Sports Betting in West Virginia (2023)

West Virginia Sports Betting

Online sports betting in West Virginia is live and legal. West Virginia shocked the world when its state legislature passed the WV Lottery Sports Wagering Act. This act was passed in 2018, allowing residents and visitors to enjoy wagering on sports.

The situation around the bill is unique. First, it made its way to the Senate, spending less than two weeks on deliberation, adjustment, and voting. Then it proceeded to the house and had the same free passage. The bill, passed by both the Senate and The House, did not get the authorized signature of the Governor. However, the bill is valid.

Being one of the first states to embrace betting in the US, West Virginia sports betting has taken an impressive trajectory. Beyond the brick-and-mortar establishments, individuals within the state are permitted to explore online sports betting in West Virginia.

Currently, the sports betting market in WV is mind-blowing. The state has pulled in a whooping sum of $46,633,656 between June 2019 and January 2021. West Virginia sports betting generated more income in that same duration than the Big Apple state. Several comparisons have been made alongside the record of New York state, which, of course, has a higher population.

Are Online Sportsbooks Legal in WV?

Online sportsbooks are legal in West Virginia. Sports betting in West Virginia was live in 2018. Retail WV sportsbooks began operation in August 2018, while online sportsbooks were launched in December.

As mentioned earlier, the bill did not get the signature of the Governor. But it passed through both the Senate and the House. The bill was to amend the existing Code of West Virginia by adding a new article.

The bill allows individuals aged 21 or more to place sports bets in retail sportsbooks or online. Also, users have to be within the state to place bets online. The state also licenses WV online casinos. The license allows the casino to offer multiple branded sportsbook platforms. However, each platform must show the name of the casino that granted it the license.

A Quick Review of WV Sports Betting Laws

• In 2018, with enough bipartisan support, the SB 415 WV Lottery Sports Wagering Act was passed.
• The West Virginian Lottery Commission was empowered by the law to offer license and shut down illegal operations
• Online sportsbooks are required to partner with brick-and-mortar West Virginia casinos
• Users can wager via mobile devices within the state
• Wagering is not allowed on high school sports
• Pro and college sports can be wagered on
• All individuals who participate in online sports betting must be at least 21 years old.

The Governing Body

The West Virginia Lottery Commission is responsible for enforcing the sports betting laws in the state. The commission was created in 1985 and is burdened with regulating and licensing sports betting activities. Through this, they collect the correct tax. In addition, the commission is focused on auditing, ensuring the casinos are not manipulating the numbers.

Essentially, the commission serves as a watchdog. They focus on the sportsbook activities, ensuring they adhere to the general laws. Also, they provide rules that help smoothen gambling at these establishments on-site or online.

Certain rules demand operators to have security in place regarding any unusual wagering activities. Casinos operators must ensure that off-sites wagers are not from outside the state at the time of the wager. The operator is to use geolocation technology to check the location of the bettors online. The commission cross-checks all these procedures.

Although sports betting became legal in 2018, the commission has been effective regarding lottery operations. The Governor appoints members with the approval of the Senate. By law, the commission comprises seven members comprising a certified public accountant, a lawyer, a marketing specialist, a computer expert, and a law enforcement expert. The remaining two members represent the public.

Why Choose A Legal Betting site in WV for Your Online Wagering?

We cannot overemphasize the importance of choosing legal gambling sites in West Virginia. These sites are vetted and scrutinized before they are allowed into the gambling space. Also, they are required to operate under specific rules and regulations. Violation of these rules would lead to facing the consequences such as losing their license.

Bettors who choose online sports betting on West Virginian betting sites are guaranteed fair play, great odds, safe and secured payment channels, software encryptions, and much more. We cannot say that this is the same structure offshore betting operators have; it would be detrimental to assume they do.

The West Virginia Lottery Commission regulates all betting sites in West Virginia. The commission ensures every sportsbook follows the rules and regulations regarding sports betting. They ensure sports betting products and winnings are not manipulated. We cannot say the same for offshore bookies. It would be a risk to sign up with such operators.

In summary, here are a couple of valid reasons why you should play on a legal WV online betting site instead of an oversee site.

