Legalized sports betting in West Virginia debuted in March 2018. The state legislature was able to pass a law thanks to the US Supreme Court’s decision to overturn the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act (PASPA).

Since that time, a lot has happened that’s changed the betting landscape in the Mountain State.

Online casinos became legal in West Virginia on March 27, 2019. Gov.Justice allowed the West Virginia Lottery Interactive Wagering Act to become law through lack of action, just as he did with the law allowing for online sports betting. West Virginia law states that a bill becomes legal if the governor does not sign or veto it after 15 days. West Virginia legalized sports betting in March 2018, but the law did not become active until the Supreme Court of the United States overturned PASPA on May 14, 2018. DraftKings Sportsbook launched its mobile app in West Virginia on Aug 28, 2019. The company has a licensing agreement to operate in the state with Penn National Gaming. West Virginia is one of the few states that allow the legal online sports betting industry to flourish in a legal and safe environment. I live in West Virginia and have played online sports in the past and so have many of my friends and family members.

Let’s examine the current WV sports betting market, including online sports betting apps and land-based retail WV sportsbooks.

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West Virginia Online Sportsbooks

WV sports betting apps

Technically, there has been online sports betting in West Virginia since 2018. However, the only current sportsbooks still active in the state are FanDuel Sportsbook WV, DraftKings Sportsbook WV, and BetMGM Sportsbook WV.

Both FanDuel and DraftKings have been accepting wagers in the state since August 2019. BETMGM launched in January 2020.

DraftKings Sportsbook

DraftKingsSportsbook and Hollywood Casino Charles Town partnered in Dec. 2018 to bring online betting to the state. DraftKings launched its online sports betting app on Aug. 28, 2019.

WV bettors now have access to one of the best online sportsbooks available in the US. The NJ version of the app offers a highly competitive welcome offer to new customers and has more sports and betting types available than most.

DraftKings also has a web-based sportsbook as well as an app for both Apple and Android users.

FanDuel Sportsbook

The FanDuel Sportsbook will service its retail-based sportsbook located at The Greenbrier. The casino partnered with FanDuel last September with the goal of bringing both a land-based and online sportsbook to WV.

Similar to DraftKings, FanDuel is one of the best mobile betting apps anywhere. It offers something for bettors of all kinds and always has a large number of live in-game listings available.

The sportsbook’s quality is one of the reasons it’s always among the top-grossing apps in terms of revenue in NJ. It looks to mimic that performance in West Virginia.

BETMGM Sportsbook

BETMGM Sportsbook launched in January 2020 as the continuation of a joint venture between MGM Resorts International and GVC Holdings. The West Virginia app joins its New Jersey counterpart as the first two sportsbook offerings under the BETMGM brand.

BETMGM is operating in West Virginia as the second online sportsbook on The Greenbrier’s license. The Greenbrier has hosted FanDuel’s online operation since August 2019.

BETMGM is an innovative app that combines all the expected bells and whistles of a modern online sportsbook with a few innovations of its own. Chief among those features is an option for players to edit their existing bets under certain conditions.

These kinds of creative sparks and the powerhouses behind the site should place it in good stead to compete with the existing sportsbooks in the Mountain State.

Land based WV sportsbooks

All five casinos in the state of WV opened retail sportsbooks before the end of Dec. 2018. They include:

As mentioned, the Mardi Gras and Wheeling Island sportsbooks are currently closed because of the issues with their betting provider.

The casino’s owner, Delaware North, is looking for a new sports betting partner but may have to wait until the dust settles on its old venture before doing so.

Hollywood Casino Sportsbook

The Hollywood Casino Sportsbook is the biggest casino in the state located in Charles Town, WV. It opened its doors for sports betting in Sept. 2018.

The land-based sportsbook dominates the WV market on a weekly basis in terms of both overall handle and revenue generated. The main reason for its consistent success is the casino’s location to nearby cities without legal sports betting.

Many residents from both Baltimore, Maryland, and Washington, D.C., make their way to Hollywood to place sports bets.

Hollywood Casino Sportsbook Hours:

• Monday – Thursday: 10 a.m. – midnight
• Friday: 10 a.m. – 1 a.m.
• Saturday: 9 a.m. – 1 a.m.
• Sunday: 10 a.m. – midnight

Mountaineer Sportsbook

The Mountaineer Sportsbook is positioned between the border of Ohio and WV in New Cumberland. Its sports betting operation launched in Nov. 2018. Mountaineer’s closest major city is Pittsburgh, PA.

