes esports and has set up an independent regulatory body that oversees the running of the esports betting industry.
Although some are skeptical about the prospects of esports betting, many gambling companies and regulatory bodies have decided to place their bets on the youth and their favorite esports events. And West Virginia might join the bandwagon soon.
Any Limitations?
It remains to be seen whether West Virginia will put certain limitations on esports betting such as those that are in place in New Jersey where maximum bets are limited to $100, maximum returns to $500 and the only tournaments allowed are those on a pre-approved list.
However, the broader definition in use on the Bill does seem to indicate that West Virginia may be able to offer a wider selection of esports bets than New Jersey does.
That said, with the Bill still set to go before the Senate, it may well be the case that some changes are required before it can be passed into law.
There is no time stated for the passing of the Bill through the senate, but a similar process in New Jersey took about a year, but esports fans in West Virginia may be hoping that their Senate passes the bill a little more quickly than that.
West Virginia Sports Betting 2022: Is It Legal?
Yes. West Virginia decriminalized sports betting in 2018, the 5th state to do so. Currently, there are 7 active online sportsbooks in WV, with many more expected to come on board as time goes on. The active ones include BetMGM, Caesars Sportsbook, DraftKings Sportsbook, FanDuel, Betly Sportsbook, PointsBet, and Barstool Sportsbook.
On the other hand, West Virginia has five land-based casinos, and all were operational by the end of 2018.
The West Virginia Lottery Commission, the betting regulatory body in the state, maintains that bettors must be 21+ years old, and all sports bets must be placed within the state of WV.
Online Sportsbooks in West Virginia
In this section, we will be taking a quick look at the licensed sportsbooks in West Virginia.
FanDuel Sportsbook
This is like the top betting company in West Virginia when you look at the wagering amounts that's raked in. The platform got registered to operate in West Virginia in August 2019 and so far has transformed into one of the highly reputable sportsbooks in the state. Fanduel Sportsbook offers a $1000 No Sweat First Bet as a welcome bonus.
DraftKings Sportsbook
This is another sportsbook that needs no introduction because not only is it popular in West Virginia, it is popular in neighboring states as well. The sportsbook was licensed to operate in West Virginia in August 2019 and has so far grown to be a force in the betting industry in the state. Bettors who sign up on DraftKings Sportsbook get to enjoy a welcome bonus offer of up to $1,050 free bets.
BetMGM
This is another relatively massive online sports betting platform that has to be in the conversation when discussing the top licensed betting platforms in West Virginia. The platform got its license to operate in January 2020. Bettors who get to sign up with BetMGM are entitled to enjoy a welcome bonus of up to $1,000 risk-free bet.
Caesars Sportsbook
This sportsbook is one of the top-tier sportsbooks in the state that has grown to be very widely popular. Though the platform only got licensed in the state in August 2021, its operation in the state has grown exponentially. Bettors who use Caesars Sportsbook get to enjoy up to $1,250 on Caesars + 1000 Tier Credits + 1000 Reward Credits®.
Betly Sportsbook
Though this company was licensed in September 2020, its parent company, BetLucky, was the first sports betting platform to be operational in West Virginia when it became legal. Bettors who sign up with the platform get to enjoy a $100 risk-free bet.
PointsBet Sportsbook
PointsBet, though not as big as the others, is one sportsbook that has been operating excellently in the state despite the short period it's been around. The sportsbook got licensed to operate in August 2021. The PointsBet sportsbook offers a welcome bonus of up to $2,000 risk-free bets.
Legal online sports betting apps in West Virginia
All of the sportsbooks that have been treated in the section above have their betting apps. As it has become normal, most of these West Virginia sports betting apps are affiliated to a land-based based partner to be fully operational. The advent of sports betting apps has revolutionized the approach to sports betting entirely. Before this period, the only option bettors had was to go to physical locations to place bets, but now, bettors can play at their convenience via their phones or desktop. Here, we will be looking further at the sports betting apps in West Virginia, whilst broaching their land-based partners.
DraftKings
This app is affiliated to Hollywood Casino, at Charles Town Races. DraftKings is so huge in West Virginia, they are leading in terms of the highest revenue generated by a sportsbook in West Virginia. Their success isn't a surprise given the ease the sports betting app assures and the numerous features it packs.