• Sportsbooks operators are compelled to follow the rules and regulations of sports betting
• Customer protection is guaranteed as sportsbooks invest a lot into software encryption
• Payouts, bonus offers, rewards, and promotions are valid

Top Sportsbooks in West Virginia (2023)

Considering the revenue generated through sports betting in West Virginia, it would suggest that individuals in West Virginia love wagering on sports events. We believe that exploring the betting market with a top-rated sportsbook is vital to every gambler’s journey.

Here, we provide helpful information about the best West Virginia sports betting operators. This section also provides details about their license status, regulatory body, and other necessary details that would help you make a well-informed decision.

DraftKings – 9.5/10

✅Live In-Game  

✅Special Bets on Sports like NFL

✅Multiple Payment Channels

DraftKings is an impressive dominant sportsbook operator that began its online activities in New Jersey. With consistency, they expanded into other states like North Carolina, Michigan, Colorado, Iowa, Virginia, and West Virginia. The brand, through Penn National Gaming, has worked its way into the hearts and warmth of individuals in West Virginia with the best sportsbook products.  West Virginia Lottery Commission regulates its operations.

To sign up on DraftKings, bettors don’t need any promo codes. Look out for the link or visit the website to register. The sportsbook operator is generous with its bonus offers. Both new and regular bettors are offered numerous promotions. The DraftKings app can be downloaded via the google play store or Apple store and is compatible with these devices.

With DraftKings online sportsbook, bettors in West Virginia get all the fun they would get at a brick-and-mortar gaming floor. The operator has an incredible list of sports that it offers, such as soccer, baseball, football, hockey, basketball, golf, boxing, motorsports, etcetera. Live In-Game options for soccer, baseball, tennis, table tennis, golf, darts, and cricket, are also available.

Players enjoy a variety of wager types such as Futures, Game Lines, Over/under, Point Spread, Pool, Moneyline, Round Robin, Parlays, and many more exciting options.

The sportsbook provides bettors with the option of controlling their gaming. Self-exclusion, Cool Off, and Player limit are featured to help players gamble responsibly. Payment channels are safe and relatively fast. DraftKings guarantees customer support and protection throughout your time on the platform.

BetMGM – 9/10

✅Rewards and Promotions  

✅Legal Sportsbook  

✅Mobile Apps Available

BetMGM was launched in West Virginia in January 2020. The sportsbook operator partners with Greenbrier casinos to offer sports betting services to bettors in the state. The West Virginia Lottery Commission approves the operation of BetMGM. Bettors who choose this operator have to be at least 21 years.

Creating an account with BetMGM is pretty simple. Bettors are automatically included in their M Life Program. BetMGM offers exciting offers for all its players. BetMGM, bettors can explore a vast betting market that includes NFL, MLB, NBA, NHL, MLS, College Football, Football, PGA Tour, soccer, tennis, and much more. In addition, live betting is available for sports such as basketball, hockey, soccer, golf, table tennis, darts, tennis, snooker, etcetera. Bettors can opt for the cash-out wagering, where they can get their winnings before the game ends.

Betting options are impressive. Knowing how to use them would make a difference in your betting adventure. Points spread, totals, moneyline, futures, parlays, live betting can all be explored.

Furthermore, BetMGM boosts a top-class website with a thrilling interface that is easy to navigate. Although it has a search box, every sport can easily be selected from the home page. There are multiple payment methods to help you make deposits and withdrawals.

For convenience, BetMGM has a sportsbook app. The app is compatible with both IOS and Android devices. Beyond the resolution of your phone, there is no difference whether you play on the website or app.

Caesars Sportsbook – 9/10

✅Easy to Navigate

✅competitive Odds

✅Early Cash Out Option

Caesars sportsbook is one of the best sportsbooks available in West Virginia. The British sportsbook giant has created a successful business with technical proficiency, a wealth of experience, and talent. On expansion, the sportsbook bought William Hill in 2021 and now benefits from its existing betting platform.

Mountaineer Casino, as a land-based casino, partners with Caesars sportsbook. West Virginia Lottery Commission is responsible for licensing its operations. Currently, Caesars sportsbook offers the best bonuses in the US. New players are eligible for the biggest risk-free bet. There are several rewards and promotions for existing users.

