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Fantasy Sports | West Virginia

Fantasy Sports platforms offer online prediction games that allow you to assemble an imaginary team of actual sports players. You receive points based on real-life data that is transformed into fantasy points. Your fantasy points increase in direct proportion to how well your player does in real life.

Getting Started

Some daily fantasy sports competitions include a money-back guarantee, reducing the risk involved. Gamers get a reimbursement if they participate in a competition and later decide they don't like it.

Yes. West Virginia legalized sports betting in 2018. Within the boundaries of the Mountain State, offline and online sportsbooks now operate and take bets. The West Virginia Lottery Commission regulates sports betting in the state.

In West Virginia, you can place a bet on almost any sport. The state permits wagering on both pro and collegiate sporting events. However, West Virginia prohibits wagering on high school athletics, as does every other US state that permits sports betting.

You can place an online sports wager from any location in West Virginia as long as there is an internet connection.

You can place a bet in person at one of five places if you prefer:

  • Mountaineer Casino, Racetrack & Resort
  • The Greenbrier
  • Mardi Gras Casino & Resort
  • Hollywood Casino at Charles Town Races
  • Wheeling Island Hotel-Casino-Racetrack.

What is DFS Gambling?

Daily Fantasy Sports (DFS) is similar to fantasy sports. games However, in contrast to traditional fantasy sports games, which are played over a whole season, daily fantasy sports are played over shorter time frames, such as a week or a single day of competition.

DFS betting has several benefits over the conventional fantasy sports and even over other common types of gambling.

In season-long fantasy sports, you dedicate the entire year to one team after spending weeks or months researching your picks. If things don't work out, you're stuck with a bad team and you lose your money.

With DFS, on the other hand, you can prepare in a few hours and a terrible team can be eliminated the following day. Additionally, money deposits and withdrawals are simple. There is essentially no drawback at all.

Some of the upsides of daily fantasy sports include:

It's a Fun Game

Playing daily fantasy sports is enjoyable. Of course, playing the traditional fantasy sports is great as well. However, DFS gambling adds an extra layer of excitement and intrigue.

For starters, there is more diversity, and each week, you can try out new lineups and methods. This makes things more exciting.

Another enjoyable feature is the quickness with which rewards are distributed. In a contest that lasts the entire season, you will have to wait three to four months before receiving any winnings because nothing is decided until the end of the season. However, profits in daily fantasy sports competitions are given out almost immediately.

It's an Excellent Substitute for Poker.

There are many similarities between playing poker and daily fantasy sports. To begin with, both games favor skill over luck.

Another similarity is that the tournament structures and prizes of DFS are comparable to those of a poker tournament.

For a variety of reasons, many players have quit playing poker online. And these similarities qualify daily fantasy sports as a good substitute for poker.

Less Time-Consuming

Season-long fantasy sports require a lot of time commitment. Making time for several drafts may be extremely difficult, and that's before you factor in the stress of submitting a line-up each week and managing free agency and trades.

On the other hand, the time required for daily contests is minimal. For one thing, drafting and choosing a lineup are done concurrently and can likely be finished in under an hour.

Daily fantasy sports games are legal. The West Virginia attorney general, Patrick Morrisey, paved the door for the legalization of daily fantasy sports by finding that the results are not entirely or primarily controlled by chance. This outgrowth of fantasy sports became legal in 2018.

While some states have openly prohibited daily fantasy sports or are still embroiled in legal limbo, the Mountain State has expanded its liberal stance to other forms of sports betting and effectively legalized it.

What is the Most Played Fantasy Sport?

Football and baseball are the most popular fantasy sports, and most fantasy sports operators provide these. Along with hockey, basketball is a well-liked sport.

According to the statistics published by the fantasy sports and gaming association:

  • 78% of participants play fantasy football
  • 39 % play fantasy baseball
  • 19% play fantasy basketball (NBA)
  • 18% play fantasy hockey (NHL)
  • 14% play fantasy soccer.
  • 13% of people engage in fantasy golf.
  • 11% of people participate in fantasy esports.
  • 5% of people engage in fantasy bachelor

Even though there is no official legislation for it, West Virginia considers fantasy football to be a game of skill and hence considers it legal.

Just like fantasy football, fantasy baseball is also legal in West Virginia.

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Can You Win Real Money Playing Daily Fantasy Sports in West Virginia?

Everybody has a chance to win real money in DFS. Some competitors even earn a living by participating in these games.

While it can be difficult to estimate the exact amount of money that the best fantasy sports players are earning, there is data that suggests they may be taking home at least $10,000 a week.

Of course, it's quite improbable that you'll make that much right away because you'll have to learn the tricks of the game. However, if you're committed and ready to devote the time and effort, you'll definitely succeed in getting there.

You generally shouldn't stress over what it takes to make a steady profit if you're new to the game. Getting familiar with the game is more important. But it helps to have a basic understanding of a few things from the beginning.

