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.
Let’s examine the current WV sports betting market, including online sports betting apps and land-based retail WV sportsbooks.
Launch dates for West Virginia sportsbooks
| WV sportsbook | Retail partner | Retail launch date | Online partner | Online launch date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hollywood Casino Sportsbook | William Hill | Sept. 1, 2018 | DraftKings Sportsbook | TBD |
| Mountaineer Sportsbook | William Hill | Nov. 21, 2018 | TBD | TBD |
| FanDuel Sportsbook at The Greenbrier | FanDuel | Sept. 13, 2018 | Likely FanDuel | TBD |
| Mardi Gras Sportsbook | TBD; Formerly partnered with Miomni | Currently suspended; Originally launched Dec. 27, 2018 | TBD; Formerly partnered with Miomni | Currently suspended; Originally launched Dec. 27, 2018 |
| Wheeling Island Sportsbook | TBD; Formerly partnered with Miomni | Currently suspended; Originally launched Dec. 27, 2018 | TBD; Formerly partnered with Miomni | Currently suspended; Originally launched Dec. 27, 2018 |
WV sports betting apps
The state first introduced online sports betting in Dec. 2018. Delaware North launched the BetLucky Sportsbook to provide a mobile betting option for both Wheeling Island and Mardi Gras Casino.
Unfortunately, the BetLucky mobile app, as well as the land-based sportsbooks, closed down in March 2019. A contract dispute with the apps’ technology provider led to the shutdown.
That has left WV without an online option since March 6, 2019.
Help is on the way, though.
Three sports betting operators have been approved by the West Virginia Lottery to bring online sportsbooks to the state. These include:
Nothing is that easy, however. Just when it appeared that DraftKings was ready to go live in WV, complications surrounding both the Wire Act and Apple’s newest app policy have slowed the process down.
It’s now difficult to say when exactly a sports betting app will return to the state.
The good news is that all of these operators are running popular and successful online sportsbooks in New Jersey and will provide a quality product to WV bettors.
DraftKings Sportsbook
DraftKings and Hollywood Casino Sportsbook, owned by Penn National Gaming, partnered in Dec. 2018 to bring online betting to the state. It’s been a long six months, and WV still doesn’t have an online sportsbook.
DraftKings has passed its regulatory testing and was ready to launch, but the US Department of Justice’s latest opinion on the Wire Act has everyone proceeding with caution.
As a result, DraftKings plans to build a local wallet server to service customer accounts instead of using an existing server in New Jersey. A server to process bets to comply with the Wire Act is already located in the Mountain State.
Once it does go live, WV bettors will 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.
Expect for DraftKings to have 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’s tough to tell when FanDuel will launch, but when it does, it should also be available through a website and mobile app.
William Hill Sportsbook
William Hill is one of the most recognizable brands in the world of sports betting. With betting applications in the United Kingdom, Las Vegas, and New Jersey, the sportsbook operator is bringing a lot of experience to WV.
Currently, the company runs the land-based sportsbooks at both the Hollywood Casino and the Mountaineer Casino.
Like the other two, William Hill’s NJ product is one of the best on the market and will provide another great option for those in WV.
Its app will most likely be able to be downloaded on both iOS and Android. There should also be a website option similar to the one it has in NJ.
Land based WV sportsbooks
All five casinos in the state of WV opened retail sportsbooks before the end of Dec. 2018. They include:
- Hollywood Casino Sportsbook
- Mountaineer Sportsbook
- The FanDuel Sportsbook at The Greenbrier
- Mardi Gras Casino Sportsbook
- Wheeling Island Sportsbook
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.
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?
No, but you must be physically located within WV’s borders at the time of placing a wager.
Who oversees sports betting in WV?
The West Virginia Lottery Commission.
Are there mobile sportsbooks available in WV?
Not at the moment, however, DraftKings, FanDuel and William Hill are all planning on releasing mobile apps in the near future.