Sports Betting In West Virginia
The state of West Virginia officially made sports betting legal in August of 2019. It didn’t take long for the largest sportsbooks in the industry, FanDuel and DraftKings, to be up and running. We have since seen both William Hill and BetMGM enter the space. Here are the complete details for the West Virginia sports betting bill:
West Virginia Sports Betting Details
| Start Date | August 30, 2020 |
| Legal Age to Bet | 21 |
| Online/In App Betting | Yes |
| Maximum Bet | No Limit |
| Corresponding Bill | SB 415 |
| Eligible Sportsbooks | Operators partnered with a WV casino. |
West Virginia Sportsbooks
Yes, sports betting in West Virginia is legal. Sports betting in West Virginia In March 2018, sports wagering passed through the legislature and became legal in West Virginia, and Hollywood Casino. Yes, West Virginia passed a bill legalizing sports betting in March of 2018 and the first bet was officially placed in the state on August 30, 2019. Can I bet online in WV? Yes, online and in-app wagering is 100% legal in West Virginia. Online sports betting is off and running in West Virginia. Multiple active sportsbooks in West Virginia are able to take wagers from anyone in the state. Major operators with state-of-the-art sportsbooks dot the virtual landscape in the Mountain State.
While the bar for entry is not nearly as high as we have seen with other states, not every major online sportsbook is operating in the state. In fact, of the major sportsbooks we work with, only FanDuel, DraftKings, and BetMGM are currently offering online and in-app betting in West Virginia right now. Below are our favorite sportsbook options available in WV today.
| Sportsbook | Our Grade | Promo Offer | Get Started |
|---|---|---|---|
| 9.8Out of 10 | Up to:$500Free Bet | ||
| 9.5Out of 10 | Up to:$1,025Deposit Bonus | ||
| 8.7Out of 10 | Up to:$500Deposit Bonus | ||
| 7.8Out of 10 | Up to:$250Free Bet |
Additional West Virginia Sports Betting Options
In addition to the four most popular sportsbooks options list above, there are several brick-and-mortar sportsbooks located in the state’s casinos. Below is the complete list of options for West Virginia residents and visitors.
| Sportsbook | Casino | Launch Date |
|---|---|---|
| BetMGM | Greenbrier Resort | January 2020 |
| DraftKings | Hollywood Casino | August 2019 |
| FanDuel | Greenbrier Resort | August 2019 |
| IGT (Betly) | Mardi Gras | TBD |
| IGT (Betly) | Wheeling Island | TBD |
| William Hill | Mauntaineer Casino | August 2019 |
Important note: After a dispute with a data provider, sister casinos Mardi Gras and Wheeling Island ceased sportsbook operations in March to shift from BetLucky to Betly. We would assume a start-date is approaching as locations reopen following the COVID hiatus.
WV Sports Betting FAQ’s
There are several pressing questions WV residents have surrounding the legalization of sports betting in their state. Below are answers to several of the questions we have received most since SB 415 passed.
Is sports betting legal in West Virginia?
Yes, West Virginia passed a bill legalizing sports betting in March of 2018 and the first bet was officially placed in the state on August 30, 2019.
Can I bet online in WV?
Yes, online and in-app wagering is 100% legal in West Virginia. The three most popular sportsbooks operating online at the moment are DraftKings, FanDuel, and BetMGM.
What is the minimum age to bet on sports in WV?
The current minimum age to place a bet on sports in West Virginia is 21. This is in line with every other state that has passed sports betting legislation over the past three years.
What sports can I bet on in West Virginia?
You can bet on all major sports in West Virginia, including most college sports, the NFL, NBA, NHL, PGA, MLB, Nascar, UFC, and Tennis.
Is live betting available in West Virginia?
Live betting is available on all three of the major sportsbook apps available in WV. Live betting allows you to bet on games that are already in progress, from a moving spread to the outcome of the next play, everything that happens throughout a game is now available to bettors.
What types of bets can I place in West Virginia?
Sports gamblers have the full arsenal of bets available to them in WV. This includes totals, spreads, props, moneylines, teasers, and parlays.
