Online West Virginia Sports Betting Sites: Top WV Bookies
The Mountain State is well on its way to becoming a gambling epicentre for the Mid-Atlantic region. But which West Virginia sports betting operators are the best? We answer this question and more in our complete online overview of West Virginia sports gambling.
- This Site Contains:
- List of the Top Legal West Virginia Bookmakers
- Overview of West Virginia Sports Gambling Law
- Average West Virginia Sports Betting Odds Explained
If you love John Denver, Mountaineer football, and the Thunder of the Herd, you probably like placing some wagers, too. Here are the top West Virginia betting sites, plus their payouts, live streaming offers and our overall rating:
Top 2 West Virginia Betting Sites
| Best betting sites: | Assessment: | Payout: | Best For: | Live Streamig: | Welcome Bonus: | More Info |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bet Now! | 95.30% | Top WV betting site | yes | Up to $1,000 Risk-Free First Bet | Bet Now! | |
| Caesars-sport | 95.85% | Great bonuses | no | Up to $1,001 | Bet Now! |
Seasoned sports bettors know, however, that the best online West Virginia sports betting sites vary depending on the markets you intend to wager on. Some may offer better payouts for certain sports than others, for example. To illustrate this, here are the best West Virginia bookmakers by category:
The Best West Virginia Bookmakers by Category
| 🏆 Best Betting Site 2024: | BetMGM |
| ▶️ Top for Live Betting: | Caesars |
| 📈 Best NFL Odds: | BetMGM |
| ⚾ Top MLB Bonuses: | BetMGM |
| 🏀 Best NBA Bookmaker: | Caesars |
| 🏒 Most Popular NHL Bookie: | BetMGM |
| 🔎 Biggest Market Selection: | BetMGM |
| 🏈 Best Super Bowl Promos: | Caesars |
| ⛹️ Top for Player Props: | BetMGM |
| ✨ Best for NCAAF: | Caesars |
As you can see, there are benefits and drawbacks to all of the West Virginia sports betting sites listed here. However, they all have one thing in common – they are all licensed, legal, and safe WV online bookmakers.
Analyzing West Virginia Sports Betting Sites
Our list of the top West Virginia sports gambling sites is organized based on the sum of the scores we assigned to each betting site for various important categories. As we update the site, you’ll find general rankings on the right side of this page.
The Criteria Used for Ranking West Virginia Betting Sites
Using our decades of gambling experience, we developed a set of quality benchmarks useful for determining the best West Virginia sports betting options. Our method evaluates operators on 10 criteria, that we then aggregate. The final total is used to rank each bookmaker from best to worst.
You can click on the links in the table above to go directly to our explanation of how we rate each section. If you’re new to the West Virginia online sports betting scene, we suggest reading through our entire write-up before deciding on a bookie.
West Virginia Bookmakers at a Glance
Possibly the most important part of sports betting is finding the right bookie for your preferences. If you’re primarily an NBA bettor it wouldn’t make sense to register for a site that caters to NFL gamblers. Here’s a quick snapshot of each West Virginia sports gambling website’s offering:
Up to $1,000 Risk-free First Bet
- High Payouts
- Generous Bonuses
- Stellar Smartphone App
West Virginia legal sports betting operators have markets for popular sports like football, basketball, and baseball. However, it’s college football that rules in the Mountain State. It’s by far the most widely bet sport in the region, which is why we emphasized the number of college football conferences and markets available.
Live Betting
One of the newest innovations in West Virginia sports betting is the rise of live betting. In-play wagers let you gamble on the action while it’s unfolding. So, when you get a bad line, the game doesn’t go how you expect, or a key player gets injured, you can wager again with new odds and spreads.
This method of sports betting is becoming more popular every day with the gambling public. Many bookmakers offer live player props, like the next player to score a touchdown or the result of the next at-bat, so it’s best to make these wagers while you’re watching the game.
Best West VA Sportsbook Odds
When you’re searching for new West Virginia sportsbooks to gamble at, the payouts it offers should be one of the first things you look at. Nothing is more crucial to your long-term success than having the discipline to repeatedly seek out the best odds.
