West Virginia Online Gambling
West Virginia has one of the most comprehensive online gambling markets in the US, with regulated options spanning online casinos, poker sites, sports betting, lottery sales, and horse racing wagering.
Daily fantasy sports and peer-to-peer fantasy pick ’em contests operate in a legal gray area without specific regulation, while sweepstakes casinos have faced significant enforcement actions leading to their effective prohibition.
Read on for a straightforward West Virginia online gambling explainer, where we explain what’s legal, how the law impacts players, and more.
Legal West Virginia Gambling Sites
21+ and present in WV. T&Cs Apply. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER or visit www.1800gambler.net.
West Virginia Online Gambling Overview
| Type of Gambling (minimum age) | Legal Status | Notes |
| Online Casinos (21+) | Legal/Regulated | Legal under the WV Lottery Interactive Wagering Act (2019). |
| Sweepstakes Casinos (n/a) | Illegal | Deemed illegal by AG; dozens of cease-and-desist orders issued to operators. |
| Online Poker (21+) | Legal/Regulated | Legal under the WV Lottery Interactive Wagering Act. |
| Online Sports Betting (21+) | Legal/Regulated | Legal under the WV Lottery Sports Wagering Act (2018). |
| Daily Fantasy Sports (18+) | Legal/Unregulated | Permitted based on a 2016 Attorney General opinion classifying DFS as a game of skill. |
| Fantasy Pick ’em Contests (18+) | Legal/Unregulated | Player-vs-house formats are deemed sports betting and are illegal. Peer-to-peer variants are available. |
| Online Lottery Sales (18+) | Legal/Regulated | WV Lottery launched online sales in Oct 2024. |
| Online Horse Racing (18+) | Legal/Regulated | Legal under W. Va. Code § 19-23-12e. |
West Virginia Online Casinos
Online casinos are legal and regulated in West Virginia.
The West Virginia legislature legalized online gambling in 2019 via HB 2934, also known as the West Virginia Lottery Interactive Wagering Act.
The law allows each of West Virginia’s land-based casinos to launch up to three online gambling brands in partnership with third-party online gambling providers (e.g., BetMGM, FanDuel, etc.).
The West Virginia Lottery Commission regulates online gambling by licensing operators, crafting regulations, ensuring compliance with consumer protection regulations, and promoting responsible gambling.
Popular West Virginia gambling sites include:
No two West Virginia gambling apps are unique, but players can generally expect to find:
- Hundreds of online slots
- Digital table games like blackjack and roulette
- Live dealer table games
- Welcome bonuses and ongoing promos
Key Rules Players Should Know
Online casinos in West Virginia must follow strict regulations set by the Lottery Commission. Notable rules include:
- Age and Location: Players must be 21+ and located in West Virginia to place wagers.
- Account Registration: When signing up for an online gambling account, every new player must provide and verify personal information, including their legal name, date of birth, residential address, and Social Security number.
- Responsible Gambling: West Virginia law requires all online casinos to provide responsible gambling tools, including custom deposit limits and voluntary self-exclusion.
- Game Fairness and Security: Licensed WV online casinos must undergo annual audits and meet the technical security standards established by the WV Lottery Commission. Additionally, they must submit all equipment and software to independent, Commission-approved test labs to ensure game security, fairness, and randomness.
West Virginia Sweepstakes Casinos
Sweepstakes casinos are illegal in West Virginia.
Sweepstakes casinos were widely accessible in West Virginia until the Attorney General’s office commenced a significant crackdown in 2025.
In early 2025, the WV Attorney General issued nearly 50 cease-and-desist orders and subpoenas to sweepstakes casino operators.
More than 20 sweepstakes casinos ceased operations in West Virginia in 2025, including major national brands such as McLuck, High 5 Casino, Chumba Casino, and Stake.us.
A handful of sweepstakes casinos remain operational in West Virginia, but the number of reputable operators has dwindled. WOW Vegas is the most prominent sweepstakes casino still available in West Virginia today.
West Virginia Online Poker
Online poker is legal in West Virginia, but only one licensed poker site is currently operational:
- BetRivers Poker
West Virginia legalized online poker when it passed the Interactive Wagering Act in 2019, but the state’s small population deterred operators from seeking licenses.
The key to jumpstarting the WV online poker market was joining the Multi-State Internet Gaming Agreement (MSIGA). In November 2023, West Virginia became the fifth state to join MSIGA, which already included Nevada, New Jersey, Delaware, and Michigan.
MSIGA membership allows West Virginia poker sites to share player pools with those states, creating a much larger user base and making West Virginia a more attractive market for operators.
