As sports betting outlets pop up around the country, people in West Virginia may wonder where they can start to wager with legal West Virginia sports betting. And despite a relatively slow rollout, West Virginia online sports betting was the fifth state to offer legal wagering in the United States. But where should you begin as you aspire to take your chances with our data and analysis at Awesemo.com to carve a path towards betting winnings? We’ll explain where to find some of the top outlets for WV sports betting, where the roll-out process in the state currently lies, and some of the better West Virginia sports betting bonuses you can find right now.
1) Is West Virginia sports betting legal?
The most important question gets the easiest answer: Yes! The Mountain State’s Senate passed bill S 415 in February of 2018 and the House passed it shortly thereafter as they became the first state legislature to push it through. West Virginia governor Jim Justice allowed the bill to become law without his signature in March 2018 and the first West Virginia sports betting options became available at the end of August 2018.
Hollywood Casino at Charles Town took the state’s first action on Aug. 30, 2018 while in a soft launch before beginning a full rollout on Sept. 1 designed to allow the state’s residents to bet just in time for the NFL season. The Hollywood Casino, whose operations are powered by William Hill, is the first and now one of five casinos that currently offer or previously have offered legal West Virginia sports betting.
2) Is West Virginia online sports betting also legal online?
Yes! The same laws that legalized retail sportsbooks also legalized mobile sportsbooks in West Virginia.
The online sportsbooks currently available in West Virginia include the following:
- FanDuel Sportsbook,
- DraftKings Sportsbook
- BetMGM Sportsbook
3) What Promo Codes / Deposit Bonuses are available for me and How Can I Use Them?
DraftKings Sportsbook
DraftKings was the first company to enter the West Virginia mobile market thanks to its partnership with Hollywood Casino at Charles Town Races. The DraftKings online sportsbook launched in West Virginia on Aug. 29, 2019, with a very similar product to what DraftKings offers in New Jersey
New players at DraftKings West Virginia sportsbook can claim a Deposit Bonus up to $1,000.
The DraftKings bonus is an incredible value. Just click the link below to get your sports betting bonus and get started. No promo code is required to claim the West Virginia DraftKings bonus.
FREE DRAFTKINGS OFFER: Deposit Bonus Up to $1,000
For a detailed review of the DraftKings West Virginia mobile sportsbook, read our review here.
If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, crisis counseling and referral services can be accessed by calling 1-800-GAMBLER (1-800-426-2537) (IL) Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER (NJ/WV/PA), 1-800-9-WITH-IT (IN), 1-800-522-4700 (CO), 1-800-BETS OFF (IA), or TN REDLINE: 800-889-9789. 21+. NJ/PA/WV/IN/IA/CO/IL/TN only. Deposit bonus requires 25x play-thru. Deposit Bonus issued as site credits. Eligibility restrictions apply. See DraftKings.com/sportsbook for details.
FanDuel Sportsbook
Free FanDuel Offer: Risk Free Bet up to $500
BetMGM Sportsbook
100% Deposit Match offer on first deposit up to $500.
4) What Sportsbooks and Online Sports Betting Apps are available in West Virginia
There are currently three retail sportsbooks licensed for use in West Virginia:
• Hollywood Casino at Charles Town
• The Greenbrier
• Mountaineer Casino
Previously, both Wheeling Island and Mardi Gras were also licensed to offer West Virginia sports betting in 2018 but both have been suspended due to contractual entanglements that have resulted in the hammer being dropped on them by the West Virginia Lottery Commission.
5) Where Can I Bet on Sports in Person in New Jersey?
With a mix of racing, dining, and shows, Hollywood Casino at Charles Town is a top option for anyone in West Virginia to take the plunge in West Virginia sports betting. Bettors can play all of the top table games just like Las Vegas at the Hollywood Casino while its Charles Town Races offers some of the top horse racing action in the region. Though the Charles Town Races are perhaps best known for their Charles Town Classic or the West Virginia Breeder Classic, they also offer some of the country’s best race cards for horse races with proximity to Washington D.C. They also offer simulcast horse and dog racing from around the country year-round for those who want more than the in-person options there.
But the Sportsbook at Hollywood Casino is a top-flight option with the expected 80-inch TVs offering high definition views of the football, basketball, hockey, soccer, baseball, golf, tennis, auto racing, rugby, cycling, boxing, MMA, and cricket options you could possibly dream of when indulging in West Virginia sports betting. With its betting options powered by DraftKings Sportsbook, the quality is as high as any would expect from an affiliated sportsbook.
Mountaineer Casino also offers the expected Vegas-style accoutrements that one would expect from an in-person sports betting experience with a huge video wall and convenient eats and drinks. Powered by William Hill, the Sports Book at Mountaineer Casino is yet another option to indulge in as an alternative to the fledgling online sports betting industry.
“America’s Resort” The Greenbrier also offers a place for in-person West Virginia sports betting powered by FanDuel Sportsbook but as a private casino it is only open to members and overnight resort guests, as dictated by West Virginia state law.