Say you want to bet the favorite. Bookmaker A is offering a spread at -7, and Bookmaker B is offering the same team at -6 points. You get a full point advantage by betting with Bookmaker B. Performing this quick comparison drastically improves your chances over the long run.
The table above displays the average payouts for each sport at West Virginia online sports betting operators. If you primarily gamble on a single sport, you should make accounts at the ones providing the highest average odds for that sport.
If you’re a jack-of-all-trades type, then you should concentrate on the sites with the highest general average odds. That way you improve your chances of finding good payouts even though other sites might usually have more favorable lines.
Best WV Sports Betting Apps
Smartphones are now an irreplaceable part of our lives. It makes sense then that they are also an irreplaceable part of our repertoire as gamblers. High-quality mobile apps let you place wagers with West Virginia Betting Sites from everywhere within the state.
It doesn’t matter if you’re traveling from Charleston to Charles Town, or from Wheeling to Huntington – you can bet from anywhere you happen to be. Unfortunately, only works if you’re not the one driving. We suggest riding along with a friend if you’re going to gamble on the go.
The Top Bonuses at West Virginia Sports Betting Sites
To get new players to sign up in the state, bookmakers offer West Virginia sports gambling bonuses. These pot sweeteners boost your bankroll because they give you extra funds to gamble with.
Checking the sportsbook’s promotional terms and conditions is important, however, because there are certain constraints involved that you need to adhere to. Check out some of the most common prerequisites for claiming a bonus:
| CO Sportsbook | Bonus Offer |
|---|---|
| BetMGM | Up to $1,000 |
| Caesars | Up to $1,001Risk-Free Bet |
- Playthrough Requirements
- Time Limits
- Minimum Deposits
- Validity Periods
- Minimum Odds
- Minimum and Maximum Limits
- Valid Markets
It’s also good to know the differences between bonus types. You should always keep an eye out for the best ones for your betting style. For instance, high-risk, high-reward bettors might benefit from a money-back offer, where a more conservative gambler might benefit more from a deposit match promotion.
It’s easy to get wide eyes when you see a large bonus amount, but the promo’s size isn’t everything – many other things can make certain offers better than others. Here are some crucial differences between the offers the best West Virginia online sports betting sites make as compared to the mediocre ones:
- Low playthrough requirements
- Long validity periods
- Available for a variety of markets
- Expires after 7 days
- Strict wagering requirements
- Highly restricted odds
Comparing and contrasting bonuses when you open accounts with new operators can also give you a feel for the quality of the operator. Large, well-known, highly reputable gambling companies do not need to be stingy with their offers.
Leading Payment Options for West Virginia Bookmakers
When it comes to payment options, we find it’s most important to feel comfortable when you use it. It should be quick and seamless. Here are some of the most popular payment methods accepted at each WV bookie:
There are drawbacks and benefits to each payment type. For example, Visa and Mastercard allow for instant deposits directly from your checking account, while Bank Transfer is used by high rollers to facilitate the movement of large amounts.
The past decade has also seen the rise of financial options like Apple Pay and cryptocurrencies. These “alternative” payment options aren’t currently available for West Virginia online sports betting but check back here every so often as this is likely to change.
Staying Safe at Online West Virginia Sports Betting Sites
Your safety and security are our top priorities, so we perform in-depth analyses of bookmakers’ security measures before we post operators on our site. State gambling licenses are the primary indicators that an operator is safe and secure.
Licensed and legal West Virginia sports gambling websites must meet stringent standards outlined by the West Virginia Lottery Commission. It performs regular audits on all the legal sites to make sure they are doing their part to protect sports bettors.
| Bookmaker | License Number | Know Your Customer Requirements | IT Security | Responsible Gaming |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| BetMGM | n/a | ID Verification | DigiCert – 256-bit SSL Encryption | 1-800-GAMBLER |
| Caesars | n/a | ID Verification | HydrantID – 256-bit SSL Encryption | 1-800-GAMBLER |
Aside from a license, the next thing we consider is the IT companies involved in providing a bookmaker’s security systems. Firms like DigiCert, Symantec, and Amazon provide encryption technology and certifications to keep your data secure.