Sports covered by Caesars include:

• Soccer
• Tennis
• Auto Racing
• Basketball
• UFC/MMA
• Basketball
• College football

Caesars sportsbook focuses on significant leagues in the country such as MLB, NHL, NBA, NCAAB. The betting market on sports such as football, baseball, basketball, or hockey is vibrant. We found more than a hundred betting markets for users to select from, and it is possible to compile some.

Caesars sportsbook offers users competitive odds, above average. They compete with the top dogs in the gambling space. Payouts can quickly be initiated and completed. There are multiple payment methods to channel your winnings. Deposits are relatively fast, depending on what methods you select.

The mobile app is also referred to as the Liberty App. The app is great to use, offers top-class functionality and a beautiful interface. Users can quickly place a wager without obstruction. In addition, contacting customer support or cashier is easy via the app.

PointsBet – 8/10

✅Parlay Boosters

✅ Risk-free bets

✅Customer Protection  

Online sports betting West Virginia got a new player in 2019. PointBet was first launched in New Jersey but found its way to WV due to excellent services, colossal betting market, parlay boosters, etcetera. Despite the competition by other sportsbook operators, PointsBet was determined to own a part of the market. As required, the West Virginia Lottery Commission approves the brand in WV and the partnership is with Mountaineer Casino.

The local flare the sportsbook has is easily noticed. PointsBet is committed to teams in West Virginia. For instance, they seek the services of former professional players from WV as spokespersons. PointsBet has a wide variety of sports, hundreds of leagues, in-play games, and huge betting markets. Bettors have more betting options here than any other sportsbook in the state.

The odds are similar to what other operators offer. However, bettors can take advantage of early lines, and the sportsbook is more inclined to boost the odds of local teams. As mentioned earlier, local teams are where bettors can have an edge.

The customer service is one of the best. The live chat feature is easy and accessible on whatever device you use. In essence, they are quick to respond to your complaints. Bettors can enjoy placing wagers via the website or app. The app is compatible with all devices. PointsBet is more than a betting site; it is home. Bettors get to create an incredible betting experience at this premium bookie.

FanDuel – 9/10

✅Odds Boost

✅ Early Cash Out

✅ In-Play Betting

FanDuel is an Irish sports betting operator that is operated and owned by Flutter Entertainment. The betting operator capitalized on the Supreme Court ruling on PASPA and the large customer base to offer its services to U.S residents. Few operators can match its impressive catalog of sports markets, rewards and promotions, bet types, and odds boosts.

Although PASPA has been overruled, sports betting is still not legalized in most states. However, FanDuel is present in every state where legalized online sports betting is welcomed in West Virginia. FanDuel Partners with the Greenbrier casino and is licensed by the West Virginia Lottery Commission.

FanDuel is known for its Daily Fantasy Sports products. The operator covers major US sports and has lots of contests for players to select. Essentially, FanDuel sportsbook covers niche sports and other international leagues such as Aussie Rules, Basketball, Boxing, Baseball, Cricket, Football, Darts, Golf, soccer, Motorsports, Table Tennis, and much more.

User experience with the site is top-notch. Bettors can easily navigate through the clean interface. The home page is correctly organized into tabs to ensure you quickly get gaming. Notable features include Live sports betting, odds boost, cash out, same game parlay, etcetera. In addition, the FanDuel app is available for IOS and Android devices.

How We Compare The Best WV Sportsbooks

It is natural for readers to ask questions about how we reviewed these sites. And we have to provide you with facts and not just some gibberish answers. New players and regular players have a common goal – to bet on the best West Virginia sportsbook.

Here in this section, we have provided you with some criteria we considered before putting out our review. In addition, we want you to know we don’t have any favorite or do our job with emotions. Each of these criteria is responsible for our ratings.

Legal Sportsbook

The first criteria to consider in choosing a betting site is ensuring the legality of the preferred sportsbook. Every West Virginia sports betting operator we reviewed is legal and licensed. We take the safety of our readers seriously and would not want to put anyone in a terrible situation. There is no guarantee of customer protection at illegal sportsbooks. We know this, and That is why we take this criterion seriously.

West Virginia Lottery Commission issues license to online sportsbook operators in the state. They also oversee their operations, carrying out routine checks. Look out for the seal of the commission on any sportsbook you decide to go with.

