The best West Virginia online horse race betting sites
West Virginia online horse race betting has been available in the state since 2020. As one of the first legal states for horse racing, West Virginia boasts a strong variety of horse betting sites.
On this page, we’ll go through the best WV online horse race betting options and teach you how to get started with horse betting sites in WV.
We’ll also cover all the important info, such as the legal situation. Let’s raise the starting flag with WV’s best horse betting sites.
| Sportsbook Logo | Odds rating | Bonus | Go to sportsbook Button | Show more | T&C |
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78/100 Expert rating by Melanie H. 0% Playscore based on 0 critics |
Up to $200 back on a lost first bet
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Good to know
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74/100 Expert rating by Melanie H. 0% Playscore based on 0 critics |
$200 sign-up offer after wagering
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Good to know
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73/100 Expert rating by Melanie H. 0% Playscore based on 0 critics |
$150 first-deposit match (after wagering)
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Good to know
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These West Virginia online horse race betting sites are what we consider to be the best available in the state right now. These sites all offer a similar welcome bonus, and they all have national and international horse races. Apart from that, all three sites offer to stream live races so you can feel the action first-hand as it’s happening live.
Breaking down the best horse betting sites for West Virginia
In this section we’ll go into detail about the WV online horse race betting sites we class as being in the top tier. We’ll look at the welcome bonuses available and any features that make them stand out from the competition.
#1 betting site TVG WV
TVG is a household name in horse racing. They have two dedicated high-def channels and are owned by FanDuel, which successfully runs one of the best sportsbooks in the US. Once you sign up for the horse race betting site, you’ll also get access to live streaming, and you’re able to bet on the ponies from the comfort of your own home. When you sign up to TVG for the first time, you get up to $200 back in site credit on your first wager if the horse you back loses. You can place bets using all devices, including PC, Apple and Android.
#2 betting site TwinSpires WV
As the official partner of Churchill Downs, home of the Kentucky Derby, TwinSpires offers a wide range of horse racing bets. You’ll be able to bet on national and international races from all over the world. Once you sign up to their site, you can take advantage of their $200 deposit bonus. There are also other promotions running for existing players, and a huge amount of research information aimed at helping you make the best bets possible.
#3 betting site AmWager WV
AmWager might not feel as polished as TwinSpires or TVG but what it lacks in style it makes up for in function. The system is said to be designed by the players for the players, so you get a ton of statistics at your fingertips. Their site is accessible on any device. AmWager also offers a $150 deposit match when you sign up for the first time.
Where to bet on horses? WV’s horse racetrack
You won’t find any standalone racetracks in West Virginia as they are all part of some other type of establishment. However, each racetrack offers simulcast wagering so you can place bets on ponies around the world. There’s a total of four racetracks in West Virginia. Two of these offer greyhound racing, and the other two are horse betting sites in WV.
Hollywood Casino at Charles Town Races
A track overlooking the Blue Ridge Mountains, Hollywood Casino at Charles Town Races offers punters some big races such as the $1.25 million Charles Town Classic, the West Virginia Breeders Classic and the Race for the Ribbon. Charles Town Races also offers plenty of races all year round, thanks to simulcast wagering.
Mountaineer Racetrack & Resort
A riverfront resort and racetrack, the Mountaineers is located close to Columbus, Pittsburgh and Cleaveland making it a go-to destination for out-of-state punters wanting to enjoy some horse racing action in WV. Live races run between May and December. Simulcast racing is available all through the year.
Mardi Gras Casino & Resort
The Mardi Gras is a greyhound racetrack however, thanks to simulcast wagering, it offers both greyhound race betting and horse race betting throughout the year.
Wheeling Island
Live greyhound racing is live from Wednesday to Sunday, and punters can also use the casino, poker rooms and sports betting facilities. Wheeling Island also offers horse racing betting all year round through Simulcast wagering.
How to bet on horse races in WV?
Ready to take a slice of the West Virginia horse race betting action? We’ve created a simple how-to so you can get started straight away. If you want to do this in person, all you have to do is visit either the Hollywood Casino at Charles Town Races or the Mountaineer Racetrack and Resort. Both places have live horse racing when in season but also offer simulcast wagering of horse racing around the globe. If you want to start your online journey, read on.
- Choose your WV online horse race betting site.
Take your pick from the horse betting sites WV options available. Once you’ve chosen your favorite, head to the website and look for the ‘register’ or ‘sign up’ button. This is normally located on the top right corner of the homepage. Some sites will allow you to download a dedicated app, especially on mobile devices.
- Register your account
To get started, you’ll need to enter information such as your name, address, SSN number etc. Make sure this information is correct as you’ll need to verify this when you want to withdraw. You may also need to verify your email address.
- Make your first deposit
Once you’ve set up your account, you’ll need to fund it. Pick one of the deposit options available and complete the process. Also, don’t forget to opt-in to the welcome package available on our West Virginia online horse race betting sites.
- Get your bets at the ready
As soon as the money is in your account, you’re ready to start betting. Before you do, make sure to read a few of the stats offered by the West Virginia online horse race betting site. These sites usually have analysis to help you with your picks. Once you’ve chosen your horse, add the stake and place your bet.
- Get ready to withdraw
If you’ve backed the right horse, then it will be time to reap the rewards of your bet. Once the bet is cleared the money will be shown in your account and you’ll be able to withdraw (as long as there is no further wagering required due to an active bonus). You’ll need to head to the cashier of your WV online horse race betting site and click withdraw. The money will be in your pocket within the next few days.
