Last updated on: March 16th, 2023
Legal West Virginia Sports Betting
West Virginia regulated sports betting in 2018 as one of the first to make regulations in the post PASPA era. With five casino and racino venues in West Virginia pretty well spread out, there is a variety of options for players both in person and online. With mobile sports betting apps in WV consisting of major brands, bettors also have access to legal sports betting sites to find even more odds on the Mountaineers and other local teams. Savvy bettors can shop lines with both in-state and online books to ensure they are getting the best odds. West Virginia has some of the most relaxed gambling laws in the country making sports betting safe and legal.
- Both retail and online sports betting is live in West Virginia.
- Retail launched in 2018 while online/mobile launched shortly after with some initial problems.
- Legal sports betting sites in West Virginia offer even more online betting options to players.
March Madness Sportsbooks In WV
March Madness is easy to bet on with the top WV March Madness Sportsbooks. The best WV sportsbooks for betting on March MAdness are the ones that operate internationally, since they have better accessibility options – you can use them on your phone and computer – and also better options for wagers themselves – there are no restrictions on college props at international sportsbooks like Bovada.
| Rank | Sportsbook | Bonus Offer | Play Now |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  |
50% Up To $250 Read Review | Visit Bovada! |
| 2 |  |
50% New Member Bonus!Read Review | Visit BetOnline! |
| 3 |  |
50% Up To $1,000 Read Review | Visit MyBookie! |
| 4 |  |
100% Up To $300Read Review | Visit Xbet! |
| 5 |  |
50% Up To $1,000 Read Review | Visit SportsBetting! |
Is It Legal To Use Bovada In West Virginia?
It is legal to use Bovada in West Virginia, as it is not located within the state and thus is not subject to WVs gaming laws. This allows you to access more bets than otherwise, and can help betting fans gain access to various things that local books cannot provide, such as betting odds on politics and awards shows, or the use of cryptocurrency at a sportsbook. Both of these are available at Bovada, but not available at local books. It is legal for you to use Bovada in West Virginia because they do not have specific laws about where you can gamble.
#1
Bovada Sportsbook
More Banking Methods For Legal West Virginia Sports Betting
Bovada is home to a lot of variety in terms of both legal sports betting as well as how to fund and withdraw from you’re your betting account. While WV does indeed have regulated legal sports betting in its legislation, many players in the Mountain State choose Bovada for the slew of alternate banking methods available. Players can wager using debit/credit cards, cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin, PayPal, and many other ways. There are also many ways to collect your winnings as well, and these vary in speed of withdrawal times. Some methods are quicker than others. For example, Bitcoin is the fastest way to collect your winnings, while a check would be the slowest.
Rating: 
- Fastest payout methods
- More banking options
- Bonuses for Bitcoin users
- Available on mobile
- No download needed
#2
BetOnline Sportsbook
A Top Sportsbook For WV Betting
BetOnline is a great sportsbook with a lot of options you can use to customize it to your liking. You can select different UIs, you can search up bets, you can build wagers in their wager building tool, and more. You can even wager on political events, reality TV, and other wagers not available at traditional WV sportsbooks.
Rating:
- Reliable Banking Methods
- Strong Server Connection
- 10+ Year Track Record
- Huge Assortment Of Odds
- No App Mobile Betting
#3
MyBookie Sportsbook
Sports Betting With Cryptocurrency
MyBookie is a sportsbook that is built on the idea of providing the most wagers on the most things that anyone can think to wager on. This means that you will most likely find more odds at MyBookie than any of the regulated sportsbooks in WV, but also it is likely to have the most odds out of any sportsbook in WV period.
Ratings:
- Huge Player Bonuses
- Consistent Odds
- Easy Interface
- Rapid Live Betting
- Legal In West Virginia
#4
SportsBetting Sportsbook
A Top Choice For West Virginia
SportsBetting is a great online sportsbook that is focused on density and ease of use. Arranged like a giant bookie sheet, their odds are sharp, and they focus on providing sharp odds at the expense of bells-and-whistles that many other sportsbooks offer. They’re definitely worth checking out, even if only to shop lines.
