Is sports betting legal in West Virginia?
Yes, West Virginia offers legal sports betting. Lawmakers were quick on the draw as they already had sports betting laws in place ahead of the Supreme Court’s ruling that overturned the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act (PASPA).
Monitor the progress of each state with our legal tracker.
Who can bet on sports in West Virginia?
West Virginia sports betting is open to anyone 21-years of age older who lives in or is visiting West Virginia. Players can place physical bets at a casino or try their luck online with a computer or mobile device. Let’s cover the basics before placing your first bet:
Legal age
You must be at least 21 years old to place a sports bet in West Virginia.
Mobile betting
West Virginia sports wagers can be placed on legal online sports betting websites or an accompanying mobile app. The West Virginia Lottery Commission regulates all sports betting activity in the Mountain State.
Remote registration
Sports bettors in West Virginia are able to register, make their first deposit, and place their first wager — all from the comfort of their own home. With full remote registration, it’s never been easier to start betting in WV.
Within state borders
Legal online sportsbooks use geolocation technology to pinpoint the exact whereabouts of their users. You don’t need to be in the state to register or make a deposit, but in order to place a wager in West Virginia, you’ll need to enable location services to ensure providers can see you are physically present in the state.
Retail sportsbooks
There are five retail sportsbooks in West Virginia. These can be found at a casino or a racino, and all but one is open to the general public. The Casino Club at Greenbrier Resort is the state’s lone private venue.
Taxable winnings
West Virginia does not withhold a state tax on sports bet winnings at the state level, provided identification is submitted. With no ID, casinos are required to hold 6.5% of winnings.
At the federal level, all West Virginia gambling winnings are subject to a 24% tax.
Timeline of sports betting in West Virginia
The U.S. Supreme Court (SCOTUS) overturned PASPA by a 6-3 decision, allowing West Virginia and other states to implement legalized sports betting laws.
Here's a snapshot of West Virginia's sports gambling timeline:
March 2017: Delegate Shawn Fluharty introduced bill H2751 which added verbiage to the state’s constitution regarding the legalization and regulation of sports betting at WV casinos. This homegrown solution was put into place in the event that PASPA was overturned.
March 2018: West Virginia lawmakers legalize sports betting — Gov. Jim Justice gave the go-ahead for the bill to become law.
May 2018: SCOTUS officially strikes down the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act (PASPA), opening the door for the West Virginia Lottery Commission to get to work on establishing state regulations.
August 2018: Hollywood Casino at Charles Town accepts the first legal sports wager in West Virginia.
December 2018: BetLucky becomes the first online operator to go live in WV.
March 2019: Legal disputes unexpectedly halt the operations of BetLucky and two other sportsbooks — leaving West Virginians in the dark and without online sports betting options.
August 2019: Mobile betting returns to West Virginia with the arrival of FanDuel and DraftKings.
January 2020: BetMGM enters WV with its online sports betting app.
November 2021: WV registered a monthly handle of $61.7 million for October.
Nov. 22, 2021: Barstool launched its mobile sportsbook in West Virginia.
Dec. 17, 2021: The WVU Mountaineers meet the Minnesota Golden Gophers in the Guaranteed Rate Bowl on Dec. 28, 2021.
Jan. 26, 2022: PointsBet launches its online casino in West Virginia. The iGaming platform was previously released in Michigan and New Jersey.
The pros and cons of West Virginia sports betting
Sports bettors can open an account with an online sportsbook and place nearly any type of wager from anywhere in West Virginia.
Each retail provider is permitted to host up to three unique sports betting brands — often referred to as “skins.” There are currently just five online options in West Virginia.
Convenience of remote registration
Few limitations for sports bettors
Online betting offered state-wide
Limited sportsbook providers
Glitchy geolocation tracking software
Cut off times for NFL Draft
How to start betting in West Virginia
Sports bettors in West Virginia have the option of traveling to a retail sportsbook to place a physical bet or using an online sportsbook to wager remotely. Both options accept a variety of payment methods and offer a multitude of betting opportunities.
1
Select a sportsbook
West Virginians may not have the largest selection of sportsbooks, but the major players are all operating in the Mountain State.
In order to identify the sportsbook that’s right for you, it’s always a good idea to consider current promotions, betting odds, and bettor reviews.
Now that you’ve narrowed the field and gone over some terms and conditions, it’s time to sign up and place your first bet.
2
Register online
The registration process in West Virginia can be completed in a matter of minutes. Simply enter some personal information, verify your identity with your SSN or driver’s license, and you’re all set.
3
Claim a bonus
Sign-up bonuses are a sportsbook’s way of incentivizing you to choose their platform over that of a competitor. Sportsbooks in West Virginia are no different, as they offer a variety of bonuses to new players. Though these promotions can be enticing, always be sure to read the accompanying terms and conditions carefully.
