West Virginia Sports Betting
Sports betting in West Virginia is legal and operational. Bettors located within state lines can bet online through licensed online sports betting apps or visit retail sportsbooks at casinos and race tracks to place wagers in-person.
West Virginia also regulates other forms of online gambling including online casinos and poker sites, online horse racing betting, and daily fantasy sports apps. In all, WV gamblers have access to a wide range of online gambling options that are legal, safe, and regulated.
In-person gambling options in West Virginia consist of four racetrack-casinos, one historic hotel-casino, retail sportsbooks at casinos, and the state lottery.
Legal West Virginia Betting Sites
21+ and present in WV. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER or visit www.1800gambler.net.
West Virginia Sports Betting Overview
West Virginia legalized sports betting by passing SB 415 in April 2018. The first West Virginia sportsbooks launched in August 2018 and online sports betting began that December.
State law charges the WV Lottery Commission with overseeing the industry, adopting regulations, and issuing licenses.
Key things to know about West Virginia sports betting:
- State law enforces a minimum age of 21 to participate in West Virginia sports betting
- Five retail WV sportsbooks are live, one in each casino
- Each casino may operate up to three individual online betting platforms and associated mobile apps, also known as “skins”
- Customers must be physically located within state lines to bet online in WV but do not need to be residents
- West Virginia sportsbooks may accept wagers on professional sports, college sports, and esports
West Virginia Online Sports Betting Apps
Under West Virginia sports betting law, land-based casinos act as the primary license holders for online sports betting apps. Each casino may partner with up to three third-party sports betting service providers to operate online sports betting sites.
With five eligible casinos in operation, the West Virginia mobile betting market can support up to 15 online sportsbooks at maximum capacity.
West Virginia online sportsbooks accept customers who are 21 or older and located within state lines when placing wagers. West Virginia sports bettors may register and deposit from out of state but must be located in West Virginia to place bets.
The following online sports betting apps are licensed in West Virginia:
West Virginia Sportsbook Promo Codes
Online Sportsbook | Promo Code | Welcome Bonus |
---|---|---|
DraftKings West Virginia Promo Code | Not Needed | No Sweat Bet up to $1,000 |
BetMGM West Virginia Bonus Code | BUSABONUS | Bet $5, Get $150 |
Caesars Sportsbook West Virginia Promo Code | BUSA1000 | $1000 Bonus Bet |
BetRivers West Virginia Bonus Code | BUSA | Second Chance Bet up to $100 |
FanDuel West Virginia Promo Code | Not Needed | Bet $5, Get $150 in Bonus Bets |
West Virginia Sports Betting Bonuses
A handful of national brand-name operators dominate the West Virginia online sports betting market, and each offers a welcome bonus to new customers as they compete for business. Naturally, the best West Virginia sportsbooks feature welcome bonuses with customer-friendly terms and minimal-to-nonexistent wagering requirements.
West Virginia bettors may claim one or more of the sports betting bonuses detailed on this page by signing up, making a deposit, and placing real money wagers. For sportsbook bonuses that require promo codes, bettors can enter them when signing up for accounts.
West Virginia Regulations on Bonuses and Promotions
West Virginia sports betting regulations require operators to conform to stringent standards of conduct covering everything from advertising to age verification.
In addition, the law requires the WV Lottery Commission Director to approve all advertising campaigns before launching. As such, operators must offer bonuses that are fair and free of predatory terms and condition or they risk losing their WV online sports betting licenses.
West Virginia sports betting laws do not go into too much detail on bonuses and promotions, but the provisions discussed above ensure operators treat customers well from start to finish.
West Virginia Sportsbook Locations
Hollywood Casino at Charles Town Races accepted the state’s first-ever sports wager on August 30th, 2018. The casino initially launched with retail sports betting only and added online betting about a year later in partnership with DraftKings.
There are now five retail sportsbooks in West Virginia, one at each casino.