Ratings:
- Efficient Site Layout
- Full Mobile Betting Suite
- Available Customer Service
- Trustworthy Banking Options
- Fast Payout Times
#5
XBet Sportsbook
A Plethora Of Betting Lines
XBet’s online sports betting offerings are generally regarded as among the best in the game, and this is especially true in West Virginia. In addition to being an excellent sportsbook. XBet provides wagering on things that regulated books in the state do not, such as reality TV, politics and certain sports.
Ratings:
- Worry-free Legal Betting
- Exclusive Bonus Offers
- Constantly Updated Odds
- Premier User Experience
- Full Mobile + Live Betting
West Virginia Sports Betting And Gambling Laws
Legal West Virginia sports betting was made possible thanks to SB 415. It was the most comprehensive bill introduced to the Senate and was quickly passed by the House. Allowed by Governor Jim Justice to become law without his signature (due to a conflict of interest, as he is the owner of The Greenbrier), West Virginia residents and tourists have the ability to bet on sports without any restrictions.
Operators must pay a service fee of $100,000 to the West Virginia Lottery every five years so they can keep their licenses. Another fee that they have to abide by is a 10% “privilege tax” on wagering receipts. This is slightly under the average sports betting tax but still a hefty price nonetheless.
Where To Bet On Sports In West Virginia
Aside from online sports betting, land-based sportsbooks in West Virginia are also present. The Mountain State is home to five land-based sportsbooks – you can find betting lines at the Hollywood Casino at Charles Town Races, the Mountaineer Casino in New Cumberland, the Mardi Gras Casino in Cross Lanes, the Wheeling Island Casino in Wheeling, and The Greenbrier in White Sulphur Springs.
| Cross Lanes West Virginia Sportsbooks |
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BetLucky Sportsbook at the Mardi Gras Casino Cross Lanes The Mardi Gras Casino had an issue with a prolonged closure in 2019, but it is now back and better than ever. Players can bet through both kiosks and teller windows. Easily the best component of Mardi Gras’ sports and race betting amenities is its “adopt a retired racer” program for getting retired greyhounds into loving homes. |
| Wheeling Island West Virginia Sportsbooks |
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BetLucky Sportsbook at Wheeling Island Hotel-Casino-Racetrack While the name is a mouthful, this Wheeling Island Casino offers one of the better race betting experiences on the east coast. It also offers full service sports betting, both inside the casino and online via the BetLucky app. |
| Sulphur Springs West Virginia Sportsbooks |
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FanDuel Sportsbook at The Greenbrier The Greenbrier is an old, monied casino that tailors to wealthy clientele. It is one of the only casinos in the country where you will find a strict dress code. The Greenbrier partnered with FanDuel in 2018, meaning that its sportsbook is now one of the best on the east coast. |
| Ranson West Virginia Sportsbooks |
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Hollywood Sportsbook Charles Town Races Hollywood is a brand known for consistent quality among active sports bettors, and the Hollywood Casino at Charles Town in no different. The coolest feature of the Charles Town Hollywood sportsbook is its implementation of individual viewing stations for fans who want to lock in on the action of whichever game they are betting on. A world-class thoroughbred racing track is also a welcome addition. |
| New Cumberland West Virginia Sportsbooks |
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Mountaineer New Cumberland Casino Racetrack Sportsbook The Mountaineer Casino partners with William Hill to run its sportsbook, meaning that it can compete with some of the best land-based sportsbooks in the entire world. Undoubtedly the coolest feature at Mountaineer is its state-of-the-art thoroughbred racing track, however. |
West Virginia Sports Team To Bet On
There aren’t any big-5 pro sports teams in WV to bet on. Still, a handful of colleges and the ECHL give West Virginia sportsbooks a local edge. Betting on the WV Mountaineers football or basketball team is the most popular. Likewise, bets on Marshall are common at WV sportsbook too. Many look to Pennsylvania, Ohio, Maryland, or Virginia for pro sports fandom. Regardless, there are enough teams to bet on in West Virginia.