- VeriSign
- CyberSitter
- IBIA
- Symantec
The last things we look into are responsible gambling initiatives. Gambling addiction is a serious problem and is treated as such by the West Virginia Lottery Commission (WVLC). If you or someone you know might be developing a gambling problem, you can reach out to 1-800-GAMBLER or your bookmaker’s support team.
All West Virginia legal sports betting sites have an organization they sponsor to help fight problem gambling. Furthermore, they are required to offer player protections like voluntary self-exclusion, deposit limits, and cooling-off periods.
The Importance of Customer Service
While we hope you won’t need it often, a high-quality customer service team is a must have when choosing a new bookmaker. Plus, some bookmakers require you to contact a member of their support staff to verify your identification, so you want someone who can make the process quick and painless.
Also, though rare, technical issues do arise on occasion. That’s why it’s important to consider in our criteria and is weighted as heavily as other benchmarks. Here are some common ways to get in touch with support teams and what they’re typically used for:
| Contact Method | Prevalence | Average Wait Time | Suitable For |
|---|---|---|---|
| ☎️ Phone | High | 5-30 Minutes | Simple & quick problems |
| 📧 Email/Form | High | Up to 24 Hours | Complex problems & screenshots |
| 👩⚕️ Live chat | High | 2-3 Minutes | Everything excluding screenshots |
| 💬 Messenger | Low | 5-30 Minutes | Simple & quick problems |
| 🌐 Social network | Low | 24-48 Hours | Feedback, advice, & suggestions |
Due to its convenience, 24/7 live chat is the most popular option by far. You can get help instantly because agents can help more than one person at a time which they’re limited to on the phone.
It’s worth noting that customer support access is reserved for account holders at West Virginia sportsbooks in most cases. This is to protect support representatives from spam and available for people who are having real issues preventing them from placing wagers.
- Multi-lingual representatives
- Round the clock access
- Various contact methods
- Long wait times
- Unskilled representatives
- Limited hours
As we show in the table, we emphasize a well-rounded customer service offering with 24/7 service. West Virginia online sports betting is offered around the clock so it should be the same when it comes to getting assistance when things go wrong.
Bonus Points Earned
In a competitive environment, the smallest edges make a huge difference. That’s why we give extra points to West Virginia sports betting sites that truly go above and beyond to provide a top-notch experience. We do this with a ten-point system.
The small details we’re referencing are frequently extra features like live streaming, same-game parlays, and offering custom bets via social media. These add-ons give certain West Virginia sports gambling operators a little more flair, and we’ve been convinced by these factors before on more than one occasion.
| Extra | Betting Site |
|---|---|
| 🏆 Unique User Interface | Caesars |
| 📰 Social Media Presence | BetMGM |
| 💰 Single Game Parlays | Caesars |
| 📺 Live Streaming | BetMGM |
| 🤑 Player Prop Parlays | BetMGM |
A fairly recent development in the world of sports betting is the use of social media by bookmakers to interact with the betting public. Many post news, odds, and offers on their accounts, but some take it farther and let customers request custom bets and parlays.
Unfortunately, we were unable to find a West Virginia legal sports betting option with this feature available. However, its explosive growth across the pond means we think it’s only a matter of time before it makes its way into the Mountain State.
Conducting West Virginia Sports Betting Site Reviews
To come up with our ratings, we reviewed each West Virginia sportsbook individually. We applied our time-tested methodology for reviewing betting websites. We evaluate all the categories covered below and assign bookies a score from 0-10, aggregate them, and then provide our final rankings.
How Average Payouts are Calculated
The primary differentiator between bookmakers is their payouts. You should be aware that some sites have better odds than others for certain sports. Many in the West Virginia sports betting scene are into college football, so they shouldn’t register at a sportsbook catering to NBA fans.
What many sports bettors don’t realize is how just a small percentage increase in an operator’s payout can drastically change a gambler’s income over time. That’s why we suggest opening accounts at multiple sportsbooks, so you can shop around and always have the best West Virginia sports gambling odds.
