West Virginia was one of the first US states to legalize sports betting, proactively passing a bill while the federal ban was still on the books.

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With bipartisan support in the legislature, the West Virginia Lottery Sports Wagering Act (S 415) became law in March 2018 without a signature from Gov. Jim Justice. The governor, whose family owns one of the state’s gambling establishments, instead allowed the bill to lapse into law — purportedly to avoid the appearance of a conflict of interest.

Hollywood Casino at Charles Town Races was the first sportsbook to open in West Virginia. It launched on Aug. It is operated by William Hill. The pair expect to launch a mobile betting app later in Fall 2018. Hollywood Casino hosts 75 table games, 2,500 slots and 18 poker tables. It is open 24 hours a day.

• West Virginia online sportsbooks attract new sports bettors and keep existing ones by providing bonus offers and promo codes. It is a great way of maximizing your sports betting bankroll and maximizing your investment when trying out a new sportsbook. There are currently two online sports betting apps in West Virginia: DraftKings Sportsbook WV.
• The framework for WV sports betting included provisions for online and mobile sports betting. The WV Lottery, which regulates the industry, has worked hard to facilitate launch in tandem with retail operations. Operators were not ready with online & mobile apps from day one, but the first wasn’t far behind.
• West Virginia is already home to three mobile sports betting applications with BetMGM, FanDuel, and DraftKings, each affiliated with their own retail location. Once Delaware North and William Hill launch, that will make six online platforms for sports bettors to choose from.

By the end of the year, both retail and online sports betting were available in the state. The latter suffered a false start at the hands of BetLucky before returning permanently in 2019.

West Virginia sports betting apps

There are currently three sports betting apps available in West Virginia:

William Hill also operates a retail sportsbook in the state, which could eventually spawn another WV sports betting app. The two Delaware North casinos will additionally use the betly brand to rejoin the state’s online market at some point.

WV sports betting apps are typically available for both iOS and Android devices.

West Virginia sports betting partnerships

The WV sports betting law requires online operators to partner with a land-based casino licensee in order to serve the state. Each of those licensees can deploy as many as three individually branded products (or “skins”) into the market.

Here’s the structure of online sports betting alliances in WV:

BetMGM Sports WV

• Land-based partner: The Greenbrier
• Date launched: January 29, 2020

BetMGM has the potential to be a big name in US sports betting, but has a little bit slower out of the gates than some of its competitors. In West Virginia, at least, its launch came only a few months after that of FanDuel and DraftKings. Like FanDuel, it chose The Greenbrier as its partner. The BetMGM brand is operated by Roar Digital, created as a joint endeavor between MGM Resorts International and GVC Holdings.

BetMGM also offers legal online casino gambling in WV.

DraftKings Sportsbook WV

• Land-based partner: Hollywood Casino
• Date launched: August 28, 2019

FanDuel’s monopoly in West Virginia lasted barely 48 hours, as DraftKings followed it into the market later the same week. The DraftKings partnership was inevitable under its nationwide market-access deal with Hollywood owner Penn National Gaming. DraftKings was itself under private ownership until April 2020, when it went public via a reverse merger with technology provider SBTech.

DraftKings Casino also operates legally in WV.

FanDuel Sportsbook WV

• Land-based partner: The Greenbrier
• Date launched: August 26, 2019

FanDuel wasn’t technically the first sports betting app in West Virginia, but it has fared much better than its only predecessor. It launched in August 2019, bringing online betting back to West Virginia after a five-month absence stemming from the failure of BetLucky. The daily fantasy giant chose The Greenbrier as its land-based partner, making it the epicenter of online betting in the state.

Betly WV (launch pending)

• Land-based partner: Mardi Gras and/or Wheeling Island
• Date launched: Pending

Mardi Gras and Wheeling Island are both owned by Delaware North. It was through these licenses and a now-defunct joint venture with Miomni that the group made its ill-fated entry to the market under the BetLucky brand.

Delaware North made its second attempt at sports betting starting in January 2020, reopening its two retail sportsbooks under a new brand — betly. They’re powered by a fresh partnership with IGT, a well-established company that should prove less problematic than the old BetLucky suppliers.

When the retail sportsbooks opened, Delaware North indicated it expected a mobile app to follow “very soon.” Those plans may have been postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic or other reasons, and as yet there is still no firm date for launch.

Sports available for betting in West Virginia

West Virginians enjoy betting on the same sports as gamblers in other states. The top leagues for betting include:

• NFL football
• NBA basketball
• NHL hockey
• MLB baseball
• MLS soccer
• NCAA college sports
• UFC/MMA combat sports

Unlike some states, WV does not have any particular collegiate betting restrictions. Fans of second-tier sports like tennis, golf, and cricket will also find the opportunity to bet on major competitions in those sports in WV.

So far, the state regulator has not made a firm decision one way or the other about esports and mind sports betting.

Types of legal sports bets in West Virginia

WV sports betting includes all the usual betting options on both professional and collegiate sports. Operators may offer:

• Moneylines
• Spreads
• Totals (over/under)
• Futures
• Proposition bets (props)

Combination bets such as parlays and round-robins are also allowed. Most operators also offer a full slate of in-play betting options.

West Virginia online sports betting bonuses

Online sports betting promotions typically come in one of two flavors in West Virginia.

1. Free bets
2. Deposit bonuses

Free bets are exactly that, promotional wagers given to new players just for signing up. Some may take the form of a matched bet, while others will not require the customer to bet their own money. Deposit bonuses reward bettors for funding their accounts by adding additional money — either a flat amount or a percentage of the associated deposit.

