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The state’s laws permit both online and physical betting, and unlike several other states, both are independent of each other. Thus, you don’t need to visit any retail sportsbook to conduct preliminary registrations if you want to bet online. Similarly, all activities relating to betting (placing wagers, undergoing KYC verification, deposits, withdrawals, etc.) can be done remotely without having to visit any outlets.
Here, we cover everything you need to know about WV sports betting – registrations, odds, bonuses, available sports, etc.
The West Virginia sports betting sites currently operational include:
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Cash Rebate Bonus: Enjoy up to 25% Cash
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Rakeboost bonus
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50% up to $1000
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Understanding that they have different categories of bettors with varying needs, West Virginia online sports betting companies have designed diverse betting offers types to these bettor categories. They include:
The betting industry has become competitive and sports betting companies use different strategies to attract new customers. One such is offering them special juicy packages to boost their betting experience.
These packages are in various forms. For instance, some welcome bonuses can amplify the amount the bettor commits on their first deposit. Then, a welcome bonus can also be a free bet where they don’t need a deposit to qualify for the offer.
Nonetheless, in most cases, the welcome betting offer is usable only once.
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New customers only! Please bet responsibly, begambleaware.org. 18+. Full T&Cs apply. | |
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Cash Rebate Bonus: Enjoy up to 25% Cash
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125% up to $1250
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New customers only! Get 125% bonus up to $1250 on your First Deposit! Full T&Cs apply |
Wagerers benefit from online sportsbooks. West Virginia companies are not limited to when bettors join the platform, as several bonuses are available for existing bettors. These bonuses achieve different purposes, including boosting the wagerers’ betting bankroll or offering better odds than what new bettors get.
Nonetheless, for those bonuses that involve cash, the percentages are usually much lower than what is available to new sign-ups.
The free bet ensures that a wagerer can stake without undertaking any risks. Usually, the funds they use to make these free bets will come from the bookmaker.
While there are several types of free wagers, there are 2 popular ones, one of which is the Refunded Bet. With this bonus offer, the sportsbook will refund the amount lost if a wagerer loses a bet. However, note that the refunded amount is in the form of betting credits, not cash, which means it is not withdrawable. Punters can only use them to make bets.
The other category is the condition-free bet, where the betting company offers a specific figure to the bettor to make stakes. Bookmakers usually require bettors to make qualifying bets to win this offer. Note that the conditions attached to this are often numerous and strict.
It is the most common with companies providing legal sports betting in West Virginia. The deposit bonus requires a punter to commit funds to their account, after which the bookmaker offers additional funds to boost the bettor’s betting balance.
The additional funds are usually not fixed amounts, and sportsbooks often provide them as percentages of the amount the wagerer deposits. The specific percentages differ across sportsbooks. For welcome deposit bonuses, you can find bonus packages up to 200% of the deposit amount. Beyond the sign up bonus, the percentage offered tends to drop significantly.
Online sports betting WV companies offer loyalty bonuses to bettors that constantly do business on their platforms. They typically select these punters based on the volume or value of betting transactions they conduct on the betting website.
WV sports betting sites reward these regular bettors with extra perks not available to other wagerers, and possible offers may include odds boosts, matchplay bonuses, free bets, etc.
Then, these benefits may include items not relating to betting, like invitations to exclusive casinos, restaurant reservations, shopping vouchers, etc.
Although due to its size, West Virginia has no professional sports teams, which has not affected its people’s passion. Like their counterparts nationwide, West Virginians follow all sporting competitions and have favourite teams across most major leagues.
The West Virginia population is sports-loving, with surveys showing that the state’s residents watch the highest quantity of sports in the US. Even though their sporting interests vary, football is the most popular. Other sports equally hold sway, including basketball, hockey, baseball, soccer, etc.
Companies providing sports betting in West Virginia are leveraging this sporting interest to offer access to top-notch betting opportunities through which the state’s wagerers can place bets on their favourite teams and competitions.