If this concept sounds confusing to you, we’re here to help. In the coming sections, we take a deep dive into calculating the odds at West Virginia sports betting sites, and how you can use this information to find high and low margin bookmakers. 
The margin is also known as the bookie’s vigorish, also known as the “juice” or “vig”. Using this formula each time you make a bet helps in identifying low-cost West Virginia sportsbooks and it can greatly reduce the amount of commission you pay on each wager.
The great thing about this formula is that it can be used for all sports. To provide a bit of context, it’s worth remembering that West Virginia sports betting operators are only interested in having equal liabilities across all the possible outcomes – or having balanced books.
So how do we calculate the margin, then? First, you must convert the odds to a percentage, known as the implied probability. Here’s how to do this with American odds:
- Negative Odds (Favorites) – Probability = (-(Negative Odds) / (-(Negative Odds) + 100)) * 100
- Positive Odds (Underdogs) – Probability = (100 / (Positive Odds + 100)) * 100
Once you do this, add up the percentages. Then, the formula becomes payout rate = (100 / sum of percentages) * 100. This makes it much easier to identify which bookmakers are more generous than others.
You can calculate the margins at your favorite West Virginia sportsbooks by subtracting the payout rate from 100. This formula is margin = 100 – payout rate. Repeat this process until you identify the sportsbook with the highest payout rate for the market you want to bet on.
As we alluded to earlier, bookmakers are more interested in balancing their books than directly laying your action. However, this means the West Virginia sports betting industry must be incredibly accurate with the lines it sets, and it can be very hard to find value a lot of the time.
The Impact of Payouts and Commissions
To illustrate how big an impact finding the best odds has, consider the following example. You find many popular West Virginia online sports betting firms are giving both teams a 50% chance of winning next Saturday’s college football matchup on the moneyline. You then visit five websites with different margins.
To see this example in action, check out the following table showing the potential returns of a $10 investment on the game:
| Home & Away Market Odds by Payout Rate | ||
|---|---|---|
| Payout | Home | Away |
| 97% | -105 | -105 |
| 95% | -110 | -110 |
| 93% | -115 | -115 |
| 91% | -120 | -120 |
| 89% | -125 | -125 |
| Potential Net Payout with $10 Wager | ||
|---|---|---|
| Payout | Home | Away |
| 97% | $9.52 | $9.52 |
| 95% | $9.09 | $9.09 |
| 93% | $8.70 | $8.70 |
| 91% | $8.33 | $8.33 |
| 89% | $8.00 | $8.00 |
As you can see from the right side of the table, a 3% margin results in a $0.43 commission on your winning bet. An 11% margin, which is not unheard of, results in the bookmaker getting a whopping $2.00 commission for a $10 bet.
If you make 1,000 $10 bets, that 8% difference in margin equates to you paying an extra $1,520 to the bookie, and that’s only if you win every single bet you make. Such is the power of shopping around.
How We Test Customer Service
Once we identify the bookies with the best odds in the West Virginia sports betting industry, we move on to testing their customer service teams. We test each site to check its response times, opening hours, and the number of contact methods available.
The most crucial thing we investigate, though, is the quality of service they provide. Luckily, poor service is the exception to the rule with West Virginia sports betting sites. Based on those criteria, we award 0-10 points to each operator towards its rankings.
How We Rate Available Payment Options
As with the other criteria we cover here, we award zero to 10 points based on the quality of the payment options West Virginia sportsbooks offer. A bookmaker offering your preferred method is important, and so we award zero to three points based on how broad an operator’s selection is.
We also award zero to three points based on how extensive a sportsbook’s deposit and withdrawal overviews are, detailing the processing time, minimum and maximum limits, and bonus availability for each option. This is to reward transparency.
Lastly, we award zero (expensive) to four points (free) based on the bookmaker’s transaction fees. It’s worth noting though that occasionally the payment processor imposes fees, so we don’t dock points for operators where this is the case.
Once we’ve done this for all the operators, we sum the points to get their final rankings for payment method quality.