BetRivers Poker launched in mid-2025 to become the state’s first licensed poker site. It simultaneously launched in Michigan and Delaware to give players a multi-state poker network on day one.
West Virginia Online Sports Betting
Online sports betting is legal and regulated in West Virginia.
West Virginia’s legislature passed the West Virginia Lottery Sports Wagering Act (SB 415) in March 2018, two months before the US Supreme Court struck down the Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act (PASPA).
As a result, West Virginia had a legal framework ready for implementation immediately following the court’s decision. The first retail sportsbooks opened in August 2018, and online sports betting began that December.
All of the nation’s most prominent online sportsbook brands are active in West Virginia, including:
Key WV Online Sports Betting Regulations
Online sportsbooks in West Virginia operate under strict state regulations similar to those for casinos.
Here’s what bettors need to know about betting on sports in West Virginia:
- Age and Location: Bettors must be 21+ and located within West Virginia to place wagers.
- Account Verification: New customers must verify their WV online betting accounts by providing personal information (name, address, etc.) and proof of identity (photo of a government-issued ID) during registration.
- Permitted Wagers: Licensed West Virginia sports betting apps may offer bets on professional sports, college games, international events, and esports. Unlike many states, West Virginia does not restrict wagers on in-state games or prohibit prop bets on college athletes.
- No Harassing Athletes or Officials: The WV Legislature passed HB 4700 in 2024 to prohibit harassing or intimidating athletes or officials. Anyone convicted of doing so may be added to West Virginia’s self-exclusion list and banned from participating in sports betting.
West Virginia Daily Fantasy Sports
Daily fantasy sports are legal but unregulated in West Virginia.
Existing law neither authorizes nor explicitly prohibits daily fantasy sports, but a 2016 Attorney General’s opinion provides firm legal footing for operators.
In July 2016, Attorney General Patrick Morrisey issued an opinion concluding that DFS contests are predominantly games of skill and therefore do not meet the state’s definition of illegal gambling.
A Note to West Virginia DFS Fans
Because West Virginia doesn’t regulate daily fantasy sports platforms, customers rely on each operator’s internal integrity and security policies.
Therefore, players should stick with well-known DFS brands that implement numerous consumer protection measures voluntarily.
For example, FanDuel and DraftKings prohibit insiders from participating, segregate customer funds from operating funds, and provide standard responsible gambling tools such as deposit limits and timeouts.
One thing West Virginia DFS players don’t have, regardless of which platform they use, is a regulatory agency they can turn to for dispute resolution assistance if something goes wrong. That said, major DFS operators have reputations to uphold, so serious conflicts are rare.
Is Regulation Coming?
The unregulated status of DFS makes it an anomaly in West Virginia’s otherwise tightly controlled online gambling market. Unlike online casinos and sportsbooks, daily fantasy sports sites do not have to apply for licenses, adhere to specific DFS consumer protection regulations, or pay state-specific taxes.
Lawmakers have demonstrated a clear interest in closing that gap. In recent legislative sessions, the legislature has considered bills such as HB 5667 (2024) and HB 3481 (2025) to formally legalize, regulate, and tax fantasy sports apps in West Virginia.
Both proposals would have required WV fantasy sports apps to apply for licenses from the Lottery Commission, pay a 15% tax on revenue, and impose a minimum participation age of 19.
Although neither bill passed, they serve as a preview of how West Virginia may regulate daily fantasy sports in the future.
Fantasy Pick ’em Contests in West Virginia
Player-vs-house fantasy pick ’em contests are prohibited in West Virginia, but peer-to-peer variants are legal.
Fantasy Pick ’em apps like PrizePicks and ParlayPlay offer over/under-style prediction contests in which users predict whether or not specific athletes will exceed their projected totals in stats like rushing yards, strikeouts, three-pointers, etc.
Unlike player-vs-house contests played for fixed payouts against the operator, peer-to-peer pick ’em contests place players into groups to compete against other users. These contests then award payouts based on each player’s performance within the group, which fits the skill-based definition of fantasy sports outlined in the 2016 Attorney General opinion.
West Virginia Online Lottery Sales
Online lottery sales are legal in West Virginia.
Players can buy lottery tickets online through the official West Virginia Lottery app and website. The WV Lottery offers a full suite of games available for online purchase under the iPLAY tab:
- Powerball tickets
- Mega Millions
- Lotto America
- Daily 3
- Daily 4
- Cash 25
- iNSTANTS
The iNSTANTS collection consists of a few dozen instant-win games that resemble a cross between digital scratch cards and simplified slots. They feature fixed prizes worth up to $300,000, and some games offer progressive jackpots that grow continually until a player hits the jackpot, which causes it to reset and continue growing again.
