West Virginia Sports Betting: Best Legal Sportsbooks

Is online sports betting legal in West Virginia?

Yes. West Virginia passed its sports wagering law in March 2018, before the Supreme Court had even ruled on the federal ban, which put it among the very first states to act once that ban was lifted. The first legal bets were placed at Hollywood Casino at Charles Town Races in August 2018, and online sportsbooks followed soon after.

The West Virginia Lottery Commission regulates the market. You must be 21 or older to bet, and every online wager requires you to be physically located inside the state.

Retail sportsbooks across the state

Each of West Virginia's five casinos, in Charles Town, Chester, Wheeling, Nitro and White Sulphur Springs, runs a retail sportsbook. That spreads in-person betting across the state, from the Eastern Panhandle to the Ohio Valley and the Kanawha Valley. Retail betting is a good option for those who prefer cash or want to watch the game with other fans. The Greenbrier resort's sportsbook is one of the more unusual venues in the country, set inside a historic luxury hotel.

West Virginia sports betting sites we review

BetMGM and BetRivers, two of the three US sportsbooks we rank, are licensed in West Virginia. bet365 is not listed for the state on this site and is left out of our West Virginia rankings. Online licences are tied to the state's five casinos, and each operator reaches bettors through a partnership with one of those properties.

Geolocation is worth watching in a state with such winding borders. Residents of the Eastern Panhandle are close to Maryland and Virginia, and Wheeling is minutes from Ohio and Pennsylvania, each of which licenses its own sportsbooks.

• Regulator: West Virginia Lottery Commission
• First bets: August 2018
• Minimum age: 21
• Licensed brands we rank: BetMGM, BetRivers

College betting and taxes

West Virginia bettors can wager on college sports, including Mountaineers and Marshall games, but the state has placed limits on prop betting involving college athletes, so expect fewer markets than for professional games.

Gambling winnings are treated as taxable income in West Virginia as well as federally, so it pays to keep a record of what you win and lose.

Mountaineers, Thundering Herd and getting support

With no major professional franchise, West Virginia sports revolve around WVU in Morgantown and Marshall in Huntington, while many residents follow the Steelers and Pittsburgh's other teams. The state's problem gambling network can be reached through 1-800-GAMBLER, which offers free and confidential help at any time.