West Virginia Horse Racing Betting
In-person and online horse racing betting are permitted in West Virginia. This includes betting on horses and greyhound alike. In fact, both sports are legally bound to the wider gambling industry as WV law requires horse and greyhound tracks to hold a minimum number of races every year in order to retain their gambling licenses.
Even though horse racing purses have declined across the country, West Virginia race tracks maintain an active race schedule. The state also remains one of the few remaining holdouts where greyhound betting is still alive and well.
Governor Jim Justice was presented with a bill in 2017 that would have eliminated state-mandated subsidizing of greyhound racing. The greyhound tracks at Wheeling Island and Mardi Gras would have been allowed to keep their gambling licenses under the law, but Governor Justice opted to veto the bill out of concern for job losses.
The West Virginia Racing Commission is the governing body for horse racing in the state. It is responsible for overseeing the conduct of pari-mutuel wagering, issuing licenses to advance deposit wagering operators (ADWs), and more.
Online Horse Racing Betting in West Virginia
Although online horse racing betting has been available in West Virginia for many years, WV previously tolerated it rather than actively regulated it due to existing law being unclear on the matter. That issue was resolved in 2020 with the passage of legislation to legalize online horse racing betting formally, establish licensing protocols for ADWs, and tax the activity.
Under current law, West Virginia horse racing betting sites (also known as ADWs) are required to apply for licenses from the WV Racing Commission. Licenses are issued at a cost of $5,000 and give ADWs permission to accept wagers from WV residents.
West Virginia imposes a 4% source market fee on licensed ADWs and a 0.5% regulatory fee on the total betting handle to be given to the general administrative account of the WV Racing Commission. An additional 1.5% fee on the betting handle is assessed on ADWs and given to the Advance Deposit Wagering Account fund to be appropriated by the state legislature.
State law also establishes criminal and civil penalties for ADWs that offer online betting in West Virginia without a valid license. Individuals found providing ADW services in WV without a license can be fined up to $50,000 and/or imprisoned for up to five years.
The minimum age to bet on horse races in West Virginia, both in-person and online, is 18.
Fixed-Odds Betting in West Virginia
The West Virginia legislature legalized fixed-odds wagering on horse and dog races in April 2025. Under SB 576, licensed racetracks and online sportsbooks in West Virginia may offer fixed-odds wagers on horse races held in-state and out-of-state.
Some of the law’s key points include:
- Operators may offer all the same types of wagers as online sportsbooks, including parlays, on horse races
- For races held inside West Virginia, betting operators may only offer wagers with the consent of the host track and recognized horsemen’s group.
- For horse races held outside West Virginia, all wagering activities must comply with the Interstate Horseracing Act of 1978.
- 10% of operators’ adjusted gross receipts from fixed-odds betting are distributed to local horse racing initiatives, including race purses
Lawmakers legalized fixed-odds wagering to modernize West Virginia’s horse racing betting industry and appeal more to a younger demographic that’s accustomed to sports betting.
Although fixed-odds wagering is now legal in West Virginia, it’s not yet available. Many racetracks remain reluctant to approved fixed-odds wagers on their races, and none of West Virginia’s licensed sports betting operators has shown interest in offering fixed-odds horse racing bets.
Licensed West Virginia Racetracks
For live thoroughbred racing, residents and visitors of the state of West Virginia have two options available. Two venues feature live greyhound racing. Here are the details on each of the four tracks.
Hollywood Casino at Charles Town Races
750 Hollywood Drive
Charles Town, WV 25414
This is one of the most iconic horse racing venues in the entire US. Hollywood Casino at Charles Town Races first opened its doors in 1933. It became part of the Penn National Gaming family in 1997 and has evolved into a popular tourist destination.
In addition to horse racing, visitors will find a casino with table games and slot machines, as well as sports betting offered on-site. There’s a spacious hotel for guests looking to stay overnight, as well as numerous dining options.
Mountaineer Racetrack & Resort
1420 Mountaineer Circle
New Cumberland, WV 26047
This spot traces its roots back to 1951 and is now owned and operated by Eldorado Resorts. Among its claims to fame is being the first race track in the US to offer slot machines and evolve into what’s known as a racino.