Popular West Virginia Teams
- Alderson Broaddus Battlers – Mountain East
- Bluefield State Big Blues – Independent
- Charleston Golden Eagles – Mountain East
- Concord Mountain Lions – Mountain East
- Davis & Elkins Senators – Mountain East
- Fairmont State Falcons – Mountain East
- Glenville State Pioneers – Mountain East
- Marshall Thundering Herd – Sun Belt
- Salem Tigers – Independent
- Shepherd Rams – PSAC
- West Liberty Hilltoppers – Mountain East
- West Virginia State Yellow Jackets – Mountain East
- West Virginia Mountaineers – Big 12
- West Virginia Wesleyan Bobcats – Mountain East
- Wheeling Cardinals – Mountain East
- Wheeling Nailers – ECHL
Betting On The NFL In West Virginia
West Virginia betting fans can place action on the NFL at one of the five retail sports betting operations in the state or through mobile and online betting. There are odds available for all West Virginia players this season. Even though there are no local NFL teams, being close to Washington DC, Pennsylvania, and Maryland gives WV a large local NFL fanbase that look at teams like the Washington Commanders, Baltimore Ravens, Pittsburgh Steelers, and Philadelphia Eagles. Odds for all these teams can also be found at legal online sportsbooks, with some of the best betting lines for the season. No matter how you want to play, there are options in West Virginia.
Betting On The Super Bowl In West Virginia
The best sportsbooks to bet on the Super Bowl with in West Virginia are all international. Despite the fact that WV offers several in-state sports betting options, they’re all worse than the ones that the international sportsbooks offer, both in terms of accessibility and in terms of the odds they can accept. These sportsbooks, such as Bovada, are by far the best betting options for anyone betting on the Super Bowl in West Virginia.
Regulated Sportsbooks In West Virginia
There are several regulated options for sports betting that can be accessed in West Virginia. They have opened from various times, and each requires a specific partner for their sportsbook offerings within the state.
| Sportsbook: | Partner: | Launch: |
|---|---|---|
| FanDuel | The Greenbrier | Aug. 26, 2019 |
| DraftKings | Hollywood Casino Charles Town Races | Aug. 28, 2019 |
| BetMGM | The Greenbrier | Jan. 21, 2020 |
| Betly Sportsbook | Mardi Gras, Wheeling Island Casinos | Sept. 2, 2020 |
| Caesars Sportsbook | Mountaineer Casino | Aug. 4, 2021 |
| PointsBet | Hollywood Casino Charles Town Races | Aug. 12, 2021 |
| Barstool Sportsbook | Hollywood Casino Charles Town Races | Nov. 22, 2021 |
Banking Options At WV Online Sportsbooks
Banking at WV online sportsbooks depends on which market you are accessing. The regulated market does most of its business using credit cards and direct bank deposits, which can take time but is undeniably safe and easy to understand. The offshore market does more business in cryptocurrency, which has its own appeal, and is usually a faster method of payment transfer than any other comparable option. Generally, you can get better bonuses at an offshore sportsbook if you deposit in cryptocurrency, so keep that in mind.
WV Online Sportsbook Bonuses
| Sportsbook: | Bonus: | Percent Bonus: | Min Deposit: | Max Bonus: |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bovada | Bitcoin Welcome Bonus | 75% | $20 | $750 |
| BetOnline | Sports Welcome Bonus | 50% | $55 | $1,000 |
| MyBookie | First Deposit Bonus | 100% | 50 | 1000 |
| BetUS | 200% Crypto Sign Up Bonus | 150% Sports + 50% Casino | $100 | $2,500 |
| SportsBetting | Sports Welcome Bonus | 50% | $55 | $1,000 |
Crypto Betting In West Virginia
Cryptocurrency is a major component of West Virginia betting, as it is the major way to access international sportsbooks that serve West Virginia’s bettors. These sportsbooks are among the best in the business, and they all deal in crypto to greater or lesser extents. Bovada, for example, takes five different cryptos, while BetOnline takes more than a dozen.
