Sports betting became legal in the United States in 2018 when the Supreme Court ruled that the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act was unconstitutional. There were plenty of states who swiftly passed bills, and West Virginia fell into this category.
The state legalized sports betting in March of 2018, and the law became active after the Supreme Court removed PASPA.
Sports betting went live in the state in August of 2018 with retail wagering at Hollywood Casino. West Virginia legalized mobile and retail sports wagering, but online bets were not taken until December of 2018.
There are five mobile books in the state that are all partnered with a landlocked casino. West Virginia has established itself in the American sports betting market as a significant competitor considering there are no professional teams in the state. Although, there are still hundreds of thousands of sports fans in the state.
The West Virginia Lottery Commission was given the power to control sports wagering in the state. It was no surprise that West Virginia was one of the first states to launch sports betting after PASPA because the government always supported New Jersey in its legal wagering battles.
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Start Your West Virginia Sports Betting Here
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Steps to Start Legal West Virginia Sports Betting
It’s straightforward to start betting on sports in West Virginia if you are of legal age and located in the state. You do not need to be a resident, but you must be within state borders to register for an account and place any wagers.
Your phone or computer will use its GPS software to guarantee that you are in the state. There is no way around the location or age requirement. Here are the steps to begin sports wagering in West Virginia.
- The easiest way to start betting on sports is online through your mobile device or computer.
- Choose which mobile sports betting app you would like to utilize.
- There are no limits to the number of betting apps that you register for in WV.
- Download the app or proceed to the desktop version of the sportsbook.
- Fill in the required information like your name, address, birth date, social security number.
- Once your account is created, you must deposit money to play with on the sportsbook.
- Once you have money in your account, you can begin betting in West Virginia.
[section label=”WV Mobile Betting”]
Mobile Betting Apps in West Virginia
There are not a vast number of sports betting apps in West Virginia. However, this does not mean that the providers in the state are not first-class. The sports betting platforms in West Virginia are exceptional, which has caused the online market to proliferate.
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DraftKings Sportsbook
DraftKings Sportsbook launched on August 28, 2019, in West Virginia. This platform, along with FanDuel, has taken over the state’s market because they were the first two stable mobile books.
DraftKings was approved in September of 2018, but it took three months for the site to find a land-based partner. The biggest complaint that you will hear about DraftKings is that the size of the book can make it feel cluttered.
This magnitude is tough for some people, but it’s suitable for many sports bettors because of the vast list of options. The combination of size with DraftKings’ terrific bonuses makes it a popular choice in West Virginia.
FanDuel Sportsbook
FanDuel has operated a retail sportsbook in West Virginia since September of 2018. Although, the mobile version of the book did not launch until August 26, 2019. FanDuel is regarded as the best overall sportsbook in West Virginia.
The site is not superior to DraftKings in bonuses, but the platform and odds are terrific. The process of placing a wager is simple on FanDuel. The markets on the app are also vast, so you will never be bored on the site.
BetMGM Sportsbook
BetMGM originated as a mobile casino gaming platform. Therefore, it took the site a period of time to offer incredible sports wagering when the form of gambling was adopted. You will receive a $600 risk-free bet on the site, which is an average welcome bonus in the state.
The best part about BetMGM is the recurring bonuses that are constantly circulating through the platform. Also, the site offers speedy withdrawals, which is essential when you win a massive wager.
William Hill Sportsbook
William Hill is a master company for retail sports wagering. Betting shops were how the company originated in the United Kingdom. However, William Hill had made a smooth transition to mobile wagering since 2018, when PASPA was eliminated.
In West Virginia, you will receive a $500 risk-free bet. William Hill is a fantastic prop betting site. If you want to have a great time gaming, you will enjoy all the selections from bookmakers on William Hill.
Betly Sportsbook
Betly Sportsbook is a recent addition to the mobile platforms in West Virginia. This is the least developed sportsbook in the state, but it’s an excellent supplementary platform that’s growing. The sportsbook has limited promotions because it’s still gaining traction.
The markets are limited, which is disappointing. You must take Betly for what it’s worth in a loaded mobile sports wagering state.
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Physical Locations to Bet on Sports in West Virginia
West Virginia is an excellent location for retail sportsbooks. Online wagering still trumps landlocked wagering, but casinos are one of the primary forms of entertainment in the Mountaineer State. Therefore, the landlocked sportsbooks do get plenty of attention throughout the year.
There are five casinos in the state, and three have significant retail sportsbooks. Mardi Gras Casino has betting kiosks for sports betting. Although, I would not call this a retail betting location compared to the properties at Hollywood Casino, The Casino Club, and Mountaineer Casino.