The Jackpocket lottery app is also available in West Virginia, which allows players to order tickets to all the same draw games as the lottery’s iPLAY platforms.
Jackpocket was far more popular in West Virginia before the lottery launched online sales in 2024. However, players who also use DraftKings Casino or Sportsbook may find Jackpocket useful for earning Dynasty Rewards perks.
Key Regulations for Players
- Minimum age: Players must be 18 or older to buy lottery tickets online in West Virginia.
- Location: Players do not need to be West Virginia residents to play the lottery online, but they do need to be physically located within state lines.
- Deposits: Players can deposit a minimum of $10 per transaction and a maximum of $4,000 per month. The minimum purchase amount is $1.00.
- Withdrawals: The WV Lottery does not allow players to withdraw funds they have deposited. Players may only withdraw their winnings. According to the WV Lottery, this rule exists “in deference to Federal regulations” and likely serves as a way to simplify compliance with federal anti-money laundering (AML) regulations.
Online Horse Racing Betting in West Virginia
Online horse racing betting (advance deposit wagering) is legal and regulated in West Virginia.
Although horse racing betting apps and websites (ADWs) had served the market for years previously, West Virginia formally legalized advance deposit wagering via HB 4438 in 2020.
Under the law (W. Va. Code § 19-23-12e) and accompanying regulations (178CSR10), online racebooks must apply for licenses from the West Virginia Racing Commission to accept wagers from residents.
Most of the nation’s reputable ADWs are available in West Virginia today:
In 2025, the legislature approved SB 576 to legalize fixed-odds horse racing betting. The law amended the West Virginia Lottery Sports Wagering Act to allow licensed online sportsbooks to offer fixed-odds wagers on horse races.
Previously, only licensed ADWs could offer bets on horse races, and only in the pari-mutuel wagering format (where the odds constantly change, even after bettors submit their wagers).
By authorizing fixed-odds betting on horse races, the legislature makes horse racing accessible to a wider audience accustomed to sports betting: when you place a bet, the odds are locked in – no surprises later.
Plus, allowing online sportsbooks to offer fixed-odds horse racing wagering opens new possibilities, such as parlays and prop bets on horse races.
Read more:
West Virginia Gambling Regulators
Two state agencies regulate online gambling in West Virginia, each with a clearly defined jurisdiction based on state law.
- West Virginia Lottery Commission: Regulates online casinos, poker, sports betting, lottery sales, and video lottery; issues licenses and enforces all applicable regulations.
- West Virginia Racing Commission: Regulates horse racing and pari-mutuel wagering, including ADWs.
Responsible Gambling Resources in West Virginia
West Virginia provides a comprehensive and well-funded variety of responsible gambling resources to support residents and address problem gambling.
State law requires the West Virginia Lottery to contribute up to $2 million annually from its revenues to fund these programs, ensuring they are accessible and free to all state residents.
Additionally, the West Virginia Lottery operates a unified, statewide Voluntary Self-Exclusion (VSE) program. The VSE program allows individuals to ban themselves from all forms of regulated gambling (except horse racing betting and limited video lottery establishments) in West Virginia with a single registration.
West Virginia Self-Exclusion Resources
- West Virginia Lottery Self-Exclusion Program: Individuals can enroll online or in person to exclude themselves from all regulated gaming for 1-5 years or a lifetime; covers online and land-based casinos and sportsbooks.
- Operator Tools: Licensed West Virginia gambling apps provide in-app limits and self-exclusion requests linked to the state list.
- ADW Self-Exclusion: Bettors must self-exclude from each licensed horse racing betting app individually by logging in and requesting self-exclusion from within their wagering accounts.
Note: The WV Lottery VSE program does not cover limited video lottery (LVL) establishments (bars with slot machines) because they are numerous and not integrated into the central VSE program.
West Virginia Responsible Gambling Organizations
- WV Problem Gambling Help Network (1800Gambler.net): Maintains a confidential, 24/7 gambling helpline (1-800-GAMBLER) and live chat (1800gambler.net), free treatment referrals, support groups, financial assistance for inpatient treatment, resources for loved ones, and a recovery app launched in 2025.
- National Council on Problem Gambling: Call/text 1-800-GAMBLER or chat at 1800gamblerchat.org.
- Gamblers Anonymous: Local meetings; visit gamblersanonymous.org for schedules.