Bitcoin Bonuses In West Virginia
- Bovada – $750 Bitcoin Bonus
- BetOnline – $1,000 Bitcoin Bonus
- MyBookie – No Special Bitcoin Bonus
West Virginia Sports Betting Revenue And Handle
Despite being around for over four years, the amount of money bet in WV isn’t anything too crazy. With $1.5 billion bet at WV sportsbooks, this has brought in $12 million in sports betting taxes. The sportsbooks in WV themselves eclipsed $100 million in revenue. But, this is comparable to Rhode Island sportsbooks. Still, Lottery reports detail the WV sports betting handle, revenue, and tax benefits.
- Highest Monthly Betting Handle For WV Sportsbooks – $84.2 million (November 2021)
- Most Money Kept In A Month By WV Sportsbooks – $7.14 million (September 2021)
- Best Month Of Betting For WV Sports Bettors – February 2020 (Books lost $626,470)
- Worst Sports Betting Month In WV History – December 2018 (Win rate of 83.1%)
Can I Bet Real Money On Sports In West Virginia?
Thanks to the large number of options to make sports bets in West Virginia, you can absolutely bet real money on sports. Heading over to one of West Virginia’s five casinos is one way to spend real money on sports betting. Another way to use real money is to go online and use either the domestic betting websites that are based in the state or one of our recommended offshore sites.
What Is the Sports Betting Age In West Virginia?
The legal sports betting age in West Virginia is 21 years old; however, many online sportsbooks only require users to be 18 years old to register. Regardless, it is best to wait until 21 years of age to register to ensure legality.
Horse Racing Betting In West Virginia
Of the five casino venues in West Virginia, four of them are racetracks – two for horse racing and two for greyhound racing. The Hollywood Casino at Charles Town Races as well as the Mountaineer Casino, Racetrack and Resort are two of the busiest US Thoroughbred racing venues with 220 racing days each, each year. The Wheeling Island Hotel-Casino-Racetrack and the Mardi Gras Casino and Resort both offer greyhound racing, and they’re among the last operational dog tracks in the country. All of these venues have pari-mutuel horse racing betting, and they each operate both on-site and online sportsbooks.
Daily Fantasy Sports In West Virginia
As you can imagine, daily fantasy sports (DFS) is legal in West Virginia. Although there are laws regulating sports betting in West Virginia, there are no regulations in regards to DFS. This isn’t a bad thing though, as there are no restrictions to play DFS in WV. Thanks to this, leading DFS sites such as DraftKings and FanDuel are freely operating in West Virginia, and they are the top choices for local DFS enthusiasts.
Betly Sportsbook
Betly sportsbook is effectively a relaunch of the failed BetLucky sportsbook. BetLucky caused serious problems for the launch of sports betting WV after a dispute between it and one of its partners. Betly is effectively the fixed version, and is one of a solid group of sportsbooks servicing WV players.
BetMGM Sportsbook
BetMGM is a giant of gambling, and it’s working hard to catch up to the DFS based sportsbooks in WV. The app is run by MGM Resorts, which is one of the biggest gambling properties in America, and you can be sure that they’ll go the extra mile to retain customers with solid bonuses.
Caesars Sportsbook
Caesars Sportsbook has been on the upswing lately, popularized by their latest advertising blitz, and they’re looking to grab some market share in West Virginia. Partnered with Mountaineer Casino, they launched operations in 2021, so they haven’t even been up for a full year yet, but they’re still one of the better options in WV.
DraftKings Sportsbook
DraftKings is a top two sportsbook in the country in terms of usage rate, and it managed to attain this status by dominating the Daily Fantasy space before moving into sports betting. It’s one of the higher regarded online sportsbooks available in WV, but does have the typical regulatory downsides.