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The Sportsbook at Hollywood Casino Charles Town
The Hollywood Casino is the most significant betting facility in the state. It’s a frequent stop for bettors all over West Virginia. It’s close to the Baltimore and Washington D.C. area, so it’s in a great location. Barstool Sportsbook runs the property.
Sports betting opened at Hollywood Casino in August of 2018. The sportsbook has a 50-foot wall space that’s plastered with 80-inch televisions. It also sits next to the Skybox Sports Bar, so you can eat, drink, and watch the game.
FanDuel Sportsbook at The Casino Club at The Greenbrier Resort
The FanDuel Sportsbook at The Casino Club is a unique sportsbook in the United States. It’s the only legal and private sportsbook in the country. The casino and sportsbook are only available to club members, property owners, and hotel guests.
There is a dress code for the casino, so you will not see any football or baseball jerseys on the property. The property is meant as a luxury benefit rather than a money-making operation like the sportsbook at Hollywood Casino Charles Town.
William Hill Sportsbook at Mountaineer Casino, Racetrack, & Resort
The Mountaineer Casino sits on the bank of the Ohio River, so it’s not frequently visited by most gamblers in the state. Mountaineer Casino makes most of its sports betting money on William Hill’s mobile sportsbook.
The book is a lovely property. It’s loaded with luxury seating and surrounded by a video wall. If you are in the area, you should stop by the property to check out the sportsbook.
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Future West Virginia Sports Betting Venues & Locations
It’s unlikely that West Virginia is going to expand retail sports wagering. The state has no professional sports teams, and college stadiums will not build retail betting properties. However, it’s possible that hospitality organizations could open retail books in the future.
– Bars
– Restaurants
– Sports Bars
– Future Professional Sports Venues
– Minor League Stadiums
– Gas Stations
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West Virginia Sports Betting Regulation & Laws
The West Virginia legislature began the push for sports wagering in 2017. The state was one of the sports wagering pioneers with New Jersey, who led the legal battles for the legalization of the form of gambling.
West Virginia undoubtedly supported New Jersey once the state government proclaimed that sports betting would enter the market before it was legalized in the United States.
West Virginia Delegate Shawn Fluharty introduced the first sports betting bill, H 2751, in March of 2017. http://www.wvlegislature.gov/Bill_Status/bills_history.cfm?INPUT=2751&year=2017&sessiontype=RS
The bill did not significantly progress, but it started the conversation about legal sports betting in West Virginia. The bill had the goal of adding language to the state constitution that would enable sports betting.
Delegate Fluharty reintroduced his sports wagering bill in 2018 because the bill was supported by many legislators in 2017. The Senate matched his bill with S 106 because of the support for the form of gambling. http://www.wvlegislature.gov/Bill_Status/bills_history.cfm?INPUT=106&year=2018&sessiontype=RS
Neither bill was passed, but a third piece of legislation was the one that made the ultimate difference in the legislature. S 415 was a new bill that was much more detailed than the other two pieces of legislation. http://www.wvlegislature.gov/Bill_Status/bills_history.cfm?INPUT=415&year=2018&sessiontype=RS
The licensing renewal fee was set at $100,000, and the tax rate was 10% on the total revenue for all providers. The Senate and House passed the bill in February, and the matching House bill passed soon after titled H 4396. http://www.wvlegislature.gov/Bill_Status/Bills_history.cfm?input=4396&year=2018&sessiontype=RS&btype=bill
The passage of S 415 and H 4396 etched WV into the record books because they were the first state to pass a sports betting bill in 2018. At this time, professional sports leagues saw the writing on the wall.
Sports leagues initially opposed sports betting, but they decided to conform with a list of demands because it was apparent that it would be legalized in the United States. The primary demand was that the states pay the leagues an integrity fee of 1% on the total handle.
Once the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act was overturned, West Virginia quickly enacted sports betting. The law had already been passed, so it was a swift launch for sports wagering in the Mountaineer State.
Retail betting began on August 30, 2018, at the Hollywood Casino. Online gaming launched on December 27, 2018, with BetLucky Sportsbook. BetLucky folded, which demolished online betting for an extended period.
BetLucky ended operations on March 29, 2019, and there were no mobile books in the state until FanDuel launched on August 26, 2019. Sports betting was a losing venture in the Mountaineer State without mobile betting. FanDuel and DraftKings kept sports betting afloat and helped the industry prosper in West Virginia.