- Hollywood Casino at Charles Town Races in Charles Town
- Casino Club at the Greenbrier in White Sulphur Springs
- Mountaineer Casino Racetrack & Resort in New Cumberland
- Wheeling Island Hotel Casino Racetrack in Wheeling Island
- Mardi Gras Casino in Cross Lanes
How West Virginia Legalized Sports Betting
West Virginia began the process of legalizing sports betting in 2018 with legislation to authorize retail sportsbooks and mobile betting.
The bill was contingent upon a change in federal law, which occurred when the Supreme Court struck down the federal sports betting prohibition (PASPA) one month later.
After the Supreme Court decision, West Virginia moved quickly to implement sports betting. The WV Lottery Commission approved needed regulations in June 2018 and sports betting began shortly thereafter.
WV sports betting law allows for casinos to apply for licenses to operate both retail and online sportsbooks. The law sets an initial licensing fee of $100,000, renewable every five years along with a $100,000 renewal fee and sets the tax rate at 10%.
The Lottery Commission regulates sports betting in West Virginia. The Commission oversees licensing, ensures compliance, and audits all licensees at least once a year. The Commission is also authorized to enter into agreements with other states and jurisdictions to facilitate cross-border sports betting.
West Virginia online sportsbooks are also subject to a multitude of regulations designed to protect the integrity of sports, ensure consumer protection, and to promote responsible gambling.
West Virginia Daily Fantasy Sports
Although West Virginia has never passeed legislation to legalize daily fantasy sports, a past Attorney General opinion has given DFS operators the all-clear.
In July 2016, West Virginia Attorney General Patrick Morrisey issued an opinion clarifying the state’s opinion on daily fantasy sports in response to a request from Senate President Bill Cole. A statement published on the AG Office’s website explains that West Virginia law requires real money games to be determined predominantly by chance for them to meet the state’s definition of gambling. Fantasy sports do not meet that definition as they are determined primarily by skill.
The relevant portion of the formal opinion reads as follows:
“We conclude that West Virginia does not prohibit the offering of or participation in fantasy sports games, as they are defined in Senate Bill 529. We read state law to prohibit only betting upon games decided at least predominantly by chance. Fantasy sports games, as defined in the Senate Bill, are not so decided. Rather, they are determined predominantly by skill, knowledge, and athletic performance. Because you have not asked, we do not specifically address whether particular fantasy sports games meet the Senate Bill’s definition. But we do note that fantasy sports games, as we have described them in the background discussion above, are likely not decided predominantly by chance.
“We further conclude that this Opinion is consistent with the decisions of most other state attorneys general regarding the legality of fantasy sports games. Those state attorneys general who have found their state laws to prohibit only betting upon games decided predominantly by chance, as we have determined about West Virginia law, have similarly found pay-to-play fantasy sports games to be lawful in their states. In contrast, in those states where fantasy sports games have been found unlawful, the state attorneys general have found state gambling laws to apply more broadly than in West Virginia, prohibiting betting in many more games than simply those where chance predominates.”
Pick’em Fantasy Sports in West Virginia
West Virginia law does not address fantasy pick’em sports contests, but local authorities are not fans of the concept. The WV Lottery Commission examined the issue in 2022 and expressed doubts regarding the legality of pick’em fantasy sports played against the house.
Several pick’em fantasy sites either exited the West Virginia market entirely or disabled their fantasy prop contests as a result. However, PrizePicks and Underdog Fantasy have since launched peer-to-peer pick’em contests in West Virginia.
The best West Virginia daily fantasy sports sites are:
West Virginia Horse Racing Betting
Horse racing betting in West Viginia is legal, and regulated by the WV Racing Commission.
Horse racing fans in WV can visit Hollywood Casino at Charles Town Races and Mountaineer Racetrack & Resort to bet on horse races in person.
