West Virginia Horse Racing Betting Sites

On this page, we break down what you need to know about West Virginia online horse betting, including the legal wagering apps, the state’s two thoroughbred tracks and how account wagering works.

In this article 10 sections

• West Virginia horse betting offers
• West Virginia horse racing betting in brief
• Is online horse betting legal in West Virginia?
• Horse betting sites in West Virginia
• Horse racing tracks in West Virginia
• Big races to bet in West Virginia
• Types of horse racing bets in West Virginia
• Deposits, withdrawals and tax
• Responsible horse betting in West Virginia
• West Virginia horse racing in 2027

West Virginia horse betting offers

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   New AmWager customers 21+ in eligible states. Deposit $50 and bet $50 within 30 days of opening the account (show betting excluded) to earn a $50 wagering credit, paid within 7 business days. The credit must be wagered, unused credit expires after 30 days and winnings are cash. One account per person, one offer per household.

West Virginia online horse betting is legal, and racing is woven into the state’s gambling history: the first legal sports bet in the state was struck at a racetrack casino, Hollywood Casino at Charles Town Races. Advance deposit wagering (ADW) lets you fund an account and bet pari-mutuel pools from your phone, on West Virginia races and on tracks across the country.

Bettors in the Mountain State can also visit two thoroughbred tracks, Charles Town and Mountaineer, for in-person wagering. AmWager is our horse racing partner for West Virginia.

Read our AmWager review Visit AmWager →

West Virginia horse racing betting in brief

Online horse betting	Yes, through licensed ADW platforms
Statute	West Virginia Code §19-23-12e (advance deposit wagering)
Regulator	West Virginia Racing Commission
Thoroughbred tracks	Charles Town, Mountaineer
Bet type	Pari-mutuel
AmWager minimum age	21+

Is online horse betting legal in West Virginia?

Yes. West Virginia Code §19-23-12e governs advance deposit account wagering, and the West Virginia Racing Commission oversees it. The Commission filed an updated ADW rule (178 CSR 10) in July 2025, and SB 298 was introduced in the 2026 session to authorize it, so the rulebook is being refreshed rather than rewritten.

ADW is pari-mutuel: your money goes into a pool with everyone else’s bets on that race, and the track’s takeout comes off the top before winners are paid. That makes it a different product from fixed-odds sports betting, which is covered in our West Virginia sportsbooks guide.

Horse betting sites in West Virginia

Here are the main racebooks West Virginia bettors use.

• AmWager: our partner in West Virginia. A full-service ADW with wagering on US and international tracks, live video and account tools on desktop and mobile. AmWager requires account holders to be 21 or older.
• TVG (FanDuel Racing): one of the best-known horse racing products, with extensive betting menus and its own TV network.
• DRF Bets: the Daily Racing Form’s wagering platform, with past performances and handicapping content built in.
• TwinSpires: Churchill Downs Inc.’s racebook, strong on Triple Crown coverage and handicapping data.
• NYRA Bets: run by the New York Racing Association, with a simple app and strong coverage of Saratoga, Belmont and Aqueduct.

Welcome promotions at non-partner racebooks vary, so check each operator’s terms directly.

Best horse betting apps in West Virginia

Every major ADW runs iOS and Android apps with live video, past performances and quick bet slips. When comparing, look at which tracks each app streams, how rebates or rewards are paid, and how fast withdrawals clear to your bank or PayPal.

Horse racing tracks in West Virginia

There are two thoroughbred tracks in the Mountain State offering in-person wagering.

• Hollywood Casino at Charles Town Races: opened in 1933 in the Eastern Panhandle. It races at night through much of the year and is home to the West Virginia Breeders’ Classics, the state-bred showcase run since 1987, and the Charles Town Classic.
• Mountaineer Casino, Racetrack and Resort: opened its gates in 1951 in New Cumberland, in the northern panhandle near the Ohio and Pennsylvania lines, and has been a staple for thoroughbred racing ever since.

Big races to bet in West Virginia

There are quality races that capture the attention of West Virginia horse betting fans and bettors from further afield.

• West Virginia Breeders’ Classics: staged at Charles Town each fall, a night of stakes for West Virginia-bred horses, with leading local owners, trainers and jockeys competing since 1987.
• Charles Town Classic: the track’s marquee open race for older horses, run in the spring.
• West Virginia Derby: Mountaineer’s signature race for three-year-olds, a summer fixture that has drawn national trainers, including Bob Baffert, to the northern panhandle.

Beyond the home tracks, ADW apps give West Virginia bettors the full national calendar: the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs, the Preakness, the Belmont Stakes and the Breeders’ Cup.

Types of horse racing bets in West Virginia

When visiting West Virginia horse racing sites you will have access to these types of bet.

• Win: a bet on the horse to win the race.
• Place/Show: a bet on a horse to finish in the top two (place) or top three (show).
• Exacta/Trifecta/Superfecta: you pick the exact finishing order of the first two, three or four horses.
• Quinella: you pick the first two finishers in either order.
• Daily Double and Pick 3 to Pick 6: you pick the winners of consecutive races.

Here’s how a pari-mutuel exacta works in practice. Bet a $2 exacta box on two horses and it costs $4, because the box covers both orders. If they finish first and second in either order, you collect the exacta payout the pool returns for a $2 bet; the price isn’t known until the race is official, because it depends on how much was bet on that combination.

Deposits, withdrawals and tax

ADW accounts take the usual methods: online bank transfer, debit card, PayPal and other e-wallets, depending on the operator. Your identity, age and address are verified before you can bet.

Winnings are taxable. Pari-mutuel wins over $600 that pay at least 300 times the stake trigger a W-2G, and federal withholding of 24% applies to wins over $5,000 when the payout is at least 300 times the wager. Winnings also count toward your West Virginia income tax. From the 2026 tax year, the federal deduction for gambling losses is capped at 90% of losses.

Responsible horse betting in West Virginia

Set a budget before the first race and stick to it, and use the deposit limits and time-outs every licensed ADW provides. West Virginia’s problem gambling helpline is 1-800-GAMBLER (1-800-426-2537), free and confidential, 24/7.

What is the best horse racing betting site in West Virginia?

It depends what you bet. AmWager, our partner, covers tracks across the US and abroad with live video and a clean bet slip. TwinSpires, owned by Churchill Downs, has deep handicapping content, TVG and FanDuel Racing add television and streaming coverage, NYRA Bets is the home of Saratoga, Belmont and Aqueduct wagering and DRF Bets builds Daily Racing Form past performances into the bet slip. A second racebook account lets West Virginia players compare rebates and track lists race by race.

Can you bet on horse racing online in West Virginia?

Yes. Advance deposit wagering is authorized under West Virginia Code §19-23-12e, and licensed ADW apps such as AmWager accept West Virginia customers.

How old do you have to be to bet on horses online in West Virginia?

Each ADW sets its own minimum age within state law. AmWager requires account holders to be 21 or older.

What horse racing tracks are in West Virginia?

Two thoroughbred tracks: Hollywood Casino at Charles Town Races in Charles Town and Mountaineer Casino, Racetrack and Resort in New Cumberland.

Can I bet the Kentucky Derby from West Virginia?

Yes. ADW apps take West Virginia bets on the Kentucky Derby and every other major US race, as long as you are located in the state when you wager.

Do I pay tax on horse racing winnings in West Virginia?

Yes. Winnings count as income for federal and West Virginia tax. Large pari-mutuel payouts trigger a W-2G and, above $5,000 at 300-to-1 or more, 24% federal withholding.