West Virginia

Ever since 2018, sports bettors have been able to sing the line “Take me home, West Virginia,” as the Mountain State was one of the first to offer online sports betting. Since 2018, the state has become home to five retail sportsbooks and eight online sportsbooks.

West Virginia does not have professional sports teams, so the West Virginia Mountaineers are the primary team for fans in most sports. Mountaineers fans can wager on their favorite team through the state's sports betting legislation, as there are no betting restrictions for professional and collegiate sports in WV.

Bettors more into eSports are also in luck, as the state legalized betting on the market in April 2022 through HB 4826. Other legal gambling-related markets in the Mountain States include daily fantasy sports apps and the ability to bet on horse racing in person or online.

Appalachian Survival Shows and Their Potential for Fantasy League Tie-Ins

As shows like Mountain Men and Appalachian Outlaws captivate audiences with rugged survivalism and frontier grit, West Virginia has a unique opportunity to monetize its cultural capital through novelty fantasy leagues. By creating DFS-style contests around these reality series, where participants draft show contestants or predict episode outcomes, daily fantasy platforms could tap into an untapped market that has a loyal fanbase. 

If state-regulated platforms adopted these formats, West Virginia could potentially generate close to $1 million in annual handle, especially during peak TV seasons. Integrating betting with pop culture not only enhances profitability by opening these markets to non-sports fans but also solidifies West Virginia as a center for next-generation wagering innovation.

Online sports betting in The Mountain State

Before PASPA was overturned, West Virginia was in hot pursuit of signing a sports betting bill into law. Delegate Shawn Fluharty introduced a sports betting bill in 2017 and then reintroduced that same bill, HB 2751, the following year. Despite his strong efforts, a bill titled SB 415 was the one that made it through both the Senate and House.

This bill received no action from the Justice of WV but still passed without a signature or veto. This gave way to online sports betting in December 2018, just a few months after retail betting had already been launched.

Sports bettors in West Virginia have been basking in gambling paradise since then. By passing SB 415, The Mountain State established a simple sports betting market through the five existing casinos before this bill was passed.

To enter the market in the Mountain State, online operators were required to partner with one of these five casinos that were granted a sports betting license. These operators could ultimately be sharing a retail partner, but in total, the state will allow up to 15 online skins to enter the market.

While each retail location could partner with three online operators, lawmakers in WV still felt that expanding the market could make it even better. This resulted in an attempt to take sports betting licenses away from the five casinos, but unsurprisingly, the casinos detested this motion, and this attempt by lawmakers was unsuccessful.

As of 2025, eight mobile betting apps are available for bettors in WV. These apps include Betly, Caesars, BetRivers, ESPN Bet, and more.

All legal WV sports betting apps in 2025 (from newest to oldest):

Recently Closed Online Sportsbook

Sports betting & gambling legislation in WV

The ability to place a legal sports wager in West Virginia is not strictly limited to residents. Anyone who happens to be passing through the Mountain State and is within state lines can place a bet. Additionally, a bettor must be at least 21 to legally place a wager online or at the casino.

Residents of West Virginia, as well as bettors passing through, are not required to be on-site at any of the state's five casinos to set up a mobile betting account with their partnered online operators. Remote registration is fully accessible to all bettors of legal gambling age.

Another facet of the state's sports betting scene is the tax rate. When a bettor’s winnings exceed $5,000, they are subject to a 6.5% tax rate on the state level and the typical 24% federal tax rate. Of course, if a bettor wants to gamble in other ways outside of sports betting, they can access online casinos, online poker, and the state lottery, all regulated by the West Virginia Lottery.

Expanding WV’s gambling scene: Betting on whitewater events during Gauley Season

West Virginia’s Gauley River has won over plenty of adrenaline junkies, but could its whitewater become the next frontier in extreme sports betting? Each fall, Gauley Season attracts expert rafters and massive crowds to its Class V rapids, creating a combination of speed, chaos, and competitive thrill. With timed heats, ranked teams, and GPS-tracked rafts, the groundwork for these events being bettable has already been laid.

