West Virginia Online Gambling in 2024

West Virginia is one of the friendliest places you could visit for gambling purposes in the United States. Not only can you visit West Virginia’s land-based casinos, but they have legalized online sites to offer sports betting, horse racing, casino gaming, poker and more. 

The average West Virginian is already loaded with options for online gambling, but some offshore sites will bring you even more opportunities for gambling while offering some great bonuses for new users. 

If that sounds intriguing, this is the right guide for you to see the best offshore online gambling sites in West Virginia. We show you how to join them and what makes them the best, and we go over the history of how the Mountain State got so friendly with legalized gambling activities. 

Top-Rated Online Gambling Sites

You can always visit local West Virginia casinos or try the licensed online gambling apps, but if you want a one-stop shop for all your gambling needs, then you need to check out these offshore sites. We have gathered the 10 best for West Virginia users who want to win real money today. 

1. BookMaker – Our favorite online sportsbook
2. Heritage Sports – Great cashback programs
3. Bovada – Top choice for poker and props
4. BetOnline – Poker tournaments and fast payouts
5. BetAnySports – Best reduced juice and lottery games
6. BetUS – Unique promos for new users
7. WagerWeb – Solid crypto bonuses
8. JustBet – Good reward program
9. Everygame – Great site design at sportsbook and poker room
10. SportsBetting.ag – Unique sports promos 

Is online gambling legal in West Virginia?

Yes, the applicable state law in West Virginia allows for legal gambling, including online sports betting and online casino games. You also can play online poker, though none of the major sites operate in the state. Online horse racing betting is also allowed.

The legal gambling age for sports betting and casino gaming (poker included) is 21 years old in West Virginia. But the minimum gambling age for horse race betting, lottery, bingo and Daily Fantasy Sports is 18 years old. 

Reviewing the Best Online Gambling Sites

Beyond our list, we have included our reviews of the top 10 online gambling sites. These top-rated offshore sites are all located in countries where online gambling is legal, so it is fine for you to join them from West Virginia. 

1. BookMaker: Our Favorite Online Sportsbook

Bookmaker.eu is our top-graded online gambling site. Since 1996, it has earned its reputation for being the site where the line originates. This means Bookmaker gets sports betting lines out faster than anyone, making it a favorite for sharp bettors who seek value before the public shifts the sides and total on a game.

But the fact that BookMaker will not limit winning players on their bets is another reason high rollers and serious gamblers love it. It is still a site that is great for novices and those just getting started with online gambling. They offer plenty of props too, and you will find a decent prop builder and interface for doing live betting on a wide variety of markets with competitive odds.

The casino may be secondary to the sportsbook at BookMaker, but it is still a good one with games that have RTP info, meaning you can see the return-to-player rate over an average of $100 spent on the game. The closer the RTP is to 100%, the better the game is to play over time. This is the only top site on our list that shares this info with gamblers and the game selection is solid enough with slots, table games, live dealer games and Keno.

The reward program at BookMaker is excellent as a three-tier loyalty program with big reload bonuses and cashback. Additionally, there are several other generous bonuses available at BookMaker.

2. Heritage Sports: Great Cashback Programs

Since 2001, Heritage Sports has been one of Costa Rica’s best online gambling sites. It was once VIPs only, but anyone in West Virginia can join today. You get a site that does cashback programs as well as anyone, with daily rebates on the horse racing wagers, monthly rebates on your net casino losses and quarterly rebates for your sports betting volume.

You also get reduced juice betting lines (-108) on many markets, and the mobile site is one of the best for live betting. They also offer esports better than most sites. The racebook is solid with reasonable limits. The casino lacks newer, flashier games, but it does have free-to-try versions for every game and it does video poker better than most rivals. 

The sign-up bonus for new users is not huge in terms of money, but the cashback programs make up for that. You also get unique perks at Heritage Sports like a free birthday parlay (worth up to $500) and every eighth deposit is free if you go seven deposits without a payout.

3. Bovada: Top Choice for Poker and Props

Bovada has been a very popular offshore gambling site choice for American players for over a decade now. It runs on the No. 1 poker network for Americans, and you can play many tournaments and cash games there with a variety of games always available.

The Bovada sportsbook is neatly organized with an A-Z listing of the many sports offered at the site. The prop builder is our favorite around with many markets, the ability to suggest your own props, and you can quickly build parlays with props for the same game or across multiple games and sports.