West Virginia doesn’t have any professional sports teams calling the state home. But it doesn’t stop the state’s sports lovers from following their loved competitions. West Virginians are converting this passion to teams in neighbouring states. Checks show that sports followers in West Virginia are particularly fond of Pennsylvania, the state next door, as they travel to watch games of several teams in Pittsburgh, the capital city.
Other states whose teams attract fans from West Virginia include Ohio and Washington, DC.
Beyond the major leagues, West Virginians are also fans of minor league franchises. However, because they don’t have any teams locally playing in any of these leagues, they tend to support teams based in other states, especially nearby ones.
The state’s local sports scene is active, with different home-based tournaments across most major sports. Unfortunately, they often don’t get sufficient coverage from WV online sports betting companies, meaning the state’s bettors can’t make wagers on these events.
Whatever West Virginia lacks in professional sports, it possesses in college sports. Teams from the state have proven to be formidable rivals in regional divisions of major collegiate leagues across various sports types.
The specific tournaments that West Virginian bettors place wagers on depend on their diverse sporting interests.
In the major league category, West Virginians keep abreast of top competitions like:
In the minor sporting section, West Virginian betting interest spreads across the various semi-professional leagues in the country’s Northeast. West Virginia has universities that boast decent sporting prowess, representing the state across multiple Divisions of the NCAA.
Each West Virginia online sportsbook understands that the state’s wagerers also want to explore tournaments outside the United States. Thus, they have developed their platforms to include competitions played elsewhere, especially those with international significance, including World Cups and the most popular leagues across various sporting types.
The specific teams that West Virginia bettors follow are diverse and include sides based both inside and outside the state. In the NFL, the state’s most followed sports, sports lovers split their passion between 6-time Super Bowl winners, the Pittsburgh Steelers, and Washington Commanders. Others include the Cleveland Cavaliers (NBA), Pittsburgh Pirates (MLB), and Pittsburgh Penguins (NHL).
In collegiate sports, the teams representing the state in the NCAA Division I are the West Virginia Mountaineers (from West Virginia University) and Marshall Thundering Herd (Marshall University). Unsurprisingly, these teams are stronger in football than other sports, with decently positive records.
West Virginia has historically been favourably predisposed to sports betting and has been one of the states at the forefront of encouraging and regulating wagering. The state’s journey to sports betting started in 2017 when the legislature amended the state’s Constitution so that its provisions could support the legalization of sports betting in the near future. However, the state couldn’t effect full-scale permission of sports betting because of the restriction placed by the PASPA Act.
In March 2018, months before the Supreme Court repealed PASPA, the state passed SB451, a bill to legalize sports betting in the state, in anticipation of the PASPA going out of operation. In May 2018, the Court nullified the PASPA, giving the state’s Lottery Commission the liberty to grant licenses to betting operators and enact regulations covering wagering activities across the state.
The first betting company to open shop in the state was Hollywood Casino in August 2018, quickly followed by the launch of online sports betting by BetLucky. However, the flourishing betting industry in the state soon ran into issues as a group of online and physical sportsbooks closed down operations due to legal challenges. Nonetheless, more top-notch sportsbooks quickly launch services, and betting has only grown in the state.
Online sports betting regulations have evolved from being based on physical wagering to completely digital. The state’s betting law initially permitted sports betting at physical bookies before permitting the launch of online sportsbooks in WV. Now, people don’t have to visit any physical outlets to place bets, as they can conduct all wagering transactions from the comfort of their homes.
Anyone conducting betting activities under West Virginian laws has to be physically present within the state’s territories, as the authorities require sportsbooks to use geo-locating software to pinpoint the location of each bettor.
You must only make bets with sportsbooks secured licenses from the state’s Lottery body, as this will protect you from falling victim to scams.
West Virginia state laws don’t require bettors to commit any portion of their winnings as taxes. However, to qualify for this exemption, you need to undergo KYC verification by submitting your government-issued ID documents. You must pay 6.5% of your bet winnings as tax without proof.