FanDuel Sportsbook
FanDuel is arguably the top sportsbook in America, and that is also true in West Virginia. It’s widely used, has a great mobile UI, and is one of the best sportsbooks around in terms of usability. FanDuel also offers a major DFS platform in most states, including WV.
PointsBet Sportsbook
PointsBet launched around the same time as Caesars Sportsbook, making it one of the two newest sportsbooks in WV. This status means that you might have some luck hunting for good bonuses there, as they need to make an impression on WV players in their first year of operation.
History Of West Virginia Sports Betting
West Virginia’s sports betting operations have been troubled in the past. The first online sportsbook to open in the state was known as BetLucky, and was operated by Delaware North, which sourced its sports betting operation from a company called Mionmi. Miami had an issue with a third party vendor that caused an issue with BetLucky’s service, and led to Delaware North splitting off from Mionmi. This split caused BetLucky to close down, and there were no mobile sports betting options that were not offshore remaining after this happened. Luckily, this all happened back in 2019 – there’s been plenty of time for wounds to heal. In fact, Delaware North is currently back in the game, operating Betly sportsbook, one of the regulated sportsbooks in the state.
Timeline Of WV Sports Betting
- Mar 15, 2022 – West Virginia’s bettors may soon be able to wager on esports as HB 4826 is under debate.
- Sep 9, 2020 – William Hill’s online sportsbook goes live in West Virginia.
- Sep 3, 2020 – Betly Sportsbook, launched by Mardi Gras Casino, goes live in WV.
- Aug 27, 2020 – West Virginia’s sports betting options are expected to expand before the 2020 NFL season.
- May 4, 2020 – West Virginia plans to adopt iGaming rules in a similar vein to their sports betting rules.
- Jan 24, 2020 – Sports betting looks to return to the two Delaware North casinos in West Virginia after a contract dispute disrupted operations.
- Sep 20, 2019 – FanDuel and DraftKings are becoming the most used sportsbooks in WV, after a contract dispute caused the BetLucky app to go down.
- Aug 27, 2019 – FanDuel enters the online gambling market in West Virginia, ending a six-month drought of online sportsbook access caused by the failure of the BetLucky app.
- Jun 26, 2019 – BetLucky is still down, and new sportsbooks are not expected until the NFL season.
- Mar 8, 2019 – Sports betting is suspended at two casinos operated by Delaware North, and on the BetLucky App, the only online sportsbook operating in WV.
- May 14, 2018 – PASPA is repealed, allowing WV’s sports betting laws to take effect, and for sports betting operators to begin operations.
Legal West Virginia Sports Betting FAQs
Is Online Sports Betting Safe In West Virginia?
Yes, online sports betting is completely safe in West Virginia, if using a West Virginia-regulated online sportsbook or an internationally-based online sportsbook.
Will I Get Arrested For Sports Betting In West Virginia?
No, you will not get arrested for sports betting in West Virginia.
Where Is The Best Place To Bet On Sports In West Virginia?
When Did Sports Betting Become Legal In West Virginia?
Sports betting became regulated in West Virginia in 2019 after opening their first in-state sportsbook at the end of August 2018. Now, both online and land-based sports betting in West Virginia is active. The first year of mobile WV sports betting hit many snags; however, all issue has been resolved.
Is The Legal Sports Betting Industry Of WV Expected To Grow?
Yes, legal sports betting in the state of West Virginia is expected to grow leaps and bounds for both retail and mobile sports wagering platforms in the years ahead. The popularity of gambling on sporting events is growing among residents and options for the various forms of wagering on sports continue to evolve to offer more to sports bettors statewide. With all of this in mind, a surge in activity, as well as revenue and overall profits, is slated for West Virginians and their legal sports betting industry in the future.
Can I Bet On Sports With Friends In West Virginia?
Yes, there are no laws to prohibit betting on sporting events between friends in West Virginia. In fact, that would be an odd thing to ban considering West Virginia has a regulated sports betting industry already.