Popular bets
Since West Virginia online horse race betting is legal, punters can enjoy a variety of different bet types available when betting on ponies. There are many types of bets available and some of these can get pretty complicated and are only recommended for those experienced horse racing punters. In this section, we’ll go through the easiest ones and also mention some of the more advanced betting types. Luckily, when playing at WV online horse betting sites, you won’t need to worry about saying your wagers or making sure the calculations are correct. The online betting system takes care of everything. All you have to do is choose the horses you want to bet on and how much you want to spend.
- Win: The most straightforward of bets; here you’re picking which horse you think is going to win the race.
- Place: This is more of a hedged bet, as you’re saying that your horse is going to finish either first or second in the race.
- Show: Similar to the Place bet, but here you’re betting on a horse to place either first, second or third.
- Exactas: A bet where you predict the placement of the first and second horses. You will only win the bet if you guess the correct placement in order.
- Quinella: Similar to the Exectas, but instead, it doesn’t matter in which order the first and second horse place.
- Trifecta: Here you’ll need to predict the correct placement of the first, second and third horse. These type of bets yield very high returns as they have high odds.
- Boxing: These type of bets are used on the exacta, trifecta and quinella wagers. Boxing gives you the chance to win even if you don’t correctly predict the exact placement of the horse. Keep in mind these bets can get quite expensive.
- Parlays: With parlays you can bet on different lines taken from different horse races, similarly to what you would do in football betting. Here you can see very high returns as a single bet will have wide odds.
WV online horse race betting popular events
West Virginia has a long history of racing with both horse racing and greyhound racing being very popular in the state. West Virginia currently has two racetracks that feature thoroughbred horse racing. These are the top three events that attract the masses to the mountain state.
The West Virginia Derby
Taking place at the Mountaineer, the West Virginia Derby is a 1 ⅛ mile race with Grade 3 stakes for three-year-old thoroughbreds. Celebrating its 50th anniversary back in 2019, the purse for this event is half a million dollars.
Charles Town Classic
A Grade 2 American thoroughbred horse race for ponies aged three or over held in August. Raced over a distance of 1 ⅛ miles at the Hollywood Casino at Charles Town Races. It was inaugurated in 2009 and has a purse of $1,000,000.
West Virginia Breeders Classic
Inaugurated in 1987, the West Virginia Breeders Classis is run on a flat 1 ⅛ mile racetrack. It’s open to three-year-old and up thoroughbreds and takes place at Charles Town Races. It currently offers a purse of $500,000.
Picking the best WV online horse race betting sites
If you’re just getting started with horse betting sites in WV, read on to see what are the features to look out for when choosing a West Virginia betting site.
Races available
WV online horse race betting comes packed with the option to bet on horse races all around the globe. Basically, any time you want a slice of the action you’ll find it available, either in the US or abroad. All WV sites offer the possibility to watch these races live, you simply need to be subscribed to the horse racing site.
Bet types
One thing about WV online horse race betting is that it can be as simple or as complicated as you want it to be. All the sites we mention have a good spread of different bet types but one really stands out. AmWager goes into great detail to explain all these types of bets and give clear explanations of the more intricate horse race bets.
Bonuses
Bonuses help you get more bang for your buck but they also make the game that little bit more interesting. All of the sites we mentioned have a solid welcome bonus available so you won’t go wrong there. If you’re looking for more as an existing player then TwinSpires is probably your best bet as they offer things like boosts and tournaments. They also have a solid rewards program
Other betting features
West Virginia online horse race betting sites offer races from around the world so one thing a player needs is a live stream. Luckily all horse betting sites WV offer this feature and most of them also offer replays of the action. Another thing a punter needs is detailed info about the sport. TVG really shines here as they offer an amazing array of stats, expert picks and more.
Usability
Horse racing can get a little complicated if you’re going for the advanced bet types so you need the interface to be as user-friendly as possible. You also want stats to be available at the ready so you can make informed decisions. With TwinSpires, everything is collected in one place so as you’re building your bet you can see things such as past results, success rates, run styles and track and post position bias.
Overall rating
When choosing a West Virginia online horse race betting site, it’s also worth looking at how the site functions overall. We’re talking about how easy it is to deposit and withdraw, how often customer support is available and how user-friendly their mobile app is. Apart from offering a good range of payment options TwinSpires tick all the boxes, including as good customer service and a great mobile app for both iOS and Android.
Legalized horse race betting WV — what you need to know
West Virginia online horse race betting is legal in the Mountain state and regulated by the West Virginia Racing Commission. It’s been available in the state for many years but only cemented into legislation in 2020. Nowadays operators need to apply for a license and all activity is properly taxed.
- New and existing operators, known as advance deposit wagering operators (ADWs) need to apply for a license that costs $5,000 in order for the operators to be able to accept wagers online.
- There is a 4% market fee on operators together with a 0.5% regulatory fee that goes straight to the racing commission. An extra 1.5% goes towards the Advance Deposit Wagering Account to be used by the state legislature.
- In West Virginia the minimum age to bet on horses and greyhounds is 18 years old.
FAQ
Can you bet on horse racing online in West Virginia?
Yes, betting on horses is legal in West Virginia and you can do so either in person at one of the racetracks in the state or via these online betting sites.
What are the best West Virginia online horse race betting sites?
This depends on what you’re looking for in a betting site, but we run through the best WV online horse race betting sites at the top of this page and list them according to their features, ease of use, bets available and more.
What horse racing events do WV horse betting sites offer?
West Virginia is popular with horse race punters because of events such as the West Virginia Derby or the Charles Town Classic but you can actually bet on all types of races from across the country and the world thanks to simulcast wagering.
Is WV online horse race betting safe?
Yes as long as you are betting with sites that are regulated by the West Virginia Racing Commission. You can read more about the legal aspect of horse racing in West Virginia here. Also, you can rest assured we only ever promote legal horse betting sites in WV.