William Hill
In 2020, one of the biggest mergers happened, which was between Caesars Entertainment and William Hill. If you are familiar with both brands, you can attest they are among one of the leading sports betting brands in the state. This meager result has created a fierce coalition that's hard to beat. William Hill is partnered with a land-based casino named Mountaineer Casino. The sports betting app is brilliant and offers a wide range of functions that bettors can harness for a smooth betting experience.
FanDuel
FanDuel is partnered with the Greenbrier Casino club. This sports betting app is inarguably in the top 10 most downloaded apps, in not just West Virginia but other states as well. The sports betting app is fully packed with a broad range of sports to bet on and a fleet of features that bettors can exploit.
BetMGM
This is another WV sports betting app that's partnered with Greenbrier Casino. The sports betting app offers a compact betting experience that mirrors what is attainable with the website.
Other Information you should know about only esports betting sites in West Virginia
Opening new sports betting account at West Virginia
In this section, we will be covering the basics you need to know about registering an account with a sportsbook in West Virginia. There are minor differences in the steps from one sportsbook to another, there is somewhat an agreement in terms of the general requirements. To fully cover this part, we will be breaking it down into different sub-sections.
● Remote registration
Virtually all the West Virginia sports betting that's treated in this piece allow for remote registration. In essence, you don't necessarily have to visit their land-based locations to sign up for an account. You can simply visit their website or app to register.
● Age Requirement
It is mandatory that you are at least 21 years old to be allowed access to register via any sportsbook in West Virginia. Your date of birth will mostly be required and your social security number to verify your age.
● Mode of registration
Registration can be done via betting apps or the website. Regardless of the option, you are considering using, you can easily sign up for an account.
● Documents/ Personal Details Required
Most of the sportsbooks do not require serious documentation before you are allowed access. However, generally, you will be required to film your details like Name, Phone Number, Address, Email address, Date of Birth, and last four digits of your Social Security Number.
● Verification Process
The major form of verification that's harnessed by most of the sportsbooks in West Virginia is your Social Security Number.
What kind of welcome bonus can you get with a West Virginia sports betting operator?
Going back to the first section of this piece, you got a glimpse of how generous most of the West Virginia sportsbooks can be in terms of their welcome bonus offerings. FanDuel offers a risk-free bet of up to $2,000, which is probably the juiciest offer you can find with the sportsbooks in the state. Also, looking at the table outlined earlier in this article, you will find that there is a wide range of welcome bonus options. The three main welcome bonuses offered by the sportsbook in West Virginia are risk-free bets, free bets, and first deposit matches.
● Risk-free bet
This type of welcome bonus is the most commonly utilized promotion by West Virginia sports betting sites. This type of bet is a sort of insurance that becomes very useful when you lose your bet. So, if you place a bet while using your risk-free bet, if you win, nothing major happens, your winnings are credited. However, if you lose the bet, the sportsbook will give you your money back in the form it was used. There are special conditions attached to this offer and it varies with sportsbooks. It is always advisable to look through the terms and conditions before using the offer
● Free Bet
This offer is also as common as the risk-free bet. It is just as the name implies and is usually offered to new customers. More often than not, before getting the free bet, you are expected to make a qualifying bet which is subject to a wide range of conditions from the odd requirement and more. If the qualifying bet then wins, the player gets entitled to the designated free bet offer.
● First deposit match
In this case, the sportsbook offers you a chance to earn a percentage of your first deposit as your bonus offer. However, there is usually a limit to how much you can get from this offer. For example, a sportsbook can promise to offer a 100% deposit of up to $50,000. What this means is that if you deposit $10, you get a bonus of $10 and the attainable max of $50,000. As is the case with most of these bonuses, there are always terms and conditions and the first deposit match bonus isn't an exception.
Brick and Mortar Casinos where you can place sports bets in West Virginia
For bettors who have been in the game for decades now, they will always rate betting in brick and mortar casinos over sites. Firstly, because of how nostalgic it gets them, and secondly, because of the unrivaled betting experience that a brick-and-mortar casino offers.
In this section, we will be brushing up on the extensive brick and mortar casinos available in West Virginia where you can place sports bets.
Hollywood Casino
This is one of the biggest casinos you can find in the state. It is located at Charles Town Races and was established on the 30th of August 2018. The casino offers various amenities like 24 odds-display monitors, 80 inch TVs, Lounge seating, and a whole lot more. The casino is operational from 10 a.m - 1 a.m from Monday - Thursday and 8 a.m - 1 a.m from Friday - Sunday. The major sportsbook affiliated with this casino is DraftKings.