Judging the Overall Platform
There’s nothing worse than finding a great line, going to make a bet, then finding out that you didn’t lock it in fast enough before the bookie changed its lines. That’s why we place a big emphasis on the user experience.
We award zero to 10 points to bookies based on how their interfaces perform in our tests. We give a higher weighting to fast loading times and streamlined designs that help users get their bets down with West Virginia sportsbooks quickly.
Since odds can change rapidly in volatile markets, we award zero to seven points based on how quickly a site loads, leaving three points for interface design. We believe this weighting is fair because clunky designs have cost us great payouts before, but not as frequently as poor update speeds.
How We Award Bonus Points for Extra Features
The last point of evaluation are extras that can be considered “nice to haves”. We reserve ten additional points we distribute to sites that stand out above the competition. We look for things like an active social media presence, internal news, and VIP programs.
Since live streaming is one of the primary offers at most sportsbooks, we award a site zero to three points based on its offering. We repeat this process for social media activity, award two points for EGR Award wins and two points for same-game and player prop parlays.
Online Betting vs. In-Person Sportsbooks
If you’ve been gambling for a while, you remember the days of driving around to your local bookmakers placing bets. West Virginia sportsbooks now provide you can wager from the comfort of your own home.
There are some key differences to know, though, if you’ve never opened an online betting account. The first thing to be aware of is that online gambling is a somewhat solitary activity. Sportsbooks tend to be where like-minded gamblers discuss what’s on today’s board, and you might lose out on some of that camaraderie.
Also, many brick-and-mortar bookmakers have special offers you can only get by visiting them in person. They offer things like raffles, drawings, and player rewards, but they’re only valid when you visit the sportsbook yourself and make a wager.
Some brick-and-mortar bookmakers let you cancel your bets, which isn’t possible when you’re West Virginia sports gambling online. This is somewhat counteracted by early cashout offers, but they are only available after games start.
Lastly, in-person wagering has higher limits than its online counterpart. This is because you’re physically in a casino if you’re in a West Virginia sports betting parlor, and they have the means to facilitate large cash transactions.
Here’s a breakdown of the biggest differences between West Virginia sports betting sites and their in-person analogues:
Plus, you’ll have a larger selection of markets and events to choose from online. It’s not practical for a betting shop to offer lines on obscure events. However, online betting sites use comprehensive algorithms to set their lines, and as such can offer lines on more events.
Likewise, mobile apps mean it’s practical to bet from anywhere in the state. You can download West Virginia sports betting apps from both Apple and Android stores, meaning you can be anywhere between Wheeling and Huntington and get in some wagers, provided you aren’t driving of course.
West Virginia online sports betting operators are also known for their generous bankroll boosting welcome offers. People drive in from neighboring states just to claim these offers because they have easy terms and conditions to meet for the average bettor.
Ultimately, what you decide comes down to your personality. Some people enjoy the drive to the local casino to watch the games on the multitude of TVs most West Virginia sportsbooks boast. Others like to sit at home, while others enjoy the ability to make a high volume of bets online.
Betting Exchanges & Early Cashouts
The tech boom brought innovation to countless industries, and West Virginia sports betting is no exception. Bookmakers have been capitalizing on new developments in the industry like betting exchanges and early cashouts, which weren’t available even ten years ago.
Betting Exchanges vs. West Virginia Online Sports Betting Sites
A betting exchange is an intermediary that facilitates wagers between two gamblers. Bettor A, known as the backer, bets on an outcome, while Bettor B, known as the layer, bets against that outcome occurring, essentially acting as the house.
While they’re not currently available in the Mountain State, their success in the rest of the world means it’s likely only a matter of time before exchanges start showing up. Here are some crucial differences between West Virginia online sports betting sites and betting exchanges:
While West Virginia sportsbooks set their odds according to their liabilities, odds at betting exchanges are set by market fundamentals. This fact, plus the fact that exchanges charge a straight commission, means that there are usually more edges to exploit.
The Early Cashout
Early cashout is as straightforward as it sounds – West Virginia sports betting websites provide this so you can cash your bet out early at reduced odds. This is helpful when a game isn’t going according to plan, or you want to protect a winning wager.