6) How Do I Make Deposits and Withdrawals for Online Sports Betting in WV?
With popular online sportsbooks FanDuel and DraftKings operating within the state, depositing money to play with and withdrawing winnings is incredibly easy.
The following are common methods to deposit or withdraw money for sports betting in West Virginia:
- Debit/Credit Card
- ACH (Online Banking)
- PayPal
- Prepaid Sportsbook Cards
- PayNearMe
- Cash at the Cage
- Check
7) What are the Most Common Types of Sports Bets Can I Make in West Virginia?
Straight bet
This is the most common bet type and it is just a straight up single bet on a game. A point spread is determined by the oddsmakers with one team being favored by a certain amount of points. Let’s take a look at an example line below to give a clear indication of what a straight bet would be:
Boston Celtics -6.5 (-110), moneyline -320
at Cleveland Cavaliers +6.5 (-110), moneyline +260
O/U 206
The Celtics are favored by 6.5 points in this example. This means that if you bet the Cavaliers, you are getting 6.5 points, so if the Cavaliers win the game, or lose by fewer than seven points, you will win the bet because of your 6.5-point cushion. On the other side, when you are laying 6.5 points as the favorite, you would need the Celtics to win by seven or more to win the bet.
Final Score: Celtics 102 Cavaliers 98. Cavaliers would cover even though the Celtics won the game because the +6.5 point spread is enough to cover a four-point defeat.
Moneyline Bet
The moneyline is a bet where there is no spread; you are just picking the winner of the game. In the example above, the Cavaliers ML is +260, which means that for every $100 wagered, you win $260 if the Cavaliers win the game outright. They receive the plus side of the moneyline since they are the underdog and picking them rewards you with nice odds since they are projected to likely lose the game. On the flip side, if you bet the Celtics ML at -320, you have to bet $320 to win $100. They are the favorites so if you decide to bet the moneyline instead of the point spread, you are forced to bet additional money to win $100.
In the example above, the Celtics ML would be the winner as they won the game outright. The spread is irrelevant for a moneyline wager.
Over/Under
This is a straight bet wagering on how many total combined points will be scored in a game by both teams. For example, an NBA game may have an over/under of 210 points, which means that the oddsmakers are projecting a combined points total of 210 between the two teams. If you think the teams are going to score more than 210 points total, you bet the over, and conversely, if you think it’s going to be a defensive struggle, you can bet the under hoping that the total points scored equals 209 points or less.
Parlay
A parlay is a bet where you combine multiple bets into one bet and you get increased odds because you only win your parlay wager if all of your bets win. If you do a three-team parlay, you select three different teams from three different games and if you win all three of the bets you hit your parlay for longshot odds (6-1 so $100 to win $600). Going 0/3, 1/3, or 2/3 is all the same and you lose the parlay bet. It’s all or nothing which makes them tough to hit and is more of a home run type bet than a regular straight bet since there’s a chance for a big payoff.
8) Where’s a Good Place to Start Learning How to Online Sports Bet in WV?
Update coming shortly.
9) What are the Most Popular Sports Teams to Bet on in West Virginia?
With no professional sports in West Virginia, the state’s most popular team is the state’s largest university, the West Virginia Mountaineers.
As for popular professional sports within the state, West Virginia is located near Washington D.C., Ohio and Pennsylvania, so the popular teams differ depending on where in the state you are. The Washington Redskins, Washington Wizards, Pittsburgh Steelers, Pittsburgh Penguins and Columbus Blue Jackets are all popular choices.
10) Is There Anything Else to Know About WV Sports Betting?
Now that you know that West Virginia sports betting is legal, the status of the key online betting sportsbooks, and how to find the best sports betting promo codes, you should know everything you need to get out there and start placing bets. Use the sports betting resources we provide here at Awesemo to help guide your bets and bet responsibly!
If you have an issue with betting or a gambling problem, please contact 1-800-GAMBLER to speak with someone right now and get help.
How much does WV sports betting generate for the state?
The inhibition of online sports betting has cut into the potential earnings for the state to some degree but West Virginia sportsbooks still took almost $8 million in wagers in June 2019 with Hollywood Casino driving over 70% of the monthly betting action. Since the launch of sports betting, West Virginia has clocked over $1 million in tax contributions, a general benchmark for success amongst legal sports betting states. Over $125 million overall has been wagered in the state since its launch, an indicator of high interest from bettors that will only grow when the state embraces online sports betting in the not-too-distant future.
WV Sports Betting FAQs
- Is Sports Betting Legal in State?
- How Can I bet in state?
- Will State have Online Sports Betting?
- How Do I Open an Account?
- How Do I Deposit and Withdraw?
- Do I have to be in state to place a bet?
- What Games Can I bet on?
- What Companies Will be Offering Sports Betting?
- What Kind of Taxes Do I have to Pay?
- How Old Do I have to Be to Bet in State?
- What are the Betting Limits?
- Where Do I go if I have a problem?
