On this page, we’ll explore the legal state of sports betting in West Virginia and how to wager on sports in the Mountain State. In addition, we will provide you with a list of the best sports betting sites in WV.

Yes, online sports betting is completely legal in West Virginia. The Mountain State was among the first states in the US to legalize retail and online sports betting after the Supreme Court struck down the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act of 1992.

Currently, several popular sports betting brands are available in Mountain State, including FanDuel, BetMGM, PointBet, and Caesars. Also, West Virginia players can wager on Daily Fantasy Sports (DFS) via PrizePicks. The increase in Daily Fantasy Sports providers offers WV players an easy and fast way to wager on their favorite players across a variety of sports leagues.

Best sports betting sites in West Virginia

The Mountain State was one of the first states in the US to offer legal retail sportsbooks and online sports betting, so you can expect to find a good number of sportsbooks. To help you pick the best online sports betting sites, we have thoroughly examined the West Virginia gambling market to find the best online sportsbooks with great bonuses, a wide range of sports coverage, and transparent T&Cs. We have put together a list of six sportsbooks to help you pick WV sports betting operators that offer a top gambling experience.

DraftKings West Virginia

Launched in West Virginia in August 2018, DraftKings entered the WV sports betting market two weeks after its competitor FanDuel launched. DraftKings is fully licensed and regulated by the West Virginia Lottery Commission. In addition, the operator has a long-standing partnership with Penn National.

DraftKings offers West Virginia punters a wide range of sports to bet on, including basketball, baseball, MMA, ice hockey, boxing, as well as international soccer competitions. Each sport offers a wide range of events for players to wager on. Some of the markets that players can wager on include Moneyline, totals, props, and point spread.

DraftKings also offers players various bonuses and promotional offers.

UniBet West Virginia

UniBet is legal and licensed in many states in the United States, including West Virginia. The UniBet betting brand dates back to the late 90s, making it one of the leading gaming operators in the world.

Usability is one of the main unique selling points of UniBet sportsbooks. Players can easily access each section of the site. Placing a bet with the operator is also pretty simple, and it should take a few minutes to complete the process.

The desktop site is attractive and packed full of excellent features, while the app works across all mobile devices. On top of that, UniBet offers bonuses and promotional offers.

FanDuel West Virginia

FanDuel was the first sports betting brand to launch in West Virginia, and they quickly became the WV bettors’ favorite. Some of the obvious reasons for FanDuel sportsbook’s rapid growth in West Virginia include bonuses and promotions, a user-friendly interface, wide sports and market coverage, and great customer support. DraftKings sportsbook entered the Mountain State through a partnership with a private club in White Sulphur Springs called The Greenbrier.

BetMGM West Virginia

BetMGM is the online betting section of MGM international and the brand has invested so much in it over the past couple of years in order to be among the leading brands in the United States sports gaming market. The operator launched in West Virginia in January 2020 through a partnership with The Greenbrier. West Virginia players can access BetMGM using their computers, or mobile devices using their sports betting app. Also, the operator has free bets, occasional reload bonuses and many other promotions for its West Virginia bettors.

Caesars West Virginia

Since sports betting became legal in West Virginia, the Mountain State bettors began wagering on their favorite sports on the go, and Caesars sportsbook is among the operators that made it possible. Caesar Sportsbook entered the West Virginia sports betting market on August 5, 2021, after they successfully acquired a renowned bookmaking brand, William Hill. Caesar sportsbook operates in the Mountain State in partnership with the Mountaineer Casino Racetrack & Resort.

PointsBet West Virginia

PointsBet offers legal internet sports betting in West Virginia via a market access agreement with Penn National Gaming, the parent company of Hollywood Casino at Charles Town Races. Since PointBet sportsbook received West Virginia Lottery Commission approval, the operator has constantly increased its sports betting menu and announced a regular flow of promotional offers. In addition, PointBet runs on the latest SSL encryption technology and has responsive and professional customer support.

Timeline of online sports betting in WV

  • 2017 — First West Virginia sports betting bills appear, a study commissioned, and initial steps taken.
  • 2018 — State enacts sports betting bill, stiff-arms sports leagues in WV.
  • 2019 — The rise of internet sports betting, legalization and implementation of these laws.
  • 2020 — Online sports betting keeps rising as pandemic hits.

How to bet on sports online in West Virginia

The rise of online sports betting over the last few years has been incredible, it is easier than before to wager on sports. There are plenty of sports betting locations in West Virginia, but many bettors still prefer using online betting sites these days. If you are new to the West Virginia sports betting landscape, below is the step-by-step guide on how to get started.