Here are some of the more popular offerings in the Mountain State:
- Risk-free bets: If your first bet is a losing bet, sportsbooks will refund the amount to your account.
- Deposit match: This bonus is typically tied to a playthrough requirement. Sportsbooks will match your initial deposit — up to a specified amount.
- No deposit bonus: This small bonus doesn’t require a deposit but must be used to place a bet before it can be withdrawn.
4
Choose your bet
Sports bettors in West Virginia are able to get in on the action with all of the popular types of wagers.
These include moneylines, point spreads, Over/Unders (totals,) and parlays. Live bets and futures can also be placed both online and in person.
5
Deposit
West Virginia sports bettors have all of the usual options when depositing funds into their sportsbook account(s). Credit cards, debit cards, PayPal, bank transfers, and prepaid cards can all be used to your balance. It’s also a good idea to keep an eye on the bank and transaction fees associated with deposits.
6
Start betting
Proper research should always be done before confirming your first bet. This includes line shopping for the best odds and understanding which bet types you’re most comfortable with. West Virginia sports bettors can register with multiple sportsbooks to get the best that each has to offer.
7
Withdraw
While sportsbooks will promise instantaneous withdrawals, it’s important to read over the terms of these claims. Deposits are typically immediate, but withdrawals can take longer to process.
Odds explained
Most sports betting sites use American Odds as the default option. Teams favored to win are shown with a minus (-) sign and tell you the amount you have to wager to win $100. For example, -110 odds indicate $110 needs to be wagered in order to take home a profit of $100.
A plus (+) sign will be found next to the underdog. This line shows you what you can win when placing a $100 bet. For example, +120 odds indicate you’d take home $120 in profit if you win a $100 bet. It stands to reason that more favorable betting lines will be found next to underdogs, as these teams are less likely to come out on top.
Some sportsbooks may allow you to view odds as decimals and fractions as well. Our odds converter makes it easy to do this as well.
West Virginia sports betting handle
West Virginia betting has experienced peaks and valleys in the volume of month-to-month sports wagers, but the state appears to have overcome recent setbacks.
Due largely to a six-month stretch of no online sports bets in 2019, West Virginia’s online and retail betting handles are nearly identical.
Over $850 million has been generated in total, with 2021 shaping up to be the biggest year to date. With licenses permitting land-based casinos to partner with up to three skins apiece, the future of West Virginia sports betting looks bright.
Here’s a breakdown of West Virginia sports betting earnings to date:
Yearly breakdown
| Year |
Total handle |
Revenue |
Hold percentage |
Tax revenue |
| 2021 |
- |
- |
- |
- |
| 2020 |
$414M |
$28M |
6.8% |
$2.8M |
| 2019 |
$226M |
$19M |
8.47% |
$1.9M |
| 2018 |
$46M |
$6.5M |
14.1% |
$655K |
Monthly handle
| Year |
Jan |
Feb |
Mar |
Apr |
May |
Jun |
Jul |
Aug |
Sep |
Oct |
Nov |
Dec |
Total |
| 2022 |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
| 2021 |
$50.7M |
$38.2M |
$42.7M |
$34.4M |
$25M |
$29.9M |
$21M |
$22M |
$60.1M |
$61.7M |
$83.1M |
- |
$466.9M |
| 2020 |
$44M |
$39M |
$14.7M |
$2.9M |
$4.9M |
$6.3M |
$15.8M |
$45.9M |
$76.9M |
$44M |
$48.5M |
$70M |
$414M |
| 2019 |
$22M |
$16M |
$13.8M |
$10M |
$10M |
$7.6M |
$5.8M |
$12.6M |
$25.6M |
$37M |
$33M |
$30M |
$223M |
| 2018 |
N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
N/A |
$7.3M |
$9.7M |
$16M |
$13M |
$46M |
What you can't bet on in West Virginia
West Virginians can wager on nearly every sporting event, but there are some limitations. As with other states, bettors are not permitted to place wagers on high school athletes. Here is a rundown of what else is not available to bettors:
Politics
The West Virginia Lottery Commission strictly prohibits gambling on any political event, including Presidential elections.
Awards ceremonies
Celebrity and pop-culture events, such as the Academy Awards, are off-limits.
What about the NFL Draft?
The NFL Draft has turned into a major betting event and West Virginians can partake in the betting action. However, there is a small wrinkle: Betting for the opening round closes 24 hours prior to the start of the draft. This measure is designed to curb any last-minute wagers made in the wake of any news leaks.
What about WV college sports?
Betting on college sports is permitted in West Virginia. Additionally, there are no regulations on player proposition bets or live betting.
What about esports?
West Virginians are welcome to bet on esports. Most sportsbooks in the state should offer betting opportunities for all major esports events.