Spectators could place wagers on the “fastest descent,” “heat winners,” and more. If WV expanded its betting laws to include adventure-sport prop markets, whitewater racing could introduce a fresh, outdoorsy twist to West Virginia’s gambling portfolio. Capturing even a fraction of the betting handle during Gauley Season could yield tens of thousands in wagers and generate new revenue for local rafting outfitters and state tourism. This would also open the door to a new wave of bettors who prefer X-Games style events instead of football or basketball.

Most recent updates from the WV sports betting scene

• March 7, 2025: Entering the 4th round of the Sun Belt Conference Tournament, the Marshall Thundering Herd are (+2000) to win the championship.

• February 7, 2025: With a 2-5 record over their last seven games, the West Virginia Mountaineers are set to host Utah as (-7.5) point favorites.

• January 24, 2025: West Virginia has opened as a (+1.5) road underdog to Kansas State after losing three of their last five games.

• January 2, 2025: After beating Kansas on the road, the West Virginia Mountaineers are now (+5000) to reach the Final Four.

• December 11, 2024: West Virginia will play Memphis in their bowl game on December 17th. The Mountaineers are (+3) point underdogs.

• December 3, 2024: The West Virginia Mountaineers have fired head coach Neil Brown. Offensive coordinator Chad Scott will be the interim coach for WVU in their bowl game.

• November 26, 2024: To close out their regular season, the West Virginia Mountaineers will head to Texas Tech, where they are (+3.5) point underdogs.

• November 18, 2024: Legendz social sports betting and casino gaming platform launches in West Virginia and 42 other states, offering free play, high RTP, and daily rewards. Open to players 18+, it features props, parlays, and real prize redemptions.

In-person sports betting sites and locations

West Virginia’s five commercial casinos are the only locations in the entire state that were given the ability to apply for a sports betting license when SB 415 was passed in 2018. Each of these casinos had been in business long before the state was able to get sports betting legislation passed.

Out of the five, The Greenbrier is the most exclusive, as customers must either stay in the hotel on the premises or be a member of their club to access their sportsbook, which FanDuel runs.

Ghosts and gambling: the spooky legends behind West Virginia casinos

West Virginia’s rugged history is filled with tales of coal miners, bootleggers, and Civil War soldiers, so it’s no surprise that ghost stories whisper through the halls of the state’s casinos and gambling halls. While these venues are often known for their bright signs and ringing slot machines, some gamblers and employees claim to have experienced unexplained phenomena.

One of the most talked-about locations is the Casino Club at The Greenbrier. Once a secret government bunker, The Greenbrier has long been rumored to be haunted, with guests reporting phantom footsteps, unexplained cold drafts, and shadowy figures in the hallways. Could these spirits be former high-rollers looking to hit blackjack one more time?

Another eerie hotspot is Hollywood Casino at Charles Town Races, built on land that has seen centuries of horse racing, Civil War battles, and early Appalachian settlements. Some patrons have reported seeing ghostly figures wandering near the racetrack. Whether these hauntings are real or just folklore, the idea of spirits lingering in West Virginia’s casinos adds a spooky twist to the thrill of betting.

From Oven to Odds: Pepperoni Roll Prop Bets at State Fairs

In West Virginia, few foods carry more cultural weight, or flavor, than the iconic pepperoni roll. A staple of lunchboxes, tailgates, festivals, and bakeries across the state, the pepperoni roll has long been celebrated for its simplicity and cultural roots. But could it also become the focal point of a new food-driven betting market?

A cook-off turned novelty betting opportunity at local fairs or food festivals would allow contestants to compete in categories like “Biggest Roll” or “Who Can Eat the Most.” Attendees could place friendly bets via geofenced licensed apps or festival kiosks set up by in-state sportsbooks, adding extra spice to an already beloved event. This type of market would elevate local chefs, draw tourists, and give the humble pepperoni roll a lot more notoriety to people that could be outside the state.

Sports betting in neighboring states

West Virginia residents do not have to travel far to find another location where they can place a legal sports wager. All five of West Virginia’s neighboring states offer a mix of retail and online wagering, most of which can be done on the same sports betting apps available in WV.