West Virginia Sportsbook Locations
The Sportsbook at Hollywood Casino
750 Hollywood Drive
Charles Town, WV 25414
FanDuel Sportsbook at Greenbrier Resort
101 W Main Street
White Sulphur Springs, WV 24986
William Hill at Moutaineer Casino
1420 Mountaineer Circle
New Cumberland, WV 26047
Latest Sports Betting Legislation
Indiana Sports Betting
West Virginia was one of the first US states to legalize sports betting, proactively passing a bill while the federal ban was still on the books.
With bipartisan support in the legislature, the West Virginia Lottery Sports Wagering Act (S 415) became law in March 2018 without a signature from Gov. Jim Justice. The governor, whose family owns one of the state’s gambling establishments, instead allowed the bill to lapse into law — purportedly to avoid the appearance of a conflict of interest.
By the end of the year, both retail and online sports betting were available in the state. The latter suffered a false start at the hands of BetLucky before returning permanently in 2019.
West Virginia sports betting apps
There are currently three sports betting apps available in West Virginia:
William Hill also operates a retail sportsbook in the state, which could eventually spawn another WV sports betting app. The two Delaware North casinos will additionally use the betly brand to rejoin the state’s online market at some point.
WV sports betting apps are typically available for both iOS and Android devices.
West Virginia sports betting partnerships
The WV sports betting law requires online operators to partner with a land-based casino licensee in order to serve the state. Each of those licensees can deploy as many as three individually branded products (or “skins”) into the market.
Here’s the structure of online sports betting alliances in WV:
| Licensee | Skin 1 | Skin 2 | Skin 3 |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Greenbrier | FanDuel Sportsbook | BetMGM Sports | -- |
| Hollywood | DraftKings Sportsbook | -- | -- |
| Mardi Gras | -- | -- | -- |
| Mountaineer | -- | -- | -- |
| Wheeling Island | -- | -- | -- |
BetMGM Sports WV
- Land-based partner: The Greenbrier
- Date launched: January 29, 2020
BetMGM has the potential to be a big name in US sports betting, but has a little bit slower out of the gates than some of its competitors. In West Virginia, at least, its launch came only a few months after that of FanDuel and DraftKings. Like FanDuel, it chose The Greenbrier as its partner. The BetMGM brand is operated by Roar Digital, created as a joint endeavor between MGM Resorts International and GVC Holdings.
BetMGM also offers legal online casino gambling in WV.
DraftKings Sportsbook WV
- Land-based partner: Hollywood Casino
- Date launched: August 28, 2019
FanDuel’s monopoly in West Virginia lasted barely 48 hours, as DraftKings followed it into the market later the same week. The DraftKings partnership was inevitable under its nationwide market-access deal with Hollywood owner Penn National Gaming. DraftKings was itself under private ownership until April 2020, when it went public via a reverse merger with technology provider SBTech.
DraftKings Casino also operates legally in WV.
FanDuel Sportsbook WV
- Land-based partner: The Greenbrier
- Date launched: August 26, 2019
FanDuel wasn’t technically the first sports betting app in West Virginia, but it has fared much better than its only predecessor. It launched in August 2019, bringing online betting back to West Virginia after a five-month absence stemming from the failure of BetLucky. The daily fantasy giant chose The Greenbrier as its land-based partner, making it the epicenter of online betting in the state.
Betly WV (launch pending)
- Land-based partner: Mardi Gras and/or Wheeling Island
- Date launched: Pending
Mardi Gras and Wheeling Island are both owned by Delaware North. It was through these licenses and a now-defunct joint venture with Miomni that the group made its ill-fated entry to the market under the BetLucky brand.
Delaware North made its second attempt at sports betting starting in January 2020, reopening its two retail sportsbooks under a new brand — betly. They’re powered by a fresh partnership with IGT, a well-established company that should prove less problematic than the old BetLucky suppliers.
When the retail sportsbooks opened, Delaware North indicated it expected a mobile app to follow “very soon.” Those plans may have been postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic or other reasons, and as yet there is still no firm date for launch.
