There are many folks all across the country who are avid sports fans and it is no strange occurrence to place a wager on a game to spice things up. Those in West Virginia are no strangers to a little icing on the game day cake when the Mountaineers take the field on any given Saturday. Much has changed in the world of sports betting, with certain federal laws no longer in the mix and new sports gambling laws on the table. This means that locals in the Mountain State can place a bet on their favorite team and receive real cash winnings if they find a safe and legal venue. With the advent of the internet, there are a number of legal online sportsbooks for West Virginia residents that we will outline below.
There are a few federal laws to keep in mind before venturing onto the internet to make a wager, but they only target the business of sports betting or facilitating bets for profit. The average bettor is not a target while the simple act of placing a wager remains legal. Laws such as the federal Wire Act and the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act (UIGEA) all play a role in how a West Virginia resident must seek out a legal online sportsbook while searching the internet. The Wire Act impacts online sports betting operators while the UIGEA is merely a banking restriction.
You may be surprised to learn that neither of these federal laws are relevant to WV sports betting. These laws specifically state that they are only applicable to illegal sports betting. The West Virginia Legislature has legalized land-based, online, and mobile wagering within the state.
There are plenty of exciting sports betting options open to West Virginia residents. Many of these sites have been operating for a number of years with a strong reputation for secure deposit and payouts as well as stellar customer support and page designs. Naturally, we prefer the sports betting sites that have the greatest variety and latest sports betting odds. We are happy to share a couple of our personal favorite legal online sportsbooks that accept West Virginia residents below.
By far our top destination for placing a legal online sports wager, Bovada.lv has been serving the American populace for decades. In fact, this online sports betting network even began as the American site ‘Bodog’ only having to move after changing federal laws. Now located in neighboring Canada, Bovada offers the utmost in customer support and security to any legally aged resident of West Virginia.
With betting lines that span virtually every sport, league, division, team and player, members are able to wager upon the moneyline, spread, over/under or even the fractional odds of any given event. Bettors at this online sportsbook can set the limits that they risk and know precisely what they stand to win off a winning wager whether it is a vaunted NFL player or a heated race for the Triple Crown. Bovada even affords new members a generous welcome package right out of the gate. A 50% bonus joins any first deposit made to the site that can be worth up to $250 to use anywhere on the site.
Boasting the fastest growing network in the United States, this online sportsbook has been in the game since the early 2000’s with direct attention on catering to American bettors. BetOnline features more deposit and payout methods over any other in the industry as well as provides state of the art security to make every account safe and locked down with user’s winnings.
Featuring every sport in the universe, West Virginia residents can get straight to the meat and potatoes by betting on the Mountaineers through a variety of wagering options. Whether users are looking to win big off the fractional odds of a futures bet or simply take the conservative lines of a spread, members are able to set the pace of how they win. BetOnline also happens to have the best deposit deal in the land that lasts for the entire duration of membership making the site unique over competitors. Every deposit made with this online sports betting hub generates a 50% increase that can be worth up to $2,500 to wager anywhere and in any way, on the largest sportsbook in America.
| Sportsbook | Bonus | West Virginia Welcome? | Visit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bovada Sportsbook | 100% Up To $250 First Deposit | Yes | Visit |
| BetOnline Sportsbook | $2,500 On All Deposits - 50% | Yes | Visit |
| SportsBetting | 75% MatchUp To $1,000 | Yes | Visit |
| 5Dimes Sportsbook | 50% Up To $520 | Yes | Visit |
The state legislature has authorized five land-based sportsbooks in West Virginia. These venues are able to legally collect bets on professional and collegiate sports. This means that you can wager on your favorite NFL, NBA, MLB, NHL, and NCAA teams at local casinos and racetracks. Brick and mortar sportsbooks can accept all types of wagers, including moneylines, parlays, totals, and more. For locations that offer land-based sports betting in WV, you can visit the state lottery website.
In order to bet on sports in West Virginia, a resident must be at least 21 years old. West Virginia law clearly states the legal sports betting age for legal West Virginia betting and should always be adhered to. This age applies to both land-based and online sports wagering.
While there is a lot of legal literature on the topic, the overall takeaway is that there are plenty of sports betting options in WV. The state has created laws that support regulated sports betting and give residents choices in terms of where to bet. West Virginia bettors can opt to place sports wagers online, from their mobile phone, or by visiting a local casino. WV residents are some of the first outside of NV to have land-based and online sports betting options regulated by the state.