In addition, Wheeling Island and Mardi Gras Casino offer live greyhound racing year-round. All four casinos also offer simulcast racing betting for races held in other states.
West Virginia Online Horse Racing Betting
Online horse racing betting in West Virginia s similarly ubiquitous. The most popular horse racing betting sites are open to customers across the state age 18 or older.
West Virginia Online Gambling
Online casino games and poker sites are legal in West Virginia. Under state law, each land-based casino may partner with third-party software providers to offer online gambling in West Virginia to customers who are 21 or older and physically located within state lines.
Regulations adopted by the WV Lottery Commission further specify that each casino may contract with outside providers to operate up to three individually branded online casino sites and mobile gambling apps.
The first West Virginia online casinos launched in mid-2020. Today, customers can choose from several WV gambling sites.
West Virginia Online Lottery
Lottery players can order West Virginia Lottery tickets online through the Jackpocket Lottery app from anywhere within state lines.
Jackpocket is the only lottery ticket courier service authorized to serve customers in West Virginia. Jackpocket customers can buy West Virginia Lottery tickets online through the app and receive automatic payouts if they win.
The West Virginia Lottery also plans to offer online lottery sales through its website and mobile app. WV Lottery Director John Myers expects the new WV iLottery platform to launch sometime in 2024.
In addition to running lottery drawings and selling scratch tickets, the lottery operates video lottery terminals across the state. In 1994, voters approved the installation of lottery-controlled slot machines (video lottery terminals) at each of West Virginia’s race tracks. Additionally, legislators passed a law in 2001 authorizing the lottery to place up to 9,000 slot machines at locations with Class A alcohol licenses.
The Racetrack Table Games Act also grants the lottery the authority to host real money table games at race tracks. Permitted table games include roulette, craps, blackjack, poker, and other games approved by the Lottery Commission.
The West Virginia Lottery Commission is also responsible for overseeing sports betting in the state. In October 2018, the WV Lottery Commission approved final regulations governing sports betting to give licensed sportsbooks guidance on what all is required of them as they commence sports betting.
Fortunately for gamblers, the WV Lottery Commission rejected demands from the sports leagues and Governor Justice that licensed operators pay an “integrity fee” to the sports leagues. The inclusion of an integrity fee would have made it expensive for West Virginia sportsbooks to run their businesses, which likely would have resulted in poor odds for customers.
West Virginia Gambling Laws
The West Virginia Lottery Interactive Wagering Act (WC Code §29-22E-1-24) was passed in March 2019 to formally legalize online gambling and poker throughout the state.
Under the law, the West Virginia Lottery Commission regulates online gambling and is in charge of issuing licenses, drawing up regulations as needed and overseeing the conduct of licensed operators.
Key points from the West Virginia gambling law include:
- Players must be 21 or older to gamble online in WV
- Customers must be located within WV state lines to participate
- Land-based casinos must pay a $250,000 application fee to offer online gambling, pay a $100,000 renewal fee every five years and are subject to a 15% tax on adjusted gross receipts
As the bill is written, West Virginia casinos have a wide range of latitude in the types of games they may offer. The Act names online slots, table games and any other game authorized by the Commission.
Overall, the WV Lottery Interactive Wagering Act is a win for the industry and players alike. Low tax rates and reasonable licensing fees combined with casinos being allowed to offer most games should give players access to a wide range of gaming options from multiple providers.
The WV Lottery issued additional regulations in July 2020 to clear the path for the state’s first online casinos to launch. The online gambling regulations go to great lengths detailing how operators must ensure the fairness of their games, disclose all relevant information to customers, manage disputes and much more.