Note that the federal government already requires payment of 24% of your winnings in taxes.
You must have clocked 21 years before you’re permitted to make bets in Virginia.
No single indicator can help you choose the best sportsbook. It would be best if you considered multiple factors to decide on the West Virginia sports betting sites to settle for.
Nonetheless, the most common markers the best bookmakers include:
The betting authorities have established several legal safeguards that protect bettors’ interests through their laws. All betting companies applying for the state’s licenses must comply with these rules. It is essential that the bookmaker you decide to register with be registered with the appropriate regulators in West Virginia.
However, if you decide to go with a sportsbook not expressly permitted within West Virginia, the state’s laws can’t protect you. There is no Commission to lodge complaints with if your selected bookmaker engages in practices against your interests.
Most betting companies will cover the most popular competitions and tournaments across major sports. However, beyond these, you find fewer bookmakers providing access to less-known events. We recommend you go with any of the few sportsbooks that offer these other not-so-popular competitions.
The implication of having a sportsbook with comprehensive sports and events coverage is that you have more betting opportunities per time, which means more bets and higher chances of recording winnings.
Your sportsbook of choice must prove that they are invested in your betting success by providing tools and resources to improve your betting outcome.
One such tool is the mobile app, which provides a single platform to conduct all betting services. The app must be designed appropriately, with easy access to all the crucial sections.
A sportsbook can offer services that include live streaming of matches, a cashout feature and live betting service.
There are few things better than betting on other people’s funds. Betting is risky, and getting as many extra funds as possible to make more bets is always good. Bonuses are a way through which betting companies boost their customers’ balances.
Nonetheless, good bonus packages must fulfil some conditions. First, they must be sufficient, with decently high percentages. Then, the conditions attached to each bet must be fairly achievable for many bettors.
The odds are essential in betting as they determine how much you get out of each win. Thus, it is crucial to go for a high-odds sportsbook.
However, it is hardly straightforward to tell which WV sports betting app offers the best odds. It is because sportsbooks frequently modify their odds-deciding systems, and each modification can change the quantity of the odds they provide.
Nonetheless, the best way to tell which sportsbooks have proven good in terms of their odds policies is to select a group of sportsbooks and sample their odds for a fairly long period, for instance, a few weeks. By then, you can tell which of them delivers the best odds.
West Virginia doesn’t determine deposit methods for sportsbooks in the state, as each betting site adopts its channels. Nonetheless, we studied the most common deposit methods and grouped them into the following:
The various banking channels enable sending funds directly from your bank account to the sportsbook, which will credit your betting profile. The payment options include wire transfers, internet banking, cheques, etc.
Cards are the next most popular, and if you possess any debit/credit card powered by Visa, MasterCard or Maestro, you should be able to make deposits in West Virginia.
Then, if your bookmaker issues Play+ cards, you can also go for them, as they tend to be faster than traditional cards.
Several West Virginia sports betting apps accept payments through E-wallet services like PayPal, Skrill, Neteller, etc. These wallets have proven to be the fastest deposit channels.
In most cases, if you select any channel for deposits, you’ll likely be required to keep using them for your Withdrawals. It ensures security and enables faster payments.
The same payment systems for deposits also apply to withdrawals, including:
Any cheques, internet banking and bank and ACH transfers will work with most West Virginia online sports betting platforms.
If you used a card powered by MasterCard, Visa or Maestro for deposits, your sportsbook would likely send your withdrawals to the bank attached to the card.
Withdrawals to the Play+ card will go to the E-wallet account attached to the card, and you can spend directly or transfer somewhere else.
These are generally faster and cheaper. Upon withdrawal, the funds go to the wallet from where you can spend them.
No single app qualifies as the absolute best West Virginia sports betting app because the top apps have different areas of strength. However, some WV sportsbook apps are good enough and have some features that qualify them.