Analyzing the percentage of games you must win to earn a profit is the first step to making real money. To better clarify this, consider head-to-head matches and 50/50 odds. In these competitions, if you're going against others of comparable skill, you should succeed roughly 50% of the time. And if this happens, you'd come close to breaking even.

Gamers must win 55.56% of these games to break even, and if they perform better than that, they earn a profit. Your profit will increase in direct proportion to your winning percentage.

These are merely the competitions that you have a reasonable chance of winning. Guaranteed tournaments may provide top payouts in the thousands of dollars, allowing players to make a significant financial gain.

These events require a different strategy, and you won't win as frequently, but a good return is feasible. A high level of intelligence is not required. Just be prepared to put in the effort necessary to learn the winning tactics.

How Do I Bet on Fantasy Sports in West Virginia?

One way is you'll have to use one of the legal sportsbooks in the state. Since there is a lot of competition, there are many options, and to entice you to sign up with them, sites offer sizable bonuses and incentives. Additionally, each site offers a variety of options for deposits and withdrawals.

It takes only a few minutes to sign up. You will be required to enter some personal information, select a username and password, and verify that you are at least 18 years old after selecting a site.

The second option is to physically visit a sportsbook or casino to place bets. It's fun to visit a live sportsbook because you get to watch games with lots of other gamblers. The energy in the air surely gives the gambling experience a new level.

Playing Online

What are the Best DFS sites in West Virginia?

FanDuel, DraftKings, Yahoo, and Fantasy Draft are examples of major DFS sites in West Virginia.

In the state of West Virginia, DFS mobile betting apps are legal. These apps make it very easy for users to place bets without having to log into the sports website.

How Old Do You Have to Be to Play West Virginia Daily Fantasy Sports?

In West Virginia, the minimum age to participate in daily fantasy sports is 21, which is also the legal gambling age in the state.

The fines associated with unlawful gambling are often in the range of $5 and $100, which is considered to be a rather minor penalty.

The penalties for operating an illegal gambling establishment are much more severe and can result in up to 12 months in jail. Also, those establishments that fail to prevent their customers under 21 from entering are typically subject to heavier punishments than the underage gamblers themselves.

FanDuel

In August of 2019, FanDuel became the first company to enter the state and, as is often the case, soon won over the fans.

FanDuel is operational in more than a dozen states, and the company's extensive promotional calendar, user-friendly interface, and large welcome bonus make it clear why they are the best sportsbook in almost every US area they enter. Through a connection with The Greenbrier, they were able to join the state.

DraftKings

DraftKings, which has its roots in the DFS industry, has made the switch to sports betting appear to be simple. DraftKings Sportsbook is one of the leaders in every market and is available in every US legal state.

It also boasts of a never-ending promotional schedule. Through an alliance with the Hollywood Casino in Charles Town, DraftKings expands to West Virginia and is available online and through a mobile app.

Caesars

Following their acquisition of the renowned bookmaking company William Hill, Caesars Sportsbook wouldn't open in West Virginia till August 5, 2021. Through a collaboration with the Mountaineer Casino Racetrack & Resort after the acquisition, Caesars was permitted to conduct business in West Virginia for both online and retail sports betting.

Since it first opened in West Virginia, Caesars has remained a top choice for bookmakers in the region.

PointsBet

In 2021, PointsBet became yet another well-known betting company to offer its products in West Virginia. The Australian bookmaker appeared soon after Caesars went up, going live on August 12—one week later.

Yes, PrizePicks is legal in West Virginia as well as in the following US states:

  • Alabama
  • Alaska
  • Arkansas
  • California
  • Colorado
  • Connecticut
  • D.C
  • Florida
  • Georgia
  • Illinois
  • Kansas
  • Kentucky
  • Massachusetts
  • Michigan
  • Minnesota
  • Nebraska
  • New Mexico
  • North Carolina
  • North Dakota
  • Oklahoma
  • Oregon
  • Rhode Island
  • South Carolina
  • South Dakota
  • Texas
  • Utah
  • Vermont
  • Wisconsin
  • Wyoming

Although PrizePicks operates daily fantasy sports, the website gives a fresh perspective on the already established market. PrizePicks' games are unlike anything you'd see on other DFS websites, which has helped the business develop and become a top choice for gamblers.

PrizePicks' availability to everyone at least 18 years old is one of its best features; in contrast to sports betting websites that call for a minimum age of 21.

The mobile app for PrizePicks is another fantastic feature, and it functions quite similarly to the website. Customers find the process to be simple, and the majority of gamers prefer to access the website using a mobile app. New users of PrizePicks are given a great welcome bonus, and the website also offers other promotions.

PrizePicks prefers to keep things very straightforward, and the website only offers the two major games. Despite only having two play styles to pick from, these two games nonetheless provide a wide range of alternatives.

The primary distinction between PrizePicks' two most popular games is in the payout percentages, which makes them both remarkably identical. There is less decision-making involved in both games because you must select either an over or under on specific data.

