This might be the strangest time in the history of sports betting.
With the entire country on lockdown due to concerns over the spreading of COVID-19, US sports are no longer in commission.
That means a very difficult time for West Virginia sportsbooks, as well as those all over the US.
The NBA and NHL seasons were suspended halfway through their seasons. The NCAA decided to cancel March Madness.
Additional leagues like MLB, MLS, ATP, XFL, PGA Tour, and NASCAR have all been postponed or canceled, as well.
So now millions of Americans are isolated at home with basically zero more sports. While this sounds slightly depressing, sports bettors in the Mountain State do have some alternative options they might not be aware of.
Thankfully, the state offers three of the best online sports betting apps available anywhere. They each still feature several different sports and leagues to wager on right now.
While there are still betting markets available, the stoppage in sports came at a terrible time for the online sportsbooks in WV:
BetMGM is still relatively new in the market, while mobile wagering is just starting to find its groove in general. The percentage of online betting had started to increase over the last few weeks and months.
Nonetheless, we are here. So, let’s take a look at all of the online books and examine what betting options are still listed.
NFL Futures
Something that is much easier to figure out for American bettors is NFL futures. Of course, many gamblers love taking season-long bets for the upcoming year, including who will win the Super Bowl or be named MVP.
Although these are fun options that are available, the start of the regular season is too far away to get excited about a wager that won’t be decided for about 11 months.
Fortunately, the NFL Draft betting is just around the corner and some of the sportsbooks in the state feature odds for the big event. You’re able to bet on several different categories, including which player will be drafted first overall and who will be the first one selected at each position.
DraftKings offers additional odds consisting of specific player specials. The online sportsbook currently showcases the following betting lines for which team will draft Alabama quarterback Tua Tagovailoa:
- Miami Dolphins -167
- LA Chargers +275
- Washington Redskins +500
- Cincinnati Bengals +1600
- Detroit Lions +1600
- Las Vegas Raiders +2500
World Soccer
Despite the fact that some of the most popular soccer leagues are no longer playing, there are still some options out there to wager on. With the MLS, English Premier League and Champions League all on hold, soccer fanatics must dig a little deeper to bet on matches.
That being said, there are multiple countries that are still playing live soccer games. They include Germany, Australia, Sweden, Turkey and Belarus.
Of course the majority of these teams and players are unknown to the average American viewer, but there are some exceptions.
The DFB-Pokal, a German cup competition that’s held annually, involves two teams that many around the world are familiar with. Both Bayern Munich and Bayer Leverkusen have made their imprint on European soccer in the past.
Even though the tournament’s semifinals don’t start until mid-April, bettors can still place a wager at any of the three WV online sportsbooks.
As expected, Bayern Munich and Bayer Leverkusen are both sizable favorites to win their next match and meet in the final.
The future of WV sports betting
Basically, futures are where it is at if you want to bet on sports in West Virginia.
Other futures include:
- UFC (April fights)
- F1
- NCAA 2021 champions
- NBA 2020 champions
Now might be time to study up on your favorite sport or learn a new one.