What are the Tax Rates for the Retail and Online Sports Betting Operators in WV?
It’s no surprise that major sportsbooks operate in West Virginia because of the competitive tax rates. West Virginia has one of the lowest tax rates in the country for mobile and online betting operators.
The state legislature set the tax rate at 10% of revenue after all clients are paid out for winnings during the month. Usually, states have one high tax rate or different percentages that mobile and retail betting operators are forced to pay. This is not the case in West Virginia which makes it an appealing state for betting providers.
Legal West Virginia Sports Betting Timeline
– The sports betting legislative process began in 2017 when West Virginia Delegate Shawn Fluharty introduced H 2751.
– H 2751 had the goal of changing the language in the state constitution to create an easy road for sports betting in WV.
– Fluharty reintroduced the bill in 2018.
– There was also a complimentary bill in the Senate titled S 106.
– Neither of these bills made progress, but a sports betting bill was passed in 2018.
– S 415 and H 4396 were passed in 2018, and these bills allowed legal sports betting in West Virginia.
– The tax rate was set at 10%, and the annual licensing fee was $100,000.
– The Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act was overturned in 2018 by the Supreme Court, which allowed WV to enact the betting law.
– The first retail bet was taken in West Virginia on August 30, 2018.
List of Sports Wagers Allowed in West Virginia
There are no limits on the types of sports wagers that can be placed in the state.
– Moneyline: Picking a winner straight up.
– Point spread: An amount that a team must win by or be within.
– Totals: The most common total is the over/under.
– Props: Side wagers on things that may happen. Typically revolve around players.
– Live betting: Real-time wagers with constantly changing odds.
– Futures: A bet on a future outcome.
– Parlays: A traditional wager grouped together. All legs must hit for a successful bet.
– Teasers: Spread or total bets where the bettor can put the odds in their favor.
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West Virginia Sports betting Bonuses & Bonus Codes
West Virginia sports betting is loaded with bonus opportunities because of the providers that operate in the state. FanDuel and DraftKings are both known for significant bonuses, which has proven true in the Mountaineer State.
West Virginia betting has become a significant market in the United States because of the bonus codes. WV online betting has most of the bonuses, but retail wagering facilities still offer bonuses. The most common bonus for West Virginia sports wagering involves new players.
The typical WV online betting bonus for new players is either a risk-free bet or a deposit match. The best books offer a substantial reward, so keep this in mind in the state.
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Illinois Promos, Promo Codes and Promotions
It’s common for sportsbooks to offer promotions that involve the professional sports teams in the state. West Virginia sports betting sites do not have this luxury because there are no major professional franchises that compete in the state.
The West Virginia Mountaineers are the favorite college in the state. WV sports wagering sites will often create promotions around the football and basketball teams. Additionally, there are West Virginia sports betting promotions for major events like the Super Bowl, World Series, NBA Finals, and Stanley Cup Finals.
The promotions for these events vary in West Virginia online betting. The standard promotions you will find are odd, and profit boosts free bets and gear giveaways.
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Best Illinois Sports Betting Cities
Sports betting is massive in West Virginia, considering the size of the state. However, a few locations stand out for the best betting cities in the state.
Morgantown
Morgantown is the home of the University of West Virginia. West Virginia is the state’s largest and most popular public university. There are no casinos in Morgantown, but students from the university who are over 21 heavily bet on the available mobile sportsbooks.
Charles Town
Charles Town is the most significant betting city in West Virginia for a couple of reasons. Charles Town is right on the border of Maryland, so it’s very close to Washington D.C. and Baltimore. Visitors from these areas and WV as a whole visit Charles Town because of the Hollywood Casino. Nearly three-quarters of the retail bets in the state are placed at the Hollywood Casino.
Charleston
The capital of West Virginia is Charleston. The city is the most prominent part of the state. There are no casinos in Charleston, but online betting is significant in the area because of the number of people in the area.
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WV Teams to Bet On
There are no professional sports teams in West Virginia to bet on, but this does not stop residents from placing in-state wagers. Two colleges are very popular for college athletics in WV.
These two schools are the West Virginia Mountaineers and the Marshall Thundering Herd. The football and basketball programs are what most bettors wager in the state.
West Virginia Mountaineers Football
The Mountaineers’ first football season occurred in 1891. The team is currently in the Big 12 Conference. They have won 16 bowl games as of 2020, and they play at Mountaineer Field, which holds 60,000 people.
