West Virginia Betting Laws

The Mountain State of West Virginia was early to market with sports betting.

By the end of January 2021 it had driven more than $738million in stakes – not too shabby by any means. But it still probably hasn’t yet maximized the potential of The Gold Rush.

There are only a few options in-state for the legal-age portion of the 1.784million population (2020 estimated data).

When it comes to sports played in West Virginia, there are no professional franchises to give your allegiance to.

And while there are pretty decent college schools, you cannot bet on them in the state…

Despite the relatively small population, the willingness to allow mobile betting from an early stage has great value – as highlighted by the sheer size of the state handle so far.

Is sports betting legal in West Virginia?

Yes, sports betting in West Virginia has been legal since 2018.

The state was quick to act once the Supreme Court struck down PASPA (which stopped anybody betting on sports outside of Nevada).

The first land-based site started taking bets in September 2018 with mobile betting hitting the state soon after.

Where can I bet in West Virginia?

You have both land-based and mobile options if you want to bet in West Virginia.

Mobile

FanDuel Sportsbook WV: Absolute behemoth which originated in daily fantasy. Credible and driving terrific sports betting revenues to prove the point.

DraftKings Sportsbook WV: Another massive player which started in daily fantasy. Again completely legit and a good option for any new bettor.

BetMGM Sportsbook WV: Another huge name with a credible brand to back it up. Well worth checking out when you are deciding where to set up accounts.

NB: Check out our sign-ups page for all the latest bonuses and promotions available to new sportsbook customers. And remember, you can sign up with all operators if you want. That way you can get the best available odds, and all those great bonuses.

In-person at land-based sites

There are a small number of sites which have legal sportsbooks in WV:

The Greenbrier, White Sulphur Springs, WV 24986
Hollywood Casino, Charles Town, WV 25414
Mountaineer Casino, New Cumberland, WV 26047

Do you need to be resident in West Virginia to bet there?

You do not need to be a resident of West Virginia to bet there. You just need to be of legal age, not on any relevant exclusion list and physically inside the state when you place bets.

What is the legal sports betting age in West Virginia?

The legal age for sports betting in West Virginia is 21 years or older.

How do I place a sports bet online in West Virginia?

The process is relatively simple, and can be done in minutes:

Be in the state of West Virginia and of legal age
Download/install a sportsbook app to your smartphone
Register for a sportsbook account on the app
Deposit funds into your new sportsbook account
Search the app for the sports and events you want to bet on
Choose the event you want to bet on, and how much you want to bet
You can now place your first bet

What type of sports bets can I place in West Virginia?

Moneyline: Yes

Point Spread: Yes

Parlay: Yes

Teasers: Yes

Futures: Yes

Over/Under: Yes

Round Robin: Yes

What sports can I bet on in West Virginia?

You can bet on all major sports in West Virginia, including:

NB: You cannot bet on high-school sports in West Virginia, or on college matchups involving schools which are based in the state.

Legal sports betting near West Virginia

Sports betting laws are generally based on location, not residency. So although we’re now legal in West Virginia, you might want to capitalize on other options as well.

This means if you’re on vacation in another state, travelling for work – or just fancy a change of scene – you can potentially bet while you’re on the move.

Here are the options in states that border West Virginia:

Pennsylvania: One of the biggest sports betting players of all given its sports-mad market, size and prime East Coast location. There are a ton of mobile options plus a number of land-based sportsbooks. Check out our PA guide for full details. You need to be aged 21 or older.

Virginia: Went live in early 2021, but for now with only online and mobile options. There are a handful of sportsbooks up and running. There likely will be land-based sportsbooks in the future too. You need to be in the state of Virginia and aged 21 or over to sign up for an account.

NB: Maryland has passed legislation to approve sports betting. It hasn’t yet though rolled out a live plan. So you’ll need to wait a little on that option.

Are offshore sportsbooks legal in West Virginia?

Offshore sportsbooks are not legal in the state of West Virginia, and to be honest, why would you need them?

You have legal sports betting literally in your front room, so we would advise to sticking with sportsbooks who have a license to operate in WV.

Offshore firms have no legal right to operate in any state in the union, so the lack of consumer protection for you is a big concern. For that reason alone, give them a wide berth.