Legal sportsbooks in West Virginia
West Virginia sports bettors may place wagers with an online sportsbook or visit a retail location to bet on events in person. Mobile apps and sportsbook websites may be used for online betting, while retail sportsbooks can be found in one of West Virginia’s casinos.
West Virginia's online and mobile sportsbooks
| Online sportsbook |
Mobile app |
Odds provider |
Online casino |
Retail partner |
Barstool  |
Yes |
Kambi |
Yes |
Hollywood Casino at Charles Town |
| Betly |
Yes |
IGT |
Yes |
Mardi Gras Casino |
| BetMGM |
Yes |
BetMGM |
Yes |
The Greenbrier Casino Club |
| BetRivers |
Yes |
Kambi |
Yes |
Mountaineer Casino |
| Caesars |
Yes |
William Hill |
Yes |
Mountaineer Casino, Racetrack & Resort |
| DraftKings |
Yes |
SBTech |
Yes |
Hollywood Casino at Charles Town |
| FanDuel |
Yes |
Flutter |
Yes |
The Greenbrier Casino Club |
| Golden Nugget |
Yes |
SBTech |
Yes |
The Greenbrier Casino Club |
| PointsBet |
Yes |
PointsBet |
Yes |
Hollywood Casino at Charles Town Races |
Land-based WV sportsbooks
| Sportsbook |
Venue |
Address |
Phone number |
Odds provider |
| The Betly Sportsbook |
Mardi Gras Casino & Resort |
1 Greyhound Drive, Cross Lanes, WV 25313 |
(304) 776-1000 |
IGT |
| The Betly Sportsbook |
Wheeling Island Hotel-Casino-Racetrack |
1 South Stone Street, Wheeling, WV 26003 |
(304) 232-5050 |
IGT |
| FanDuel Sportsbook |
The Casino Club at The Greenbrier |
101 Main Street West, White Sulphur Springs, WV 24986 |
(855) 453-4858 |
Kambi |
| The Sportsbook |
Hollywood Casino at Charles Town Races |
750 Hollywood Drive, Charles Town, WV 25414 |
(800) 795-7001 |
Kambi |
| William Hill Sportsbook |
Mountaineer Casino, Racetrack & Resort |
1420 Mountaineer Circle, New Cumberland, WV 26047 |
(800) 804-0468 |
William Hill |
Home team advantage: West Virginia sports
The Mountain State is not home to a single professional team, but West Virginians are as passionate about professional and college sports as any other in the nation.
Despite your fandom, it’s important to remain objective when placing bets on your favorite team. Our how to bet guides are a great resource for beginner bettors to learn the basics.
Other types of gambling
The Mountain State is home to five casinos — including four racinos that offer horse and dog racing. Regardless of where you choose to play, you can expect to find droves of classic table games and slots.
Casino
Both online and retail casinos in West Virginia offer much more than sports betting. Players can find more than 4,800 slot machines across the state, while roulette, video poker, and four different variations of blackjack can be enjoyed by West Virginians and their visitors alike.
Legal online casinos in West Virginia have also been known to offer no-deposit bonuses in addition to deposit bonuses, giving gamblers a nice incentive to get started.
Poker
West Virginia poker players can play both online and at a WV casino. There are 61 tables found in five poker rooms in the Mountain State, while players can now test their luck online playing land-based casino games like three card poker, four card poker, and pai gow poker.
Horse racing
There are four racinos in West Virginia — two with horse racing and two featuring greyhound races.
Pari-mutuel bets can be placed on live events at each of WV’s four tracks, while simulcast bettors have the option of wagering on races going on all over the country. Players can also bet remotely with TVG, TwinSpires, TrackInfo, and other online betting apps.
Daily fantasy sports
According to West Virginia Attorney General Patrick Morrisey, daily fantasy sports are perfectly legal in the Mountain State. In a 2016 statement, Morrisey proclaimed DFS did not violate state law, giving these contests de facto legal status.
FanDuel and DraftKings dominate the DFS market in Indiana and can offer better promos, prizes, and contests for Indiana bettors.
Responsible gaming in West Virginia
Like other states with legalized gambling, West Virginia takes problem gambling very seriously. The West Virginia Lottery Commission has taken steps to ensure proper resources are in place for those who need assistance.
Cautionary reminders of the risks associated with gambling can be found in all of WV’s casinos. Additionally, the Compulsive Gambling Treatment fund has been established to support problem gambling initiatives.
Individuals can also voluntarily add themselves to a self-exclusion list by submitting a written request to the director of the Lottery Commission.
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Legal U.S. sports betting markets
The Supreme Court's ruling overturned the long-standing federal ban on sports gambling. West Virginia, and several other states, acted on the legislation that was already in place to offer legalized sports betting. Sports gambling is also legal in these states:
