West Virginia Sports Betting Revenue Insights August 2025

Published: Feb 21, 2025, 2:10 PM
6 min read
Updated: Aug 11, 2025, 1:11 PM
By:
Fact checked by:
Sergey Demidov

Revenue Insights

$60.16M

June handle hit a new two-month high.
Revenue Trends
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$6.94M

June GGR outpaced May by over $860K.
Revenue Trends
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+1.38 pts

Hold rate climbed from 10.15% in May to 11.53% in June.
Revenue Trends
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$591.9K

June tax share marked a strong month for state revenue.
Revenue Trends
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Sports Betting in West Virginia

West Virginia, characterized by its rich Appalachian heritage and strong college sports culture, legalized both retail and online sports betting in 2018. The enabling legislation, Senate Bill 415, was passed in April 2018, and the first legal sports wager was placed at Hollywood Casino at Charles Town Races on August 30, 2018, making West Virginia the fifth state to launch post-PASPA betting. Regulated by the West Virginia Lottery Commission, the state quickly expanded its online footprint, with mobile apps launching later that year.

Since launch, the market has grown steadily, with increasing handle, revenue, and tax contributions as consumer demand has broadened.

Interested in how different operators compare? Read our in-depth reviews of sports betting operators in West Virginia.

Annual Sports Betting Growth in West Virginia

Data is pulled directly from the West Virginia Gaming & Racing Association Annual Reports

Source:

RG

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Monthly Sports Betting Growth in West Virginia

Taxes

Data is pulled directly from the West Virginia Gaming & Racing Association Monthly Reports

Source:

RG

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West Virginia's Sports Betting Revenue Performance

YearHandleRevenueHold %State Taxes
2020279,635,04121,065,1818.10%1,790,540
2021544,509,14745,463,8278.77%3,864,425
2022585,819,46551,704,3869.03%4,394,873
2023372,215,08634,268,7299.46%2,928,026
2024592,642,72865,866,10111.21%5,592,747
2025 YtdSee monthly breakdown below———

2025 Year-to-Date (Jan–Jul)

MonthHandle (USD)GGR (USD)Hold %Tax Revenue (USD)
Jan 202547,671,7766,245,60513.10%535,530
Feb 202559,549,4015,161,1478.67%442,380
Mar 202562,939,3396,186,8609.83%529,032
Apr 202566,872,0886,019,6399.00%514,349
May 202559,860,4166,072,94610.15%518,313
Jun 202560,158,1836,937,08011.53%591,915
Jul 202566,190,5417,461,16611.27%637,458

Highlights

  • March 2025 saw the highest monthly handle (≈ $62.9M), but a relatively modest hold of 9.83%, suggesting more favorable outcomes for bettors.
  • January 2025 recorded a high hold (13.10%) and correspondingly strong tax yield.
  • June–July 2025 maintained elevated performance with hold percentages over 11%, boosting operator margins and tax revenue.

Latest Updates in West Virginia Sports Wagering

  • Apr 22, 2025 – Fixed-odds racing legalized under SB 576, amending the Lottery Sports Wagering Act to permit fixed-odds wagering on horse and dog racing, define key terms, create purse-supplement funds, and require the Lottery to collect a weekly 10% tax on adjusted gross sports wagering receipts. (West Virginia Legislature)
  • Apr 22, 2025 – New purse supplement funds created: the Fixed Odds Horse Racing Wagering Purse Supplement Fund and the Fixed Odds Dog Racing Wagering Purse Supplement Fund, with specific distribution rules for 10% collections from fixed-odds bet receipts, including horse/dog parlays. (West Virginia Legislature)
  • December 2024: Betting operator VIP Play reveals plan to expand to West Virginia in 2025 (Sportsgrid, 2024)
  • August 1, 2024 - Esports provider Oddin.gg granted a temporary sports betting license in West Virginia. (SBC Americas, 2024)
  • July 3, 2024 - West Virginia sends cease-and-desist to Bovada as it cracks down on offshore sportsbooks. (West Virginia News, 2024)
  • April 7, 2020 - West Virginia becomes the first state where sports bettors could wager on politics before rescinding markets due to a law from 1868. (NBC News, 2020)

West Virginia Snapshot

Key AspectDetails
PopulationApproximately 1.76 million residents as of 2024. (World Population Review, 2024)
Political AffiliationHeavily Republican, West Virginia has a GOP trifecta, with the party controlling the governorship and both legislative chambers, and the state voted Republican in the 2024 presidential election. (270towin.com, 2024)
Year Sports Betting LegalizedWest Virginia was an early adopter of legal sports betting, passing a bill to allow it in March 2018 (Forbes, 2018).
Number of Sportsbooks OperatingEight sportsbooks are operating in West Virginia, including BetMGM, BetRivers, Caesars Sportsbook, DraftKings, ESPN BET, Fanatics Sportsbook, FanDuel, and Betly.
GGR 2025 (Jan-July)$44,084,442
Handle 2025 (Jan-July)$423,241,745
Professional Sports TeamsWest Virginia is not home to any major professional sports teams. The West Virginia Mountaineers college football team is the most popular local NCAA team.

FAQs

General Questions on West Virginia Sports Betting

When did West Virginia legalize sports betting?

West Virginia legalized sports betting in March 2018 and launched operations in August 2018.

Who regulates sports betting in West Virginia?

The West Virginia Lottery Commission oversees all sports betting operations in the state.

What is the tax rate on sports betting revenue in West Virginia?

West Virginia taxes sports betting revenue at 10%, with the first $15 million allocated to the state’s lottery fund and any excess going to state pensions.

Which sportsbooks operate in West Virginia?

Major operators in West Virginia include FanDuel, DraftKings, BetMGM, ESPN Bet, and Caesars.

<p><strong>Sol Fayerman-Hansen</strong> is Editor-in-Chief at RG.org with 20+ years of experience in sports journalism, gambling regulation, and tech. His work has appeared in <i>Forbes</i>, <i>ESPN</i>, and <i>NFL.com</i>, covering U.S. and Canadian gambling laws, major sports events, and wagering trends. Since 2023, Sol has led RG.org’s global editorial efforts, focusing on transparency, data accuracy, and regulatory insight. He works closely with researchers and legal experts to uphold E-E-A-T and Trust Project standards.</p><p>📍 Israel/Canada 🌐 English, Hebrew 🎯 Gambling law, responsible gaming, tech in betting</p>
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