Some of the key points from West Virginia online gambling regulations include:
- West Virginia online casinos must adhere to strict responsible gambling protocols that include training for all employees on spotting the signs of problem gambling, prominently displaying phone numbers and links to problem gambling resources, methods by which customers may set deposit/spending limits and more
- WV online casinos must collect and verify each customer’s legal name, date of birth, address, phone number, e-mail address and the last four digits of each customer’s Social Security number
- Customers may fund their gambling accounts via credit card, debit card, checking account, cash in person, reloadable prepaid cards (such as Play+) and “any other means approved by the Direct” of the WV Lottery Commission
- The WV Lottery Commission may authorize operators to accept customers from out of state if WV has an agreement in place with that state and if that state also has legal online gambling – this rule opens the door for interstate online poker (i.e. allowing poker sites in WV to share tables with poker sites in other states)
Other WV Gambling Laws
Chapter 61 Article 10 of the West Virginia Criminal Code comprises the bulk of the state’s general gaming laws. § 61-10-1 makes it a criminal offense to keep any gaming table, machine, or device. This section outlaws unlicensed poker games as it includes text that specifically classifies any table used to play cards as illegal.
§ 61-10-5 makes it illegal to participate in gambling, even if done at a private residence. This section effectively outlaws home poker games even if they are played with friends and even if the house takes no profit. Here’s the key piece of text from that section:
If any person at any place, public or private, bet or wager money or other thing of value on any game of chance, or shall knowingly furnish any money or other thing of value to any other person to bet or wager on any such game, he shall be guilty of a misdemeanor, and, upon conviction, shall be fined not less than five nor more than three hundred dollars, and shall, if required by the court, give security for his good behavior for one year…
Responsible Gambling in West Virginia
West Virginia law requires licensed online sportsbooks and casino sites to encourage responsible gambling in their public communications, provide simple mechanisms for customers to set spending limits, and share information about local problem gambling resources.
In addition, the state directs a portion of revenue from land-based gambling to the West Virginia Compulsive Gamblers Treatment Fund. The fund provides substantial financial assistance to the Problem Gambling Help Network (1-800-GAMBLER), which fields hundreds of calls and live chats annually.
Anyone with questions, concerns, or needing immediate assistance related to problem gambling can use the following resources for help.
- 24/7 Problem Gambling Helpline: 1-800-GAMBLER
- WV Problem Gambling Help Network: Operates the 24/7 helpline, provides immediate counseling, connects callers with local therapists for free consultations, offers fully subsidized treatment programs for those without insurance; visit the website for problem gambling information, local support groups, licensed treatment providers, links to other resources, instructions for self-excluding, and help for the loved ones of problem gamblers
- Help4WV Crisis Helpline: Call or text 844-435-7498 for addiction and self-harm support; visit the website for 24/7 live chat and gambling addiction treatment providers
- Gamblers Anonymous WV: Visit the website for upcoming Gamblers Anonymous meetings held across West Virginia
West Virginia Sports Betting and Gambling Self-Exclusion
Gamblers can self-exclude from all West Virginia casinos, online gambling, and sports betting for a minimum of one year. There are three ways to initiate a self-exclusion request:
- Enroll in person: Visit the lottery headquarters in Charleston or any West Virginia casino to apply for self-exclusion in person
- Enroll by mail: Download the self-exclusion form here, complete it, and mail it to the address below
- Enroll online: Log in to any licensed online sportsbook to apply for its internal self-exclusion program
ATTN: David Bradley
West Virginia Lottery
900 Pennsylvania Avenue
Charleston, WV 25302
Note: Bettors must include a photocopy of a photo ID with all self-exclusion requests.
Important West Virginia self-exclusion points:
- West Virginia’s self-exclusion plan is less flexible than similar programs offered in other states; all self-exclusion requests automatically apply to all forms of gambling the Lottery Commission regulates
- The self-exclusion program lasts for one year, but it does not automatically remove bettors from the exclusion list; bettors may submit a reinstatement form after being on the list for one full year
- West Virginia sports betting sites and casinos maintain the right to extend any self-exclusion requests to their properties and platforms in other states.
- Self-excluded individuals who enter West Virginia casinos risk being escorted from the property and charged with trespassing