With all the commotion surrounding the legalization of sports betting in the United States since the repeal of PASPA in 2018, it is easy to miss which states passed laws and have started accepting legal sports bets online. West Virginia is not one of those states that could be missed – it has had a very rocky road getting to where they are today, but the good news is that online sports betting is alive and well, and this page is full of information on how best to take advantage of the newly-regulated environment.
A brief history of legalized sports betting in the state
West Virginia was one of the first states to pass laws that would make sports betting legal, and they did so in March 2018 in advance of the Supreme Court’s decision. This meant that when PASPA was struck down in May of that year, the state was ready to draft regulations and start taking bets. Initially, the law allowed for the 5 land-based gambling entities in the state to be licensed for retail sports betting, with an online license issued to each of them for launch later in the year. The terms of the law were quite operator-friendly, with an application fee of only $100,000 (compared to $10 Million in Pennsylvania) and a tax rate of 10%. The minimum age to make legal online sports bets in West Virginia is 21.
The first sports bets were taken in the state on August 30th, 2018. Online sports betting would take a few more months to be available, finally launching in December 2018. However, this is where the issues began. The vendor that was providing the first online and mobile sports betting site for West Virginia, Miomni, Became embroiled in a legal battle about its IP, and as a result, the BetLucky app was shut down in March 2019. This left a gap in the online market until Fanduel and Draft Kings launched their sites in August of the same year.
Now, the rise of online sports betting is happening in West Virginia, albeit a little later than they may have expected in the government. Also, with one of the properties being so close to Washington, D.C., the retail revenues in West Virginia are higher on average each month than those in other states.
Where you can make online sports bets in West Virginia
There are 5 land-based entities where you can make legal retail sports bets in West Virginia. Two of those properties are owned by Delaware North, who were the organization that had the ill-fated partnership with Miomni for mobile sports betting. They have yet to re-emerge with a new provider as a result of the legal action still underway, which leaves you with only two options for legal online sports betting in the state.
Now, if you are only going to have a couple of options, these are the two you want. These two companies that came from the daily fantasy sports world and have become two of the leading providers of legal sports betting in the U.S.
Sportsbook Bonuses Available in West Virginia
Even though there are only a couple available online sports betting sites open to residents of West Virginia, there will be more in the future, so it is important that you can distinguish between all the competing offers you will see at these sportsbooks. Taking advantage of all the bonuses and promotions that are being provided by the sites can go a long way to being a profitable gambler. Here’s a summary of the most common forms of sports betting bonuses.
No Deposit Bonuses
The most important information that a sportsbook can get from any player is their contact information. This happens right at the outset of the relationship, and it is valuable enough to online sports betting sites that they will give you a reward just for creating an account. This typically comes in the form of a free bet, which you can then place and try to turn into real money. No matter if you plan to make a deposit, you should try to find all the free bets and No-Deposit bonuses you can in West Virginia.
First Time Deposit Bonuses
Next up is the bonus you will receive for making your first deposit with a site. This is the area where sportsbooks get the most aggressive – knowing how many players leave after losing their first deposit, the sites want to get you to make as large a deposit as possible. Many first-time deposit bonuses can be upwards of 100% of your deposit, and while there are terms that have to be met to convert the bonus into real cash, it is worth making a significant deposit if you plan to be a long-term player.
Cashback Bonuses
Let’s face it – most sports bettors lose in the long run. To mitigate the damages, some sites give you the choice of taking cashback on your losses as opposed to a deposit bonus. This may seem counterintuitive -you are, of course hoping to win – but it is a nice insurance policy to have in case you go on a bad run.
Loyalty Points
Many online gambling sites offer loyalty points as a reward for making bets, but with so many legal online sites being run by land-based entities, you can use your points for more than just cash bonuses these days! Check out the loyalty program at each sportsbook to see if there are tangible gifts that you can redeem for – they tend to offer more value than the digital ones.
Payments to and from online sports betting sites in West Virginia
The good news for sports bettors in West Virginia is that making deposits and withdrawals at the legal online sites is so much easier than it was in the grey-market offshore world that once ruled the United States.
If you are looking to make a deposit at one of the sites, you have multiple options available, including heading to the land-based casino associated with your betting app of choice and making a deposit at the casino cage. In some instances, you may also be able to withdraw winnings at a property – give them a call in advance to confirm.
Other popular payment methods include:
- PayPal
- Credit Cards
- Debit Cards
- Pay Near Me
- Prepaid Cards
There will no doubt be more payment methods added into the mix as more operators come online, so check each site to see which methods work best for you.
FAQ
Are offshore betting sites illegal in West Virginia?
Unfortunately, you can still be marketed to by offshore sites in West Virginia. As there is no way to effectively shut down access to these sports betting sites, you can still create accounts, make deposits, and wager with them. However, we never recommend this is as a good idea. While there may be some aggressive bonus tactics to try to convince you to play at these sites, getting your money to them is very difficult and withdrawing as near impossible. Stick to the legal sites that you have read about on this page.
Can I make parlay bets at legal online sportsbooks in West Virginia?
Absolutely! You can make parlay bets at both the sites live in Virginia today, as well as a full set of wagering types such as straight bets, teasers, and future bets. In-game betting is also available, which is a lot of fun when you are watching a game and don’t want to wait the full length of the match to find out if you are a winner or not. Add in prop betting and you have hundreds of great betting options available to you.
When will more online sports betting sites launch in West Virginia?
That’s hard to say. At this point, there are only 3 more licenses that could open, and we have to assume that Delaware North, which holds two of them, will launch only one more site. The good news is that two of the largest companies in all of sports betting are already live in the state, meaning the quality of your betting experience is bound to be very high at this point.
Do I need to go to a casino to create my account?
Thankfully, this is not the case in West Virginia as it is in other states. One of the most attractive attributes of mobile betting is the fact that you can do it from anywhere – having to enter a casino to create an account is a major hurdle for players to overcome and has caused slow uptake in other states. You can create your account, deposit, and bet all without leaving your house. You will likely have to send in documents to verify your name and address, but that can be done easily online these days.
What is the fastest way to get my withdrawal processed?
Most of the payment methods available all take the same amount of time. There will be a period where your withdrawal is pending while the site ensures the legitimacy of the request, then depending on the method you choose, it could be 3-5 days before you see the money in your bank account. E-wallets offer the best solution as you can use the money that sits in your PayPal account for other purchases without having to transfer it back to your bank.