Greenbrier Casino Club
This is one casino that needs not to be introduced. The casino upholds class which applies to how things are run there. It maintains two separate dress codes that gents are to abide by before and after 7 p.m. At the casino, you are bound to find facilities like 21 large screen TVs, club chairs, and a whole lot more. The two major sportsbooks affiliated with this casino are BetMGM and FanDuel.
Mountaineer Casino Racetrack & Resort
Mountaineer never started to be a casino but a race track. The establishment eventually added slot machines and other facilities that transformed it from a racetrack to a full-blown casino. The casino offers facilities like live horse racing, a large multi-screen video wall, and a whole lot more. The major sportsbook affiliated with this casino is William Hill.
Mardi Gras Casino & Resort
This resort is a delight to behold and added to the casino offerings, guests are bound to enjoy a delightful gaming experience when visiting here. The casino comes packed with facilities like a full wall of TV screens, year-round greyhound racing, and a whole lot more. The major sportsbook affiliated with this casino is Betly.
Betting on the most popular West Virginia sports
Five major competitions or leagues across different sports are mostly offered by West Virginia sports betting apps or sportsbooks. In this section, we will be taking a look at each of these competitions and discussing the popular bet types for that event.
NFL
The NFL is big across different states in the United States, so it is only rational that a West Virginia sportsbook offers a bunch of betting options on the event. For this event, you will find top betting options like the money line, points spread, parlays, futures, etc.
Moneyline
In this case, you are betting on the team to win according to the Moneyline odds set by the West Virginia sportsbook. So if the Packers are playing against Buccaneers and the Packers are given (-130) to win Buccaneers (+140), you are expected to wager $130 to win $100.
Point spread
As the name implies, when you bet on the point spread, you are betting on a team to win by a stipulated number of points. You could bet on the favorite or the underdog. So, if you bet on the Buccaneers to win by a 3-point spread, they are expected to win by more than three points.
Parlay
Parlay is a bet that contains different selections, on different events. When you bet on a parlay, all the selections must pull through before your bet is declared won. Parlays tend to be riskier by the number of selections on the slip. The higher the selections, the higher the risk and the higher the returns.
Futures
In this case, when you bet on any Future option, you are betting on a team or player to perform an action that's bound to happen in the future. The action could either be that they win the league or a player from a certain team scores the highest goal, alongside many other available options.
NBA
This is one event that is widely acclaimed by bettors in West Virginia. It is one of the most revered competitions in the world. Here are some of the betting options that are popular with this event, especially by West Virginia sportsbooks.
Totals
This is one option where you practically bet on the number of points attained, which could be on the team or the overall match. The option is represented as over or under. So if for example, you are betting on a Lakers vs Hornets game, and you are playing the game Over 209.5. This means that you need the game to end with at least 210 points to win.
Futures
As we have explained before, this is pretty much a straightforward option to bet on. For example, if you are betting on say Chicago Bull to be the NBA winner, at the end of the competition they have to be declared winner, for your bet to pull through.
Halftime/Fulltime
This is another straightforward option. You are betting on the outcomes of halftime and full-time. There is a wide range of ways with which odds on these options are represented. For example, for a game between Orlando Magic and Detroit Pistons, and you place a wager on 1/1. This means you are saying the home team will win at both halftime and full-time.
NHL
The NHL is the most revered Ice hockey competition in the world and is one competition that you will most likely find odds on different West Virginia sportsbooks. Here are some of the commonest betting options on NHL.
Moneyline
This betting option has already been covered. In this case, you are practically betting on who you think will win a game.
Both Teams to Score
In this case, you are betting on whether both teams playing would score in the game or not. The option you pick, which could be Yes or No, determines how your bet would be sorted.
First Goalscorer
This is one option that you will find widely on most NHL games. As the name implies, when you bet on the first goalscorer, you are betting on the team that would first hit a goal in the game.
Futures
Futures options as expected are highly exploited by bettors who use this bet on NHL. The most popular futures option that's exploited in the NHL is the competition winner.