Mountaineer has a hotel with both rooms and suites, as well as dining and entertainment options on-site. A William Hill sportsbook is located on the property, featuring a wide array of slot and table games on the casino floor.
Mardi Gras Casino & Resort
1 Greyhound Drive
Cross Lanes, WV 25313
Greyhound racing is one of the draws at Mardi Gras, which became part of the Delaware North family in 2018. A full assortment of slot and casino games is offered, including numerous dining options and a luxury hotel.
1 South Stone Street
Wheeling, WV 26003
West Virginia’s other greyhound track is also a full-service casino with slots, table games, and a sportsbook. A 151-room hotel is part of the property, which also features live boxing and concert events on-site from time to time.
Off-Track Betting in West Virginia
There are no stand-alone off-track betting facilities located in West Virginia, but each of the state’s four race tracks offers simulcast wagering.
Hollywood Casino at Charles Town Races
750 Hollywood Drive
Charles Town, WV 25414
The simulcast facilities located on-site are open year-round and seven days a week. Wagering is available on both thoroughbred and greyhound tracks from across the US.
Mountaineer Racetrack & Resort
1420 Mountaineer Circle
New Cumberland, WV 26047
The simulcast section of Mountaineer is open daily from noon through midnight and offers betting for both thoroughbred and greyhound races.
1 Greyhound Drive
Cross Lanes, WV 25313
One of the state’s spots for live greyhound racing also has simulcast wagering on-site seven days a week for thoroughbred and greyhound racing.
1 South Stone Street
Wheeling, WV 26003
Wheeling has a simulcast facility on-site for horse and harness racing. It’s open seven days a week and features races from dozens of tracks.
Horse Racing Betting Laws in West Virginia
Parimutuel horse and greyhound betting is legal in West Virginia under §19-23 of the state code. Under state law, licensed race tracks may accept wagers in-person and through approved betting apps such as TVG and TwinSpires.
State law has authorized two horse racing tracks (Hollywood Casino Racetrack and Mountaineer Park) and two greyhound tracks (Mardi Gras and Wheeling Island). Additionally, the Casino Club at The Greenbrier holds the state’s only off-track betting license as mandated in §19-23-12d of the state code.
The West Virginia Racing Commission was established in 1931 and oversees all horse racing, greyhound racing and parimutuel wagering throughout the state. The Racing Commission and legislature both support the racing industries through a variety of measures such as diverting a percentage of casino revenue to both industries.
Online horse racing betting is also regulated in West Virginia. Legislation passed in 2020 allows advance deposit wagering providers (ADWs) to apply for licenses to offer phone-in, online, and mobile betting.
Major horse racing betting sites had been operating in West Virginia for years before the passage of the law. Still, they did so on uncertain legal footing as existing law did not specifically outline the legality of online horse wagering.
The law changes little on the ground for players but provides legal clarity for operators moving forward. Under the law, the WV Racing Commission is tasked with overseeing online betting, and operators are required to apply for licenses prior to offering their services to West Virginians.
Key points from the West Virginia law on ADWs include:
- ADWs must pay a $5,000 licensing fee.
- ADWs that accept wagers from WV residents without a license are subject to fines and imprisonment.
- Source market fee of 4% on total wagering handle from WV residents
- A regulatory fee of 0.5% of the total betting handle from WV residents paid to the Racing Commission
- An additional fee of 1.5% of the total betting handle from WV residents is paid to the Racing Commission and deposited into the Advance Deposit Wagering Account to be spent as directed by the legislature
Major Horse Racing Events in West Virginia
West Virginia Derby: This annual event celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2019. Held at Mountaineer, this is a 1 ⅛ mile race that is open to three-year-olds. It’s a Grade 3 stakes race with current purses checking in at $500,000.
Charles Town Classic: This event debuted in 2009 and has since seen its prize pool grow to $1.5 million. It’s considered a big event on the nation’s racing calendar. The classic is open to horses four years and older and contested on a 1 ⅛ mile track.
West Virginia Breeders Classic: This event entered its 32nd year in 2019. It features several different races of varying lengths throughout the day for several age groups. This is another annual event which is held at Hollywood Casino at Charles Town Races.