Sports available for betting in West Virginia
West Virginians enjoy betting on the same sports as gamblers in other states. The top leagues for betting include:
- NFL football
- NBA basketball
- NHL hockey
- MLB baseball
- MLS soccer
- NCAA college sports
- UFC/MMA combat sports
Unlike some states, WV does not have any particular collegiate betting restrictions. Fans of second-tier sports like tennis, golf, and cricket will also find the opportunity to bet on major competitions in those sports in WV.
So far, the state regulator has not made a firm decision one way or the other about esports and mind sports betting.
Types of legal sports bets in West Virginia
WV sports betting includes all the usual betting options on both professional and collegiate sports. Operators may offer:
- Moneylines
- Spreads
- Totals (over/under)
- Futures
- Proposition bets (props)
Combination bets such as parlays and round-robins are also allowed. Most operators also offer a full slate of in-play betting options.
West Virginia online sports betting bonuses
Online sports betting promotions typically come in one of two flavors in West Virginia.
- Free bets
- Deposit bonuses
Free bets are exactly that, promotional wagers given to new players just for signing up. Some may take the form of a matched bet, while others will not require the customer to bet their own money. Deposit bonuses reward bettors for funding their accounts by adding additional money — either a flat amount or a percentage of the associated deposit.
Most WV online sportsbooks offer bonuses in one or both of these categories.
Depositing and withdrawing at West Virginia online sportsbooks
Much as is the case with WV online casinos, online sportsbooks in the state accept a variety of methods for users to deposit funds to their accounts:
- ACH/eCheck
- credit and debit cards
- online banking/bank transfers
- PayPal
- Skrill
- Play+
- PayNearMe
- check
- cash at the casino cage
Withdrawal options are fewer, though cash-outs via ACH/eCheck, PayPal, and regular checks are generally available. Bettors are also able to withdraw funds in person at the licensing casino’s cashier cage.
FAQ: West Virginia sports betting
Here are answers to some common questions about WV sports betting.
Is sports betting legal in WV?
Yes, West Virginia lawmakers legalized sports betting in 2018. By the end of the year, operators were legally booking wagers in the state across both retail and online/mobile channels.
Who is eligible to bet on sports in WV?
Adults at least 21 years old are eligible to bet on sports in West Virginia, provided they are (1) located in the state and (2) not otherwise excluded from gambling. Residency is not a requirement, but online/mobile platforms do require the bettor to be physically present within the borders to wager.
Where can I bet on sports in WV?
The five West Virginia casinos act as the primary licensees for sports betting. All of them have physical sportsbooks on site. Online and mobile betting are also available statewide.
Can I bet on sports online in WV?
Yes, the West Virginia sports betting law authorizes online and mobile sportsbooks in addition to physical betting locations. Although the first betting sites and apps rolled out in late 2018, the sector didn’t overcome its early growing pains until the larger operators entered the market in 2019.
What are the fees and taxes for WV sports betting?
West Virginia lawmakers imposed a modest tax rate for sports betting operators amounting to 10% of gross revenue. Five-year licenses are likewise affordable compared to many jurisdictions at $100,000 apiece.
Who regulates sports betting in WV?
The West Virginia Lottery regulates all gambling in the state, including sports betting.
West Virginia Sports Betting Law
- Phone: 800-982-2274
- Email: [email protected]
West Virginia sports betting history
The WV legislature officially authorized sports betting in the state in 2018 after failed attempts in the two years prior.
The bill sponsored by Sen. Ryan Ferns enjoyed bipartisan support and a relatively smooth path through both chambers, though it remained inactive until the US Supreme Court overturned PASPA two months later. At the time, the Mountain State was just the fourth in the country to legalize single-game wagering.
Despite a great deal of meddling by the governor and the sports leagues, diligent regulatory work facilitated the launch of WV sports betting in time for the following NFL season.
Fanduel Sports Betting West Virginia
The state’s first legal bet was placed at Hollywood Casino on Aug. 30, 2018, and the first online sportsbook — BetLucky WV — subsequently debuted on Dec. 27. Although the latter no longer exists, several more-reputable online/mobile options have come to the market since.