To find out what specific sportsbooks are active in each of West Virginia’s surrounding states, click on their name in the box underneath this section.

Sports betting revenue impact on West Virginia's economy

West Virginia operates its licensing system similarly to many states, with sports betting legalized. The five casinos in the state are the only organizations that can apply for a license. These casinos can partner with up to three online operators through their licenses.

Each license has a $250,000 fee up front and lasts five years. When those five years are up, the renewal fee is $100,000. All operators in the state are also subject to a tax rate of 10%, which is considered average compared to the rest of the market.

For the first five years of legalized sports betting, West Virginia's annual figures for handle, revenue, and tax income continued to grow each year. However, in 2023, the total handle fell by 17% compared to the previous year, resulting in nearly an 8% decrease in both sportsbook revenue and tax income. Fortunately for the state, the 2024 calendar year brought in new record annual figures for WV in revenue and tax income, despite the total yearly betting handle still lagging behind the peak levels of 2021 and 2022.

With a strong mix of mobile betting apps and retail locations, the betting market in the Mountain State is set for sustained success for years to come, even if the most rapid years of growth in the betting market might be behind.

West Virginia sports betting record months:

• Sports betting handle: November 2021 ($88,190,136)

• Revenue: December 2022 ($8,060,617)

• Tax income: December 2022 ($806,062)

• Biggest monthly mobile handle to date by a single WV sportsbook:

  • The Greenbrier (Fanduel & BetMGM) - Nov. 2021: $48,161,974

• Biggest recorded monthly revenue from online wagering:

  • Charles Town (DraftKings, Fanatics, & ESPN Bet) - Dec. 2022: $4,747,857

Latest WV sports betting revenue report breakdown (February 2025)

• Total betting handle: $39,004,613

  • Mobile betting handle: $35,328,193

  • Retail betting handle: $3,676,420

• Winnings paid to players: $34,410,389

  • Hold: 11.78%

  • Voided wagers: $64,517

• Gross revenue: $4,594,224

  • Adjusted taxable revenue: $4,529,707

• Tax revenue for the state: $452,971

Reported by the West Virginia Lottery.

Top 4 sportsbook apps in the state in February 2025:

1. Hollywood Casino at Charles Town (DraftKings, Fanatics Sportsbook, & ESPN Bet):

   • Mobile betting handle: $17.0m

   • Adjusted revenue from mobile wagering: $2.15m

2. The Greenbrier (FanDuel & BetMGM):

   • Mobile betting handle: $16.3m

   • Adjusted revenue from mobile wagering: $2.08m

3. Mountaineer Casino (Caesars & BetRivers):

   • Mobile betting handle: $1.6m

   • Adjusted revenue from mobile wagering: $68,044

4. Mardi Gras (Betly):

   • Mobile betting handle: $508,061

   • Adjusted revenue from mobile wagering: $49,366

Recent revenue report data - Compared to the previous year (YoY)

WV sports betting revenue in 2025

The table below presents the monthly sports betting handle, revenue, and VW's tax income from retail and online wagering. The percentage figure in brackets indicates how these numbers have evolved compared to the previous month.

2024 revenue data

Yearly revenue totals

BASE Jump Betting? Exploring a Sky-High Revenue Idea for West Virginia

The New River Gorge Bridge in West Virginia is an epicenter of aerial adrenaline during the iconic Bridge Day festival. Thousands gather to watch daring BASE jumpers leap 876 feet into the gorge below. For as exciting this event can be, spectators could add extra excitement by betting on it. 

Bridge Day could expand beyond jump counts and parachute statistics by offering prop-style wagers. With many jumpers already known for wearing outlandish outfits, from flying squirrels to Elvis suits, the judging criteria for style points already exist organically. By adding judges, event officials, or geofenced betting platforms, West Virginia could gamify one of its most daring annual traditions.

If just 0.02% of the state’s yearly sports betting handle (which exceeded $500 million in 2024) were directed to Bridge Day prop wagers, it could generate over $100,000 in seasonal betting. This creates a win-win scenario for the state, as it creates more engagement for the festival, more funds for state coffers, and a fresh spotlight on an already stunning Appalachian tradition.