The casino is also solid with over 100 games, and Bovada is the best site for virtual racing games. The racebook is also very well designed, and Bovada’s mobile site lends itself well to acting like an app.

Our main complaint with Bovada would be that it does not have many ongoing promotions for loyal users, but the welcome bonus is huge for new crypto users with up to $3,750 in bonus funds over your first three crypto deposits. There is also a good loyalty program where your points never expire, and they can be redeemed for bonus bets or poker tournament entries.

4. BetOnline: Poker Tournaments and Fast Payouts

For a great all-around gambling site, West Virginians will enjoy BetOnline. It may not be the best sportsbook, the best online poker room, the best casino or the best racebook, but it does everything very well to go along with some of the fastest payouts, highest limits and most generous welcome bonuses on our list when using BetOnline promo codes.

The sportsbook has opinionated lines for popular markets and reduced juice on NHL markets. The promos are very unique and fun. The poker software runs on the No. 3 poker network for American players, and you can choose from a variety of tournaments or even suggest your own idea. The library of casino games is massive with hundreds of choices, including many exclusive games. The racebook has the best daily rebates at 9% for exotic wagers.

With so many gambling choices to choose from, BetOnline is a great option for your one-stop shop as a gambling site.

5. BetAnySports: Best Reduced Juice and Lottery Games

Our fifth online gambling site with an A+ rating from Costa Rica is BetAnySports. With the sportsbook, there is a learning curve to understanding how the different lines work, but you can find the best reduced juice (-105) in our list at this sportsbook. The prop builder is also one of the best around and you can easily do live betting on the mobile site.

Casino fans will be very pleased as there are now eight different casinos available with two more coming soon. There is an overlap of games in these different casinos, but each still has its own unique flavor. You can also do live dealer games where the dealer will even call you by your name if you want. 

At BetAnySports you will not see huge bonuses or cashback programs, but there are offers and ongoing promotions for users new and returning. It is a very fun site to gamble at in a variety of ways, and it is the best choice for lottery fans as it has its own unique lottery section where you can play your favorite numbers in daily drawings from many states around the country.

6. BetUS: Unique Promos for New Users

BetUS has been around since 1994, so they know what they are doing in the online gambling industry. More than any site, BetUS does a great job of helping gamblers get better with informative guides and expert analysis freely available on the site. With BetUS TV, you can watch original shows on a YouTube channel to get expert picks and analysis for many different sports.

As for the actual gambling on the site, you will be treated to a decent sportsbook, a casino with demos of many newer games and the sign-up bonuses are very unique in how they give you a more than 100% deposit match that is split between the sportsbook and casino, allowing you a taste of both worlds.

But the playthrough requirements are quite high at BetUS, and the prop builder is not as good as the one at Bovada or BetAnySports.

7. WagerWeb: Solid Crypto Bonuses

WagerWeb is a very solid choice for crypto users as you will get the best bonuses if you use MoneyGram or Bitcoin to make your first deposits. But beyond that, you get a solid selection of betting markets from around the world, a good site for live betting, a solid casino room and a weekly NFL contest during the season, plus they have esports coverage.

Basically, WagerWeb is following the Heritage Sports model, but we think Heritage Sports has slightly better promos for new and existing users. The bonuses at WagerWeb are still enticing in their own right, however. Also, keep in mind that customer service is not available 24/7 at WagerWeb.

8. JustBet: Good Reward Program

You may not notice it immediately, but JustBet is a sister site to Bookmaker.eu, our top-ranked online gambling site. The two share much in common, including those early sports betting lines that sharp bettors love, the fact that winning players are not limited and a very good reward program built on a three-tier system. JustBet also features some top-notch bonuses, just like BookMaker.

Unfortunately, JustBet does not bring anything new to the table like a poker room or more casino games with demo versions to try for free. So, in that regard, it still shares some of the few shortcomings of BookMaker. We also think BookMaker has a better site design despite being around longer in the business.

9. Everygame: Great Site Design at Sportsbook and Poker Room

Online casino players will find a lot to like with Everygame, which used to be called Intertops before a rebranding after 25 years in the industry. Much has been done to bring the sportsbook up to par, including the introduction of live betting markets in 2021. Everygame does a good job living up to its name, offering sports from just about every niche market and league around.