Payment Methods

Sports betting in West Virginia is impossible without real money. Once you sign up for a sportsbook operator, you need to fund your account to play real money games. This is where you have to check out the payment options available. We understand that West Virginia sportsbooks may not have every payment channel available. However, they should have the best.

Some payment methods we look out for are:

• Credit Cards
• Debit Cards
• Prepaid Cards
• E-Wallets
• Cryptocurrencies
• Bank Transfers
• Checks

Aside from these payment channels, we also consider the durations for these transactions to be complete. We observed that some sites could hold onto the funds before releasing them. Also, each sportsbook has a minimum and maximum withdrawal amount. All said and done, you won’t find such details with an illegal sportsbook. In essence, your funds are not safe.

Sports and Betting Markets

Sportsbooks with a wide range of sports and betting markets always catch our attention. For most bettors, having a lot of options is essential to building a great gambling experience. While we carry out our survey, we look for sites with a good range of options. Sports market could include:

• NHL
• NFL
• NBA
• MMA
• MLB
• Soccer
• Golf
• Cycling
• Darts
• Cricket
• Tennis

High Betting Odds

Gambling is centered on making the correct prediction. Players love to win big in the game. One crucial way to win big in West Virginia sports betting is high odds. The high odds are pretty risky yet offer players a quick way to earn more.

Generally, odds are calculated in American, Decimal, and fractional depending on the online sports betting West Virginia operator you sign up for. We checked out each operator while doing our review and found out those with high and competitive odds. High betting odds were an important consideration in what sportsbook operator offered the best services.

Mobile Experience and Apps

With the reach of technology, sports betting in West Virginia can be done with more convenience. Sportsbooks have been able to provide users with a mobile experience and sports betting apps. Now, players can bet on the go. There is no need to stay behind your desktop. With a mobile device, you are good to go.

We selected sites with mobile experience and apps. Betting is more fun on mobile devices. Apps can be downloaded via google store or App store, depending on your device. There is no difference between playing on the desktop and your mobile device. It is the same user experience.

Customer Support

There are chances that you would encounter some difficulties while using your preferred bookie. This is why sportsbooks have a customer support team. All inquiries or complaints are channeled to the team. While compiling our research, we included operators with excellent customer service. We considered the channels of communication and their availability.

Customer agents of West Virginia sportsbook operators are available round the clock. They are well-informed professionals who know the right direction to point you. Players can reach out via email, phone, or live chat. They offer fast and responsive support to players experiencing some difficulty. Also, it is important you read the FAQs on the sites. Most answers are already provided in that section.

Welcome Bonuses and Promotions

One primary reason why players create multiple betting accounts is bonus offers. The hunt for bettors by sportsbooks is highly competitive, and they throw incentives like huge bonuses and rewards to shift the market in their direction. In essence, sportsbooks attract most players with their offers.

There are lots of bonuses for newbies. Regular players are not left out because they must keep using the sportsbook as a primary betting account. However, new players are eligible for bonus offers like no deposit bonus, reload bonus, match bonus, free bets, etcetera.

The match bonus or deposit bonus is prevalent among West Virginia sports betting operators. No deposit offers are rare; if you do find them, grab them quickly. As a customary practice, we always advise bettors not to get too excited about a welcome bonus. You would do yourself a favor to maintain your calm and read the terms and conditions. Most times, the devil is cleverly hidden in those fine prints.

Promotions are majorly for existing players. As earlier mentioned, sportsbooks understand that the welcome offer effect won’t last long, and they need to keep players on the platform active. Often, they give them a boost in loyalty programs, promotional offers, and many others.

Furthermore, sites could create some competition among bettors – Leaderboards. Bettors go against each other for rewards. The sportsbook rewards a player for staying on the site.

Live Streaming

The live feature experience is vital for fans of brick-and-mortar casinos. Bettors who love interaction would find this feature exciting. Essentially, bettors feel close to the action, and the effect is impressive. Also, bettors prefer live streaming to keep up with their bets.

We could not create a review ignoring the need for live streaming. Sports betting is more than just wagering; it is the feeling of participating that is something extraordinary. Sportsbook with the live feature score more points in our rating.

How to Create a Sports Betting Account in West Virginia

Creating a West Virginia sports betting account is easy. Like every other sportsbook, the procedures are nearly the same. Here, we will walk you through these easy steps.