Mountaineer Sportsbook Hours:

• Monday – Thursday: 10 a.m. – midnight
• Friday: 10 a.m. – 1 a.m.
• Saturday: 9 a.m. – 1 a.m.
• Sunday: 9 a.m. – midnight

The FanDuel Sportsbook at The Greenbrier

The Greenbrier, located in White Sulphur Springs, WV, is the only private casino in the entire country. It’s actually owned by Governor Jim Justice and it started accepting legal sports bets in Sept. 2018.

Although betting is only permitted for Casino Club members and guests of the hotel, many local WV residents will gather at The Greenbrier to watch and bet on major sporting events.

The FanDuel Sportsbook at The Greenbrier hours:

• Monday – Thursday: 11 a.m. – 3 a.m.
• Friday – Saturday: 11 a.m. – 4 a.m.
• Sunday: 1 p.m. – 3 a.m.

Benefits of legal WV sportsbooks

Legal sportsbooks and mobile betting apps are the smart move for residents in WV and across the US. A bettor has more customer protections when betting with a regulated sportsbook.

Sometimes bettors lose their money or have to deal with stressful problems regarding payment and accessibility with illegal books. Now that there are multiple options available to those in WV, there’s no excuse not to use regulated sportsbooks.

They allow you to deposit money and bet while knowing that you’re dealing with a legal option and respected brand in the gambling industry.

Once online sports betting returns to the Mountain State, things will get even easier.

Bettors will be able to place wagers from the convenience of their own home and do so with one of the top brands in the betting market.

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These online sportsbooks provide customers with a lot more than a reliable way to wager, too. Most will offer new-player signup bonuses as well as promotions and loyalty programs with rewards.

Popular sporting events bet on in WV

There are certain annual sporting events that garner more betting action than your common game. Some have become so popular that even casual fans might place a bet to make things more interesting.

Some of the top sports betting events in WV include:

• Super Bowl
• March Madness
• The Masters
• Kentucky Derby
• Wimbledon

WV sports betting history

2019

Rep. Shawn Fluharty introduced House Bill 2178, a bill legalizing online gambling, including casino games and poker. Focusing on the impending launch of several new online sportsbooks, the West Virginia Lottery Commission announced it would not support the gambling expansion bill.

2018

Fluharty reintroduces a sports betting bill in early January. State Sen. Stephen Baldwin files a matching bill, S 106, in the Senate. Neither bill passes, but the ball is rolling.

Later that month, State Senator Ryan Ferns files S 415. This bill set the license fee at $100,000 and established that sports betting would be taxed at ten percent of revenue.

The bill quickly passed through both chambers of the legislature. Gov. Jim Justice allowed the bill to become law without his signature, and thus, West Virginia became a sports betting state on March 3, 2018.

2017

In March, Fluharty introduces H 2751. The bill failed to pass but succeeded in stirring up the conversation.

In September, the state commissioned a $160,000 feasibility study regarding legal sports betting in West Virginia. The study found that 30 states will eventually legalize sports betting, which emphasized the importance of timing for legalizing sports betting in the Mountain State.

2016

State Attorney General Patrick Morrisey filed numerous amicus curiae briefs in support of New Jersey’s federal lawsuit against PASPA.

WV sports betting timeline

Aug. 10, 2018: The West Virginia Lottery Commission granted interim sports betting permits to Penn National and FanDuel.

Aug. 30, 2018: Hollywood Casino at Charles Town Races became the first legal sportsbook in the state to accept wagers.

Sept. 13, 2018: The Greenbrier opened its sports betting windows and maintains the only private casino in America. It made a deal with daily fantasy sports titan FanDuel Group in June 2018 to operate its sports betting facility.

Nov. 21, 2018: Mountaineer Casino, Racetrack and Resort became the third sports betting location.

Dec. 27, 2018: Mardi Gras Casino and Resort and Wheeling Island Hotel launched both retail and mobile sports betting.

March 6, 2019: Mardi Gras and Wheeling sportsbooks, along with their online app BetLucky Sportsbook, cease operations.

WV sports betting FAQ

Is there an age requirement to bet on sports in WV?

Yes. You must be 21 years old to place bets in West Virginia.

Do you need to be a WV resident to place a sports bet?

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No, but you must be physically located within WV’s borders at the time of placing a wager.

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Who oversees sports betting in WV?

The West Virginia Lottery Commission.

Are there mobile sportsbooks available in WV?

Yes. FanDuel Sportsbook and DraftKings Sportsbook both offer online betting in West Virginia.