There is a noticeable lack of a racebook section, but users will likely enjoy the casino section and poker room the most at Everygame. You get a great site design with vibrant colors and good graphics at Everygame. You can also play in poker tournaments with smaller prizes than those found at BetOnline and Bovada, but it can be a good way to practice against fewer players.

Everygame is built more for hardcore casino players and casual sports bettors, but if that sums up your online gambling interest, then this is a good choice to check out today. New users can also take advantage of an Everygame promo code in order to get a boost to their bankroll.

10. SportsBetting.ag: Unique Sports Promos

SportsBetting has a wide range of unique sports promos, including risk-free $25 bets the first time you try a horse race, a player prop or live betting. You can also get bet insurance on your NBA team blowing a 15-point lead after halftime, if your NHL under pick fails because one team hits the over by itself or if a UFC championship fight ends in a split decision.

If the sports promos at SportsBetting sound familiar, it is because this is a sister site to BetOnline, our No. 4 online gambling site. You will find very similar offerings right down to the same generous promos, sign-up offers, popular table games and exclusive games in the casino. They also run on the same poker network, which ranks No. 3 in traffic for players in the United States.

But it is one of four poker sites on our list that have a legitimate poker room with software, a nice edge to go along with the usual fast payouts and high limits you expect from the BetOnline brand. Our only complaint is the lack of innovation that SportsBetting brings to the table.

Our Rating Methodology

We will get into our rating methodology in more detail later, but the best online gambling sites will excel in the areas of competitive odds, a wide variety of betting markets, good promotions, useful customer service, diverse payment methods and a quality mobile experience. 

The History of West Virginia’s Gambling Laws

West Virginia has a long and favorable history with gambling in the Mountain State. It started back in 1931 when the West Virginia Racing Commission was formed to oversee horse racing activities in the state. Two years later, bets were being placed as pari-mutuel wagering became popular. 

Things took on a more modern approach in 1984 when ‌voters approved a state lottery, establishing the West Virginia Lottery Commission in 1985. By 1994, the Racetrack Video Lottery Act was passed to start introducing slot machines and video poker terminals in the state. But once these started showing up in bars and restaurants throughout West Virginia, there was concern over this gambling market growing out of control.

In 2001, Gov. Bob Wise passed a bill to allow the state to regulate, tax and limit machine gambling in the state at the four racetracks. The minimum bet at a slot machine was raised from $2 to $5, and this bill hoped to increase revenue by $72 million in the state.

In 2007, table games and poker were allowed at the racetrack casinos (racinos) in the state, making them more like commercial casinos. By 2010, the Greenbrier added a new casino floor to give the state five land-based gambling establishments. 

Sports betting was starting to heat up as a debate topic in the country again as the PASPA ruling of 1992 largely made it illegal throughout the country. But with Daily Fantasy Sports growing in popularity, there was a demand to bring back legal retail sportsbooks. In 2018, PASPA was overturned by the Supreme Court, allowing each state to have the right to legalize sports betting.

West Virginia was one of the fastest to do so in 2018, becoming the fifth state to legalize in-person sports betting at land-based sportsbooks. A few months later, it was the third state to legalize online sports wagering with licensed operators.

In March 2019, the West Virginia Lottery Interactive Wagering Act was passed to legalize online casino gaming and online poker. However, none of the top online poker sites have stepped up to the West Virginia market as of 2024.

In 2022, another bill was passed to make betting on esports legal in the state. In March 2023, West Virginia reported a sports betting handle of $39.7 million ($2.7 million in revenue).

Timeline of Gambling in West Virginia

The following timeline shows the key events in the favorable gambling history of West Virginia:

• March 2023: West Virginia declares February to have a sports betting handle of $39.7 million with $2.7 million in revenue.
• 2023: DK HORSE, a new online racebook product from DraftKings, is approved for use in West Virginia and hopes to launch before May’s Kentucky Derby race. 
• 2022: Esports betting is legalized in West Virginia. 
• March 2019: The West Virginia Lottery Interactive Wagering Act passes to legalize online casino gaming and online poker.
• December 2018: The online gambling industry really gets going in West Virginia after another bill passes to legalize online sports betting in the state through licensed operators. 
• August 2018: Sports betting legislation passes in West Virginia, allowing for retail sports betting on professional and college teams at retail locations. 
• 2018: PASPA is struck down by the Supreme Court, giving each state the right to choose to have legal sports betting. 
• 2017: A bill was read for the legalization of Daily Fantasy Sports (DFS) in West Virginia, but it never passed. DFS is still allowed in the state today.
• 2007: The casinos are first allowed to offer live table games and poker.
• 2001: A bill was passed by Gov. Bob Wise to allow state regulation of video poker and slot machines in the state. It increases the minimum bet from $2 to $5 at the racetracks.
• 1994: Video poker and slot machine terminals were first legalized thanks to the Racetrack Video Lottery Act in West Virginia.
• 1992: PASPA was greenlit by Congress, essentially banning sports betting in most places in the country.
• 1984: West Virginians vote to approve a state lottery, and the West Virginia Lottery Commission is approved in 1985 to oversee it, with the first lottery tickets sold in the state in January 1986.  
• 1933: Pari-mutuel wagering on horse racing is introduced in the state. 
• 1931: The West Virginia Racing Commission is formed to oversee all horse racing activities in the state. 

Important Features of the Best Online Gambling Sites

In the following sections, we look at the key features that make the top online casino operators stand out from the crowded pack of contenders. 

Competitive Gambling Odds

If you are using an online sportsbook, you want to see the best prices possible for the picks you want to bet on. This is why many sports bettors will sign up with multiple sportsbooks to do price shopping before placing that big bet. Some sites do competitive odds better than others by offering odds boosts, reduced juice or opinionated lines. 

Betting Markets

No matter which section of the online gambling site is your favorite, we want to see it have a wide variety of betting markets. For the casino, that means many different game types (slots, video poker, table games, specialty games, mini-games, etc.). For the sportsbook, there should be a wide variety of sports, leagues and betting types (singles, parlays, round robins, teasers, pleasers, futures, live bets, props, etc.). 

Ease of Online Banking

A quality online gambling site will present users with varied banking methods, including debit cards, bank transfers, wire transfers, eWallets and crypto (Bitcoin, Bitcoin Cash, Litecoin, etc.). We also take note of the processing times, limits and fees involved with these different forms of payment. 

Promotions & Bonuses

Welcome bonuses draw new users in, and ongoing promotions keep them as loyal customers. Everyone enjoys bonus money, but most sites will offer you the largest amount of it right away with a deposit bonus on your initial deposit. But the playthrough requirements can be quite high on those bonus funds, so we look at the ongoing promos as being very important too.

To keep building your bonus bank, you should be welcome to reload bonuses, no-deposit bonuses, risk-free bets, odds boosts and much more. Some casinos will offer a bonus wheel spin that lands on a sum of bonus money to be added to your bonus bank.

Other online casino bonuses can be earned through a refer-a-friend program and a loyalty program where you accumulate points to earn more bonuses and perks. 

Live Dealers & Live Betting

A big feature of online gambling these days is the live gambling options. On the sportsbook, you can find live betting markets at just about any hour of the day on offshore sites. Live betting can be a great way to make valuable bets while watching a game or you can hedge a pre-game bet or liven up a dull game. 

In the casino, live dealer games are an exciting way to play your favorite table games like blackjack or roulette with a live dealer you see via video chat. You can usually chat in the room with other players while watching your cards dealt or seeing the dealer spin the roulette wheel. 

User Experience

A quality user experience at an online gambling site will involve a good-looking site that is easy to place bets and follow sports live if you want to do live betting as well. We also expect the casino to do its best job at mimicking the sights and sounds of the real experience with good graphics and sound effects on the games. Most importantly, the site should not lag as we play our slots and place our bets. It must be able to handle high-traffic times like during big sporting events. 

Mobile Site Navigability

So much of today’s online gambling involves mobile gaming with online casino apps and sports betting apps we download to our phones. This is why it is crucial for ‌gambling apps and mobile sites to be easy to navigate as we jump from the sportsbook to the casino to the poker room to the cashier to deposit or withdraw more money. Everything needs to follow a good layout that makes it easy to do all the betting we want to do.

Customer Support

Sometimes an issue comes up and you need to contact customer service for help. The best customer service teams are going to offer 24/7 support with the most options to contact them, including an email, phone number, message form on the site and a live chat option. 

Security Features

To win real money at offshore casinos, you will have to enter personal and financial information for your account to be verified and paid your winnings. This is why we only choose reputable sites with a track record of handling customers well. Our data must be kept secure and safe, so we only go with the best, most experienced sites.