History of West Virginia Sports Betting
The existence of Sports Betting in West Virginia is reinforced by other betting operations that have long been operational in the state. Though in the 80s, West Virginia online sports betting wasn't a thing, however, that was when the lottery came into existence in the state. In the 90s, video lottery terminals became the in-thing. From 2007, the attention shifted to table games and poker, and in no time, steps were taken to see the legalization of table games and poker in the state.
All these series of events, one way or the other led to the advent of sports betting in West Virginia. As the trend kept shifting, legalization for more betting options was sought after, before betting became a thing in West Virginia in 2018.
Legalization
Over the past decade, the question 'is sports betting legal in West Virginia?' was common to hear. However, the legalization of Sports Betting in West Virginia happened in August 2018. The goal at the time was for sports betting to be legalized given the 2018/2019 NFL season, which later played out to be that way. At that time, online sports betting wasn't a thing in West Virginia. The first casino in West Virginia to offer sports betting was Hollywood Casino.
It took some months after the legalization of sports betting in the state before online betting as provided by the BetLucky app. This sports betting app didn't stand the test of time as in March the next year, they ceased being operational. This major hiccup caused the non-existence of online sports betting means for a long while. It took a couple of months after that before two other sportsbooks - FanDuel and DraftKings - braced up to take up space.
They became the only two online sports betting platforms available at the time. It was obvious that these two sportsbooks picked some lessons from BetLucky and ended up creating an online betting platform with optimized standards. It would also suffice to add that these two betting platforms were strategic enough to set their launch while the NFL season for 2019 was still in view. The fact that they were able to fill that void contributed to how massively they grew.
In 2020, BetMGM joined the bandwagon to become the third online sportsbook in West Virginia. Nine months later, William Hill (which is now Caesars Sportsbook) took the cue to come into the limelight. Interestingly, about the same time, BetLucky came back to the limelight after ceasing operations for about two years. Their reentry met with little resistance this time and the website stood out to be top-notch compared to what it used to be. It was in mid-2021 that William Hill transformed into Caesar's Sportsbook.
So far, there are five legalized online sports betting platforms in West Virginia and all five of them are impressive in terms of the quality of service they offer.
FAQs
Is sports betting legal in West Virginia?
Yes. Sports betting is legal in West Virginia and has been that way since 2018.
How many online sportsbooks are in West Virginia?
As of the time of writing this piece, there are only five online sportsbooks that are allowed to operate in West Virginia. They are DraftKings, FanDuel, BetMGM, WilliamHill, and BetLy.
Is it possible for West Virginia sportsbooks to know my location?
Yes. Most of the West Virginia batting platforms utilize geolocation technology to determine the location you are accessing the website from.
What body is responsible for regulating sports betting in West Virginia?
The West Virginia Lottery Commission is in charge of regulating the sports betting operations in the state. This commission was set up to ensure that brands running lottery and betting services are scrutinized properly and considered fit. This is to avoid cases of fraud and essentially to protect the interest of bettors in West Virginia.
Why is it advisable to use a legal sports betting site over an offshore site?
As a bettor in West Virginia, it is always advisable to use betting platforms available to you like the five discussed in this piece over others. This is mainly because these betting platforms are appropriately regulated. There is a very slim chance to be scammed by them as it is easy to keep them in check. However, with offshore betting sites, you are at risk, because they are out of reach from the regulatory body in West Virginia.
Are there taxes applied on WV sports bets?
Yes. As is the case with sports bets in neighboring states, the same applies to West Virginia as well. However, the tax rates imposed on West Virginia sports bets are one of the fairest you can find when compared to other states in the U.S. West Virginia sportsbooks are deemed to pay a 10% tax on betting revenues generated. Some states demand as high as 34% from sportsbooks.
Are there sports events that are unavailable on West Virginia sportsbooks?
Virtually all the sportsbooks in West Virginia have wide coverage of sports events. However, one thing that's common with them is that they mostly don't offer odds on high school games. These types of games are usually not paid so much attention to because they aren't mature enough.
Is cash-out allowed in West Virginia?
Yes. The cashout feature is one feature that has changed the face of sports betting online. This feature has made it possible for bettors to end their bets abruptly for a reduced payout. One of the sportsbooks that offer this feature is DraftKings.
Is PayPal a common payment option in West Virginia?
Not all the sportsbooks in West Virginia allow withdrawals or deposits via PayPal. It is always advisable to check through the payment options for your preferred site to know what is available.