Most WV online sportsbooks offer bonuses in one or both of these categories.

Depositing and withdrawing at West Virginia online sportsbooks

Much as is the case with WV online casinos, online sportsbooks in the state accept a variety of methods for users to deposit funds to their accounts:

• ACH/eCheck
• credit and debit cards
• online banking/bank transfers
• PayPal
• Skrill
• Play+
• PayNearMe
• check
• cash at the casino cage

Withdrawal options are fewer, though cash-outs via ACH/eCheck, PayPal, and regular checks are generally available. Bettors are also able to withdraw funds in person at the licensing casino’s cashier cage.

FAQ: West Virginia sports betting

Here are answers to some common questions about WV sports betting.

Is sports betting legal in WV?

Yes, West Virginia lawmakers legalized sports betting in 2018. By the end of the year, operators were legally booking wagers in the state across both retail and online/mobile channels.

Who is eligible to bet on sports in WV?

Adults at least 21 years old are eligible to bet on sports in West Virginia, provided they are (1) located in the state and (2) not otherwise excluded from gambling. Residency is not a requirement, but online/mobile platforms do require the bettor to be physically present within the borders to wager.

Where can I bet on sports in WV?

The five West Virginia casinos act as the primary licensees for sports betting. All of them have physical sportsbooks on site. Online and mobile betting are also available statewide.

West Virginia Mobile Sports Betting Odds

Can I bet on sports online in WV?

Yes, the West Virginia sports betting law authorizes online and mobile sportsbooks in addition to physical betting locations. Although the first betting sites and apps rolled out in late 2018, the sector didn’t overcome its early growing pains until the larger operators entered the market in 2019.

What are the fees and taxes for WV sports betting?

West Virginia lawmakers imposed a modest tax rate for sports betting operators amounting to 10% of gross revenue. Five-year licenses are likewise affordable compared to many jurisdictions at $100,000 apiece.

Who regulates sports betting in WV?

The West Virginia Lottery regulates all gambling in the state, including sports betting.

• Phone: 800-982-2274
• Email: [email protected]

West Virginia sports betting history

The WV legislature officially authorized sports betting in the state in 2018 after failed attempts in the two years prior.

The bill sponsored by Sen. Ryan Ferns enjoyed bipartisan support and a relatively smooth path through both chambers, though it remained inactive until the US Supreme Court overturned PASPA two months later. At the time, the Mountain State was just the fourth in the country to legalize single-game wagering.

Despite a great deal of meddling by the governor and the sports leagues, diligent regulatory work facilitated the launch of WV sports betting in time for the following NFL season.

The state’s first legal bet was placed at Hollywood Casino on Aug. 30, 2018, and the first online sportsbook — BetLucky WV — subsequently debuted on Dec. 27. Although the latter no longer exists, several more-reputable online/mobile options have come to the market since.

Mississippi sports betting is staying offline.

Three bills aiming to expand MS sports betting to mobile platforms in the state died in committee this week.

Mississippi was one of the first states to launch sports betting in 2018 but continues to be restricted to retail sportsbooks. Multiple mobile betting bills have failed in the years following legalization.

A seismic shift?

Currently, mobile betting is allowed on a casino’s property in the state. None of the state’s commercial casinos are using the so-called “Mississippi mobile” option though.

The three failed bills would have altered the betting landscape by bringing sports betting in Mississippi online:

• SB 2396 would have allowed each casino operator an online sportsbook.
• SB 2732 and HB 1042 proposed expanding existing legislation to carry online betting statewide.

Mississippi sports betting revenue hamstrung

Since launching in August 2018, Mississippi has generated $103 million in sports betting revenue, and $12.4 million in taxes on $890 million wagered.

In 2020, the state’s wagering created more than $43 million in revenue and $5.2 million in taxes. Unless the state’s 24 casino operators can open up statewide mobile, a wealth of potential tax revenue will continue to go into the illegal market.

“Every day millions of Americans in 15 states have access to state-of-the-art mobile sportsbooks, allowing them to place bets on their favorite teams and leagues at home while fostering much-needed tax revenue,” Sen. Philip Moransaid in a release introducing SB 2732. “Unfortunately, Mississippi law does not authorize online sports betting, but this bill seeks to change that.

“Mississippi has been leaving money on the table by not authorizing online sports wagering, and it is time to modernize Mississippi’s gambling offerings and do what’s best for Mississippians.”

West Virginia Mobile Sports Betting Tips

Maturing MS sports betting market

Even without the extra betting mobile would bring, Mississippi is watching its monthly handle grow, hitting an all-time high of $61.1 million in October 2020.

The first half of 2020 was slowed because of COVID-19. As sports returned in August, however, the state’s monthly handles continue to grow year-over-year.

Both November and December 2020 revenues more than doubled compared to 2019, drawing $8.1 million and $7.7 million respectively. Those numbers pale in comparison to markets with mobile wagering however.

Mobile Sports Betting Sites

Neighboring state potential

Neighboring Tennessee launched mobile-only betting in late 2020, while Alabama and Florida offer untapped potential. Arkansas has retail betting and Louisana voters approved sports betting in November 2020.

In November and December, Tennessee brought in $5.4 million in taxes through its mobile betting.

The ability to draw potential customers from neighboring states is dwindling, however. Multiple states legislatures are looking at legalizing sports betting.