1. Pick a legal and reputable West Virginia online sports betting site

The first step to getting started with WV online sports betting is to find and pick a legal and reputable internet betting site. However, the key to picking the best online sportsbook to wager with is to thoroughly examine all factors that will ensure an enjoyable and secure online betting experience. The five critical factors that you should carefully examine when picking a WV online sports betting site include the availability of wagering options, banking speed, security and safety, betting limits and odds, and mobile compatibility.

In order to have the best gambling experience, you must consider the factors listed above. However, we understand that a lot of work goes into this process, so we have done the heavy lifting for you. So you can simply pick any of our recommended online gambling sites above.

2. Create a West Virginia online sports betting account

Once you find a reputable online sports wagering site, the next step is to create an account. The steps take only a few minutes to complete. To create an account, visit your chosen sports betting brand’s website and click on the “Join” button on the homepage. Next, fill in the required information and follow the on-screen instruction to finish the registration process. The information the online sportsbook will ask you to provide includes your full legal name, email address, residential address, phone number, password, username, and date of birth.

That is the bare minimum many online betting sites ask, some sportsbooks may ask for more information. Some may even ask you to verify your email address by clicking on a link sent to your email. So be sure to sign-up with a real email address.

3. Make a real money deposit

You need to add funds to your online sports betting account before you can begin to bet on sports online. Many West Virginia online sportsbooks offer a good number of online banking options. Exactly what is available will depend on the online sports betting site you are using. The most popular payment methods that you are likely to find on many West Virginia betting sites include credit cards and debit cards, e-wallets, prepaid cards, gift cards, person-to-person, and wire transfers.

Irrespective of how much you want to deposit, at least one of the methods above will be perfect for you. However, it is essential to be careful with electronic wallets, as not many operators accept them when it comes to promotional like sign up bonuses at betting sites for example.

4. Start wagering on your favorite sports

Once your account is up and running, and you have funds in it, the next step is to start betting on your favorite sports. To start betting visit the gaming site, login, and check what markets are available. The list of betting options that you’ll find in many West Virginia online sportsbooks includes totals, moneyline bets, futures, point spreads, and props bets.

Who regulates online sports betting in WV?

The Lottery Commission regulates sports wagering in the Mountain State. It is the Commission’s duty to oversee licensing, ensure compliance and audits all licenses at least once per year. In addition, the Commission is also authorized to go into agreements with other jurisdictions and states to facilitate cross-border sports wagering.

West Virginia internet sports betting brands are also subject to a multitude of laws designed to protect the integrity of sports gambling, ensure consumer protection, and promote responsible gaming.

Revenue made by sports betting in West Virginia

The West Virginia Lottery commission releases the Mountain State’s sports wagering revenue details for legal sportsbooks every week. Those include Mountaineer plus BetMGM Sportsbook and FanDuel Sportsbook, Mardi Gras and betly, Hollywood Charles Town plus PointsBet and DraftKings Sportsbook, and Wheeling Island and betly.

The reporting week starts on Saturday and runs through Friday. The report includes the total amount wagered, total profits after paying winnings, and total amount generated for West Virginia.

This West Virginia sports wagering revenue report is generated and updated each month by reorganizing the official weekly information.

FAQ

What is the minimum age to bet on online sports in West Virginia?

In accordance with the West Virginia online sports betting law, you must be 21 years or above before you can bet on sports betting with a legal sportsbook in West Virginia. That being said, some offshore betting sites only require their bettors to be 18 years and above. However, we don't recommend that our players wager with offshore online betting sites. The reason is that most of the offshore betting sites are not trustworthy, meaning that they can cheat you of your winnings.

Do I need to pay tax on online sports betting wins in WV?

Yes, you need to pay tax on online sports betting wins in West Virginia. Like other forms of betting winnings, funds you get from sports gaming count as income. Players must pay federal income taxes on all gambling winnings irrespective of the amount. Besides federal taxes, players will also need to pay state taxes. WV betting winnings are subjected to 24 percent federal tax. This tax is automatically withheld on betting winnings that exceed a particular threshold. The Mountain State's tax rates range from 2 percent to 5.75 percent. However, it does not take much, a yearly income of over $17,000, for the maximum percentage to kick in.

Do sports betting sites need a license in West Virginia?

Yes, before an online sportsbook can operate legally in West Virginia they need a license from the West Virginia sports betting regulatory authorities. The body in charge of West Virginia sports betting is the WV Lottery Commission. So it is essential for players to only wager with sports betting sites that are properly licensed and regulated in the state. Playing with sports betting brands that are regulated by the appropriate gaming authorities in the state will help protect you from losing your hard-earned money. The gambling authorities have put plenty of laws in place to help prevent the betting operator from cheating the players. And all operators that operate legally in the state must adhere to it.