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100% up to $600
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Up to $30 in Free Bets
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Bet £10 get £30 in free bets
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One is intuitive design. The best apps must be outlined to make them appealing and usable for most bettors. For instance, the most used icons must be placed in the most accessible angles.
Another is top-notch digital protection. The app must be fitted with the latest cyber-security protocols to ensure that the sensitive details that users store on them are safe.
Finally, top West Virginia sportsbook apps get frequent updates that fix past issues and add new features.
Sportsbooks provide the live betting service so bettors can make wagers on events as they unfold. In the past, bettors had to place their bets before the kickoff time for any sporting tournament. Once the events commence, the opportunity to stake on it disappears. Nonetheless, with live betting, you can take advantage of a betting opportunity at any time during the game.
Several WV sports betting sites also introduced live streaming to enhance the live betting feature, enabling players to catch up on most games as they are played right from the sportsbook’s platform.
West Virginia betting regulations permit both online and physical wagering. However, online sports betting is infinitely better, as it is convenient and fast. Players can download mobile apps to access online sportsbooks or walk into a retail outlet or casino to place bets. You also take advantage of value-adding features like live betting and cash out and can catch up on games via the live streaming service. In addition to special bonuses and deals, these are exclusively available to online bettors.
Successful betting can be difficult, but you can make things easier if you stick to winning strategies. Some tips that have worked in the past include:
Allowing your preferences for any teams to affect your betting decisions will ruin you fast. Wagering requires selecting the team that is likely to win, and your wishes won’t affect the outcomes. So it is best to be as objective as possible.
There are times and seasons during betting, and what happens at a particular time shouldn’t affect your emotional stability. When experiencing winning streaks, don’t get overconfident. Similarly, when encountering losses, keep your composure.
Betting involves making decisions based on the information you have previously garnered. Thus, ensure you know the current state of any league or tournament before betting on it.
Research doesn’t have to be complicated. It can be as simple as leisurely watching sports television.
There is no absolute best betting service, as they each have their areas of strength. Thus, check around different sportsbooks to see which has the best offers. For instance, which has special bonuses for a specific match? Which is offering the best odds for a tournament?
Take advantage of the best at any specific time.
West Virginia is a small state, geographically and population-wise, but it appears to have embraced gambling better than others. While betting is widespread across the state, some cities are notable for being active in wagering.
One is Charleston, the state capital and most populous metropolis. Being the most populated, the city is one of those areas with the highest number of bettors. It is partly why the first sportsbook, Hollywood Casino, launched there.
Huntington comes next, ranking as the second most populous location. Morgantown shares the same similarities with Huntington, being the home base for the West Virginia Mountaineers, one of the most successful teams in the NCAA and West Virginia’s leading sporting side. It is also a bustling sports arena, hosting the Marshall Thundering Herd (from Marshall University).
Other notable cities include Parkersburg and Wheeling.
West Virginia allows both online and physical sportsbooks, with provisions for any company to take on licenses to offer. Thus, several casinos have offered sports betting services, usually in partnership with sportsbooks.
Hollywood Casino is the first casino in the state and has partnered with Barstool Sportsbook to provide wide betting options and reward risk-free bets. The Greenbrier Casino Club is working with BetMGM to bring the sportsbook’s remarkable market coverage and robust deals to physical bettors. Madi Gras is associated with Caesar Sportsbook to ensure seamless access to commendable odds and a well-built mobile app.
Despite its size, West Virginia ranks among the best betting states in the country. The combination of innovative legislation and a savvy population has attracted the best betting companies nationwide.
Here are a few things to know about the state and betting:
West Virginia is a top betting state. For instance, it doesn’t levy taxes on betting winnings. Also, its betting laws have few limitations, meaning wagerers have ample freedom to stake on games. Unlike several other states, remote registration and betting allow bettors ample convenience.
Nonetheless, the state doesn’t have enough betting companies. There is a need to issue licenses to more sportsbooks.