Games Available

Flex Play

Flex Play serves as a nice form of player insurance since it gives you the possibility to win additional rewards if your initial "bet" loses money. Although there are fewer prizes in this game, there are still 3 ways to win.

  1. Two-Player Stakes: For one accurate selection, a reward of 0.5x is given; for two correct selections, a payout of 2x is given.
  2. Three-Player Stakes: Stakes for three players offer payouts of 1.25x for two accurate selections and 2.25x for three.
  3. Four-Player Stakes: For three accurate selections, a reward of 1.5x is given; for four correct selections, a payout of 5x is given.

Power Play

Power Play competitions have all-or-nothing stakes and no built-in insurance. With this game, the payouts are substantially bigger, however, the stakes are high.

  1. Two-Player Stakes: 3x payoff for two accurate picks.
  2. Three-Player Stakes: 5x reward for three accurate picks.
  3. Four-Player Stakes: 10x reward for four accurate selections.

The two largest daily fantasy sports (DFS) companies in the US are DraftKings and FanDuel, but PrizePicks has had a tremendous start in the market as well.

PrizePicks is a good DFS option, but it may take a while for them to have widespread recognition in the sports betting business.

One of the most well-known and significant bookmakers for sports in the UK is Bet365, and the website is now accessible from the United States. However, this operator is only available in New Jersey. So no, Bet365 is not legal in West Virginia.

Caesars, which is one of the most recognizable brands in the gambling industry, is available as well as legal in the Mountain State.

Players at Caesars can benefit from some of the best bonus deals available because of the sportsbook's wealthy corporate sponsorship. Regardless of whether you are a frequent customer or a new player, this could result in hundreds of more cash in your betting account.

Out of the 50 states in the United States of America, Bovada is legal in 45 of them, including West Virginia. The exempted 5 states are Delaware, Maryland, Nevada, New Jersey, and New York.

Bovada is genuine in addition to being legal. To put it another way, it upholds moral standards and offers trustworthy payments together with fair, honest games.

So there's no need to panic if you've been putting off opening an account because you're unsure whether Bovada is permitted in West Virginia. For all of your sports betting online gaming needs, Bovada offers a secure and legal environment.

This operator’s wide selection of alternative banking options attracts a lot of gamers from the Mountain State. Debit/credit cards, e-wallets like PayPal and Bitcoin, as well as many other methods, are all acceptable forms of payment for bets.

Additionally, there are several ways to receive your wins, and the withdrawal times for each method differ. Various approaches vary in speed. A check is probably the slowest option, but Bitcoin is the quickest way to cash out your profits.

In August 2018, West Virginia became the 5th state in the nation to legalize sports betting. In December of the same year, it also became the third state to permit sports betting online. A little more than a year later, in January 2020, BetMGM established an affiliation with The Greenbrier and opened an online sportsbook.

It's important to note that to place a real money bet with BetMGM, you must be present physically within West Virginia's borders. You can sign up and make deposits from any US location, but you must be physically present in the Mountain State to place bets. Modern geolocation technology is used by BetMGM to identify users' precise location.

Almost all Virginia residents who are 21 or older may register with BetMGM and make real money wagers. Only people whose jobs can directly affect how sports games turn out are not allowed to utilize BetMGM's services. These people consist of trainers, officials, professional athletes, coaches, and some employees.

The BetMGM West Virginia mobile app allows Virginia gamblers to place bets on the go. You may place bets on your preferred sports whenever you want, from anywhere in Virginia, if you have the BetMGM app. Furthermore, you may use the app to make payments, claim perks, and even get in touch with customer service. It's rather convenient, no?

Anyone who is physically located in West Virginia is at least 21 years old, has a current Social Security number, and wishes to wager with DraftKings Casino may do so.

Online gaming service provider, DraftKings West Virginia casino, has strong safety regulations. The online site is reputable and safe. This operator is licensed by the West Virginia Lottery Commission. This indicates that the business has the appropriate security measures in place to offer services to gamers in West Virginia.

Additionally, DraftKings maintains tight ties with the nation's top establishments dedicated to responsible gaming.

Yes, SuperDraft is legal in the Mountain state. SuperDraft, a new daily fantasy sports platform from the Caesars Sportsbook team, offers both conventional salary cap competitions and novel formats that equalize the odds for all players.

The most notable of SuperDraft's game types are the multiplier competitions, which do away with the salary cap in exchange for competitions that are quicker, and easier for casual fans to win. In other words, multiplier competitions allow players to select athletes with special scoring multipliers, making every selection potentially game-changing.

Do You Have to Pay Taxes on Fantasy Sports Winnings?

In West Virginia, gambling winnings are usually not taxable, however, DFS players who make a net profit of more than $600 (having deducted deposits and entry fees) are required to declare their winnings to the Internal Revenue Service(IRS) as taxable income.

Out of the 50 states in the United States, daily fantasy sports are legal in 45 of them. The 5 states that have not legalized DFS include:

  • Hawaii
  • Idaho
  • Montana
  • Washington
  • Nevada