West Virginia Mountaineers Basketball
West Virginia basketball has been very successful relative to other national programs. The team has been to 30 NCAA Tournaments since 1955. The Mountaineers lost in the National Championship in 1959. Their last Final Four appearance occurred in 2010.
Marshall Thundering Herd Football
Marshall football is second to the Mountaineers. However, the team is still supported in the state. The Thundering Herd play in Conference USA. They have won the conference on 13 occasions, and they have won two FCS National Championships before moving up to the FBS.
Marshall Thundering Herd Basketball
Marshall basketball has won the Conference USA Tournament Championship four times, with their latest coming in 2018. The team plays at the Cam Henderson Center, which holds just over 9,000 people. The team made it to the second round of the NCAA Tournament once in 2018.
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West Virginia Sports Betting Revenue Numbers
West Virginia sports betting revenue numbers have been highly sporadic since the start of the industry for various reasons. Mobile betting disappeared for an extended period in 2019. This hurt West Virginia’s revenue, and then the COVID-19 pandemic shut down sports and retail betting.
The state seems to be bouncing back in a significant way in 2021. Here are the revenue numbers dating back to the beginning of 2020.
– January 2020: $2,203,189
– February 2020: $821,614
– March 2020: $1,101,454
– April 2020: $124,415
– May 2020: $571,831
– June 2020: $567,836
– July 2020: $1,212,678
– August 2020: $2,337,229
– September 2020: $4,119,539
– October 2020: $4,227,050
– November 2020: $4,407, 576
– December 2020: $4,761,108
– January 2021: $8,762,884
– February 2021: $1,551,488
Quick Glance at West Virginia Gambling & Industries
West Virginia was a leading gambling economy before the inception of sports wagering in 2018. That is a prime reason why the state was so quick to pass a sports wagering bill.
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West Virginia Horse Racing Status
West Virginia has live horse and dog racing at the state’s casinos. The most popular track in the state is at the Hollywood Casino. There are a total of four tracks that are scattered throughout the state. Horse racing is very popular because there are no live professional sporting events.
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DFS / Daily Fantasy Sports in WV
Fantasy sports have been legal in a de facto manner since 2016. The West Virginia Attorney General approved DFS unofficially, which allowed providers to continue operating in the Mountaineer State. DFS is not considered a game of chance in WV. Therefore, it’s not under the discretion of the WV Lottery Commission.
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West Virginia Online Casino Play
Online casinos are legal in WV. DraftKings Casino was the first site to offer online games in July of 2020. There are three live online casino sites in WV: DraftKings, FanDuel, and BetMGM. This industry is expected to expand in the coming years.
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West Virginia Online Lottery
An online lottery is one of the few gaming features that is not legal in West Virginia. All lottery tickets must be purchased in person.
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West Virginia Poker Rules
Poker is legal in West Virginia in the state’s casinos. It’s also legal through online casinos like DraftKings, FanDuel, and BetMGM. The first online poker launched through DraftKings Casino in July of 2020.
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WV Esports Scene
West Virginia Esports betting is legal. It was included in the original gaming bill that was passed in 2017. The state legislature has seen the impact of Esports on offshore books, and they wanted to capitalize on this financial prosperity.
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How to Become a Sports Betting Affiliate in West Virginia
To become a sports betting affiliate, a platform must seek a license from the West Virginia Lottery Commission. After a permit is granted, they need to have a landlocked casino partnership. The annual license fee is $100,000, and the tax rate is 10%.
[section label=”WV Betting FAQ”]
FAQ for West Virginia Betting
1. Is it legal to bet on sports in West Virginia?
Yes, it’s legal to bet on sports in West Virginia.
2. Does West Virginia offer mobile sports betting or retail only?
West Virginia offers mobile and retail betting.
3. Can I sign up to bet on sports in WV remotely, or do I have to physically visit the retail sportsbook location?
You can sign up for sports betting remotely in West Virginia.
4. Who regulates West Virginia sports betting?
The West Virginia Lottery Commission regulates sports betting in the state.
5. When was West Virginia sports betting legalized?
WV sports betting was legalized in March of 2018, but the industry could not launch until the Professional, and Amateur Sports Protection Act was overturned.
6. Who placed the first bet in the state of WV?
The first bet was placed at the Hollywood Casino Sportsbook.
7. Can you bet on “in state” college games in West Virginia?
Yes, you can bet on in state college games and teams like the West Virginia Mountaineers and Marshall Thundering Herd.
8. Are wagers for all professional sports leagues and teams accepted in WV?
Yes, wagers for all professional leagues and teams are accepted in the state.
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Latest West Virginia Sports Betting News
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