West Virginia was one of the first states to legalize sports betting, having done so just before the US Supreme Court lifted the federal ban. Retail sports betting was officially offered in August 2018, and online sports betting came just months later in December.
The Mountaineer State passed a sports betting bill in March 2018, and that bill became an official law in May, after the striking down of PASPA. The West Virginia Lottery Commission is in charge of regulating the sports betting industry, but most current rules were included in the initial law.
The Hollywood Casino at Charles Town was the first in-person sports betting location in the state, and Betlucky was the first online option. Online sports betting created some controversy in the first few months, but the industry is now back up and running smoothly.
Retail Sports Betting Locations
The state of West Virginia is home to five casinos, and all five of these locations offer retail sports betting. These casinos did not simply launch sports betting on their own but instead sought out a partnership with some of the biggest names in sports betting.
Retail sports betting has actually done pretty well in the state of West Virginia as the casino industry is popular. Here are the five locations where all of the in-person betting must be done in the state:
- The Greenbrier
- Hollywood Casino at Charles Town
- Mardi Gras
- Mountaineer Casino
- Wheeling Island
Online Sportsbook Apps in West Virginia
Online sports betting in West Virginia has had an interesting history, as the entire portion of the industry was shut down at one time. West Virginia casinos have been able to attract some of the top sports betting operators in the industry, giving residents of the state some terrific options.
There are currently four of the top names in the industry available in West Virginia, and then a much smaller option. Online betting is the most popular form of betting in the Mountaineer State, but retail has done well also.
Here are the current online sportsbook apps in West Virginia.
- Betly Sportsbook
- BetMGM Sportsbook
- DraftKings Sportsbook
- FanDuel Sportsbook
- William Hill Sportsbook
Popular Teams in West Virginia
West Virginia is not home to any major professional sports teams, but that does not mean that there aren’t great fans in this state. Just like with most other states in the US, professional football is easily the most popular sport.
The other top professional sports in the state of West Virginia also get plenty of attention, especially at the sportsbooks. Basketball (NBA) is the second most popular sport to bet on in the Mountaineer State, with baseball and hockey coming next.
The top betting market in West Virginia is college football, as this is a state that loves its football. The West Virginia Mountaineers are the most popular team to root for and the most popular team to bet on.
The Marshall Thundering Herd also has a strong following in the state. West Virginia sports fans have enough teams to root for, and this is a state that loves its sports.