- West Virginia passed a bill to legalize state-regulated sports betting in March of 2018 (SB415). This legislation was passed prior to PASPA's repeal in anticipation of a favorable outcome to New Jersey's Supreme Court case challenging the federal ban on US sports betting.
- West Virginia gambling laws allow land-based casinos to offer in-person and online poker. In-person poker came to WV in 2007 through a law allowing each of the state’s.
West Virginia legalized sports betting in March 2018, and the law became active with the SCOTUS decision in May. The WV Lottery Commission, which regulates the industry, got right to work drafting rules for casinos and suppliers. They indicated a desire to approve operations in time for the 2018-19 NFL season, a goal they ultimately met.
West Virginia is one of the smaller states in the country, ranking in at 41st in terms of size. The state is known for its mountains, hence the nickname “The Mountain State”. It’s a smaller state in terms of population as well. The state doesn’t have any professional sports teams, but it does have a Division 1 college program in the West Virginia University Mountaineers. Despite the fact that there aren’t any major professional sports teams, West Virginia residents can still get in on the sports betting action through one of the legal offshore sites listed in this guide. There are some laws dealing with sports betting in the US and they are explained in this guide, which was created specifically for West Virginia residents. There is also information regarding the best sportsbooks available to West Virginian sports fans.
Is Betting on Sports Legal in West Virginia?
There are three federal laws that pertain to sports betting. The first of which is the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act, or PASPA. The other two laws are the Federal Wire Act and the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act, or UIGEA. West Virginia state law doesn’t explicitly mention sports betting in its language, but state regulated sports betting is technically illegal due to PASPA and the Federal Wire Act. These laws are explained in the next section.
The good news here is that none of these federal laws or any of the state’s own gambling laws prohibit anyone in the state from placing bets at legally licensed and regulated online sportsbooks that are located outside of the US. Here is a good site that goes into a lot of detail about legal online sports betting in the US. As they explain, the key in keeping things legal is selectively restricting your betting action to only those offshore destinations that are operating legally within the industry.
Most Reputable Sportsbooks Available to West Virginia Residents
From among all of the sportsbooks that are online, these ones are our top picks for West Virginia residents. These sportsbooks have been vetted by our team of industry professionals and have proven to be legitimate, secure and reliable. These sportsbooks have all the necessary licensing and certifications to operate legally and they are regulated by their governments. They also have top-notch security protocols that keep your personal and financial information protected.
| Logo | Site Name | Bonus | Rating | USA | Visit Site |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Betonline Sportsbook | 50% Max $2500 | Visit Site | |||
| Sportsbetting | 75% Max $1000 | Visit Site | |||
| Bovada Sportsbook | 50% Max $250 | Visit Site |
How State and Federal Laws Regulate Sports Betting in West Virginia
PASPA restricts 46 states from having legalized sports betting. This law was passed in 1992 and is still in effect today. The only four states allowed to have sports betting are Nevada, Oregon, Montana and Delaware. The Federal Wire Act pertains to the placing of bets online. It only restricts placing bets with US-based sportsbooks, not the offshore destinations recommended in this guide. The UIGEA deals with the financial side of sports betting, monitoring banks and their transactions related to online gambling. This law also does not make sports betting with offshore betting sites illegal. Since West Virginia state law and US federal laws do not prohibit sports betting, it isn’t illegal to place a bet with one or more of these offshore sportsbooks.
Popular College Sports Teams in West Virginia
FAQs About Betting On Sports
Can I Bet On Teams Outside Of West Virginia?
Yes. These sportsbooks allow you to place bets on any team in any of the major leagues nationwide. You can even place bets on NCAA teams (WVU) and international teams. You aren’t limited to the teams in your state.
What Types Of Bets Can I Place At Online Sportsbooks Accepting West Virginia Residents?
You can place a variety of bets including point spread bets, future bets, prop bets, total (over/under) bets, parlay bets and more. You can bet on teams from around the world and bet as many times as you want (so long as you have the bankroll to back it).
Are Offshore Sports Betting Sites Legal?
Yes. These sites are all legally sanctioned and do business with millions of bettors. They all accept West Virginia residents. Most importantly, PASPA, the Federal Wire Act, UIGEA and West Virginia state law don’t apply to them because these sportsbooks are outside of their jurisdiction.
Do I Need To Enter My Credit Card Information?
Only if you want to use your credit card to make a deposit into your sportsbook account. You do have to deposit money if you’d like to place a wager, but there are other deposit methods available to you. Some of these other methods include Bitcoin and wire transfers.
West Virginia Sports Betting Regulations 2020
What is Bitcoin?
Bitcoin is an online currency that’s become widely popular over the years. It is also the fastest way to receive your money from the sportsbooks when you decide to withdraw your winnings or account balance
What Type Of Customer Service Is Available To West Virginia Residents?
The sportsbooks we’ve included in this guide put customer service as one of their top priorities. Most sportsbooks have live chat features that instantly connect you to a representative who can resolve any issues or questions. There are also plenty of FAQs on the site that can help to answer any questions.
Are There Any Membership Dues At Online Sportsbooks?
No. You won’t be charged any signup fees or monthly/annual membership fees. The only money that’s being spent is the money you use to wager.
Are There Any Bonuses Available?
West Virginia Sports Betting Law
Yes. These sportsbooks offer a variety of bonuses, which essentially come in the form of ‘free money’, for you to bet with. For example, you usually get your first bonus upon making your first deposit. A percentage of your deposit will be added on as extra. There are other seasonal and promotional bonuses offered year-round. Another bonus is the mobile app version that most sportsbooks offer. The mobile app has all the same features and security standards as the web versions.