Early cashouts mean you can protect your winnings when games are close. This prevents the bad beat that every gambler dreads from occurring. You watch your team go up, cash out, and move on to the next opportunity.
The History of Gambling in West Virginia
West Virginia sports gambling had a relatively easy path to legalization compared to other states. While this may be somewhat surprising given West Virginia’s conservative lean, gambling has been legal in some form in the Mountain State for decades.
All online betting sites are regulated by the West Virginia Lottery Commission, except remote horse racing betting, which is overseen by the West Virginia Racing Commission. Here is a brief historical overview of gambling in West Virginia.
To make it worthwhile for the state, West Virginia legal sports betting operators must pay their fair share. They pay a flat 10% tax on gross revenue from all sports wagering activities. As an individual, you can expect to pay up to 6.5% to the state and 24% of your winnings to the federal government.
Legal West Virginia Betting Sites Licensing Requirements
All legal West Virginia bookmakers must have a license from the WVLC. Failure to have one means a sportsbook is operating illegally in the state. You can see if an operator has a license if you check the footer of its site for a WVLC logo.
The WVLC oversees all gambling activities at legal West Virginia gambling sites outside of horse and greyhound racing, which falls under the regulation of the Racing Commission. The WVLC is responsible for the regulation and enforcement of gambling laws within the state.
It also performs routine inspections to ensure operators play by the rules and implement the proper player protections, and that the games and wagers offered are fair. Lastly, it monitors the handle, revenue, and tax revenue generated by all West Virginia legal sports betting and gambling operations.
The only way to remain completely safe is by gambling with legal West Virginia sports betting sites. If a site is operating without a permit, it’s considered a black market website and should be avoided.
Here is a list of West Virginia legal sports betting operators and their casino partners:
A legitimate betting site is concerned about its reputation. Once bad publicity hits about non-payment or unfair practices and it’s almost impossible to regain positive public sentiment. That’s why reputable sites are happy to pay you your winnings and want to keep their games fair.
Black Market Bookmakers Operating in West Virginia
There are more black market bookies in West Virginia than many people realize. Often disguised as legitimate operators, they aren’t licensed and don’t pay taxes. They can also do what they want with your money and get away with it because they’re located outside of US jurisdiction.
Furthermore, many of these sites are set up as scams. They steal your data and money by accepting deposits, your payment information, then closing down after a few weeks. You can avoid this by looking for the WVLC watermark at any betting site you visit.
Black market sites provide no legal recourse if you need to dispute something, and they’re illegal under the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act.
- ⛔️ 1XBet
- ⛔️ Bovada
- ⛔️ BetOnline
- ⛔️ BetDSI
- ⛔️ SportsBetting.ag
- ⛔️ CarbonGaming.ag
- ⛔️ MyBookie
- ⛔️ BetUS
- ⛔️ Xbet
- ⛔️ 22bet
- ⛔️ 5Dimes
Here is a list of all the unlicensed operators in the state, which we will update as more come online in the future.
West Virginia: A Sports Betting Hotbed
After reading our overview, you should have a much better picture of the status of West Virginia sports betting, which bookmakers are the best, and what to look for in your search for a new bookie. Ultimately, it’s up to you to decide which sportsbook you feel most comfortable with.
It should be noted that, while we posted the results of our tests here, these criteria are based on our opinion of what makes a great bookmaker. It’s important to develop your own using a similar process to find the best bookies for your personal betting goals and tastes.
On top of sports betting, West Virginia also features legal online casinos, legal daily fantasy sports, and legal brick-and-mortar poker. In fact, online poker is just about the only form of gambling that’s still outlawed in the Mountain State.
Though many people might not know it, West Virginia is one of the most gambling-friendly states in the country and has been for some time. The low tax rate, for both operators and players alike, means it intends on growing the industry over the coming years.
FAQs
While we try to make all our write-ups as comprehensive as possible, our readers occasionally have more specific questions, which we answer below. If you feel we missed something or want to voice a concern, feel free to contact us at any time.