
Author:
Mike McKean
Last Updated:
24/06/2022
Experiences:
A writer, journalist, gamer, and esports betting enthusiast,
Experiences:
A writer, journalist, gamer, and esports betting enthusiast,
Loading ...
There are many gambling options in the Mountain State, but not all of them are West Virginia online gambling options. Currently offering online sports betting and online casinos, WV online gambling sites have a lot to offer their avid bettors.
We’re offering you a look into the world of betting in the Mountain State — explicitly focusing on West Virginia online gambling sites, how the gambling experts at Strafe.com review online operators, giving you our recommendation of a top operator, and also providing some tips you can use to find your online gambling match. Join our Mountain State journey!
If you want to know what types of betting or gambling opportunities are available to you in the beautiful Mountain State or you’ve already had a go at online gambling in West Virginia but you want to expand your horizons or get some extra valuable information, then this is your ultimate read.
We are covering all types of gambling types offered in the state of West Virginia, along with the most important details you need to be aware of for starting or continuing your gambling journey.
West Virginia currently offers quite a few forms of state-sanctioned gambling — however, not all are available online. Going back all the way to 1933, Pari-mutuel horse race betting was introduced to West Virginia.
Then, several decades later, West Virginia established its lottery in 1984, and in 1994, Video Lottery Terminals (VTLs) were allowed at local racetracks.
In 2001, VLTs were further introduced to frat organizations, restaurants, and bars that typically serve alcohol. In 2007, racetracks in West Virginia were finally allowed to add table games.
It’s also interesting to note that the Mountain State was one of the first states that legalized sports betting after lifting the federal ban by the Supreme Court in May 2018. That same month The West Virginia Sports Lottery Wagering Act was passed during the same month, and West Virginia’s very first betting license went to the company operating Hollywood Casino — Penn National.
The new sportsbook situated at the Hollywood Casino officially started taking bets on August 18, 2018. When the end of 2018 came around, four out of five of the local casinos joined Hollywood Casino in offering legal sports betting.
A few months later, West Virginia lawmakers passed the West Virginia Lottery Interactive Wagering Act on March 27, 2019, which introduced new legal West Virginia online gambling options like online poker, sportsbook, and casino options in West Virginia through the local land-based casinos.
The bill went into effect on June 7, and the regulatory details for the new types of online gambling West Virginia were expected to be ready at the beginning of 2020.
Gambling on offshore operator sites remains illegal and is a misdemeanor.
Although all West Virginia gambling establishments now have live poker rooms, there has yet been an online poker operator to make its appearance in the Mountain State.
Since the legalization of sports betting in 2018, all local sportsbooks have launched land-based sports betting operators in cooperation with established betting companies.
Our top choice for an online sportsbook and casino combo would have to be BetMGM. This operator made an impressive appearance as the third operator to enter the Mountain State betting arena, and both the sportsbook and casino provide top options for their customers.
These options include fantastic signup bonus deals, a great variety of sports and casino games, a top-rated app and interface developed by some of the top software developers, and a slick and stylish approach that makes you feel like a VIP just for being online.
This is priority number one. If a West Virginia online gambling site is not licensed, we will not recommend it. Strafe.com supports legal and licensed online casinos in West Virginia. We specifically look for these licensing and registration details when we conduct our reviews to ensure that we only recommend the safest and best online casino options to both newcomers and experienced gamblers.
When reviewing a West Virginia online gambling site, we always look at payment methods from several angles. First off, an operator offering online gambling in West Virginia should have a good track record of prompt withdrawals to give their customers their winnings promptly.
Then, there’s also the subject of payment method variety. If an operator has many different payment methods, that indicates a level of quality. Additionally, because West Virginia online gambling operators usually have fewer withdrawal options than deposit options, discovering a mini-buffet of withdrawal choices is always good to find.
Finally, receiving the money in your bank account should not take a century. Fast transfer times are what we’re looking for in a quality operator.
While conducting our West Virginia online gambling operator reviews, we look at the quality of the site’s software and the game quality, and the companies that developed the games and software. Because gambling has now moved online, software quality can make or break an online gambling experience, and the companies that create these games and software need to have a solid reputation for providing quality products.
Market depth is a crucial component of our West Virginia online gambling sites reviews as it shows versatility. Market depth involves how many sports the online gambling operator offers its customers for wagering, and a connected component to this is wagering options.
Preferably, a wide selection of sports, tournaments, and games from within the US and other parts of the world is ideal, along with more options than just totals, money lines, and spreads. We provide specific details in each of our reviews about the operator’s market depth and what sports it has on its portfolio.
If you’re a customer at an online gambling West Virginia operator, you need to be able to reach someone if you have a problem. In the past, gambling operators have often neglected customer service, but many operators have realized just how important it is to serve those that keep the business running.
If a customer can contact responsive customer care ASAP, for example, via a live chat function, this will bring our tick of approval.
Finally, bonuses and promotions are some of the reasons customers decide to sign up and stay at WV online gambling operators. However, not all signup bonus offers and promotions are created equally. On the surface, they may look the same, but if you dig deeper, you may find that one is more customer-friendly in terms of its playthrough requirements than another, even though this one offers more money.
This is why we look at bonus deals and promotions in detail, see if they are feasible, and then decide on a recommendation.
West Virginia currently offers online sports betting and casinos, with online poker sites hopefully coming soon. If you like sports betting exclusively or online casinos exclusively, you’ll want to look at an operator that is strong in only one of those areas, even if it offers both. If you like both online sports betting and online casinos, a great option is to look for an operator that provides both.
From here, you can be more specific by looking at the sports or casino games you like to bet on. To find the right operator for online gambling West Virginia, your operator of choice should cater to your gambling needs.
Each of us most likely not only uses different payment methods when making payments online but also prefers them for several reasons. Strafe.com looks at payment methods in its West Virginia online gambling operator reviews as quality operators also need to offer payment method diversity.
Some WV online gambling operators provide their customers with the convenience of a mobile app. If you like to take your gambling experience with you wherever you travel to in the Mountain State, then this is an option you should consider. Check out our reviews to see which operators offer a mobile if the app is downloadable on your device and if it’s a user-friendly, quality app that will enhance your betting experience.
If you are a sports betting fan and an online casino fan, then you may be looking for an operator that provides both. Even better, if you can find a WV online gambling operator that offers both services on the same platform where you can just switch between the two will be ideal for you. There are WV online gambling operators like this in the Mountain State, and we provide all the juicy details.
Online gambling in West Virginia has a lot of potential with its current laws regulating online gaming and betting in the state. For example, online Poker sites have yet to make an appearance. However, it is legal, and there’s a lot of potential for online poker operators in the Mountain state.
It should now be clear what your online gambling options are in West Virginia and how Strafe.com approach reviews to provide top-quality information. Additionally, you’ll be able to do a quick self-assessment to identify what you’re looking for, so you can go on and enjoy finding the perfect operator that suits all your gambling needs. Take a look at Strafe.com’s reviews covering the best online gambling operators in West Virginia for an in-depth perspective.