Online & In-Person Gambling in West Virginia

In the following sections, we are looking at the choices West Virginians have for gambling in their state. This includes land-based gambling options at casinos and racetracks. But offline gambling has its limitations, so we also focus on all the available online gambling activities. 

Sports Betting

West Virginia has had legal sports betting since 2018. You can choose from land-based sportsbooks at the local casino, including a popular company like BetMGM and you can also download a sportsbook app or visit the mobile sites of many of the top operators in the industry, including FanDuel, DraftKings, BetMGM, Caesars and BetRivers.

In West Virginia, you can bet on professional teams and college teams, including the West Virginia Mountaineers. Only high school sports are prohibited. 

Daily Fantasy Sports (DFS)

There was a bill to legalize Daily Fantasy Sports (DFS) in West Virginia in 2016-17, but it never was officially passed. However, DFS is allowed to operate in the state to this day with no issues as it has been widely accepted throughout the country. You can play DFS with the FanDuel and DraftKings sites. In fact, your account on the DraftKings Sportsbook will work just fine with the DFS offerings from DraftKings. 

Horse Race Betting

There has been horse race betting in the state since the 1930s. Now it is done frequently online using popular Advance Deposit Wagering sites like TVG, TwinSpires and Xpressbet. Soon, you will also be able to use DK HORSE, a new racebook from DraftKings that has been greenlit for use in West Virginia.

Of course, you can still visit the four racetracks in the state to enjoy live races (horses and greyhounds) and simulcast betting. The Mardi Gras Casino & Resort and the Wheeling Island Casino both offer live greyhound racing. The Hollywood Casino at Charles Town Races and Mountaineer Casino both have live Thoroughbred races. 

West Virginia Lottery & Lottery Games

The West Virginia Lottery was approved by voters in 1984, with the first lottery tickets sold in 1986. Today, the lottery has games like Daily 3, Daily 4 and Cash 25, as well as multi-state draw games like Mega Millions, Lotto America and Powerball. You can also play KenoGO.

The state lottery approved video lottery terminals in 1994. These video lottery games work much like slot machines and are regulated by the state since 2001.

Casino Gambling

West Virginia has been offering slot games and video poker terminals since 1994. In 2007, table games, including blackjack, roulette wheels and poker tables were added to the commercial casinos in the state.

But online casino players who wanted more options than the brick-and-mortar casinos got their wish in 2019 when a bill was passed to legalize online casino gaming in the state. Soon, state-regulated online casinos like DraftKings and BetMGM were allowed to launch their products for West Virginians to play online slots, blackjack, roulette, live dealer games and more.

You just need proof of age of 21 years old to play at these sites. Retail casinos also demand you be 21 years old to enter due to the serving of alcohol. 

Specialty & Niche Games

With online casinos, there are sections for specialty games like Keno, scratch cards and mini-games that play closer to video games than your usual casino offerings. In sports betting, you can find a variety of niche sports to bet on like snooker, darts, handball and table tennis.

Online poker was legalized in West Virginia in 2019, but none of the big companies that offer that, like PokerStars, have stepped up to the local market yet. 

Charitable & Social Gambling

Charitable gambling in the form of bingo and raffles is perfectly legal in West Virginia. 

Creating an Online Gambling Account

It is easy to get started with online betting at an offshore site. We will walk you through the process in the following section. This process is about the same at any site you choose. 

Step 1. Signing-Up

Pick the site you wish to join and head over to it. Start the sign-up process for new users like you would at any site. Prepare a good password to use that you are not going to use anywhere else. 

Step 2. Verifying Your Account

You will have to verify your account before it is activated. This does not take long as you just enter your name, address, email and phone number. You may expect an email with a link or a text with a code to enter to verify your account, so be sure to provide an email and number you are actively using. 

Step 3. Funding Your Account

Your account must be funded with real money before you can start betting. But before you do this, read about the terms and conditions for the welcome bonus for new users. This is a one-time offer based on the amount of your initial deposit, so be sure to understand how that works and how much you want to deposit to take advantage of it. When ready, head to the cashier and make your first deposit using the deposit method that works best for you. 

Step 4. Enjoy Gambling Online

Now your account is in the system and funded with the money that you deposited. You are ready to start betting, so head over to the section of your choosing and start enjoying yourself.

FAQs – Online Gambling in West Virginia