The crack of the bat and the smell of the grass. A tasty hot dog and an ice-cold beer. And for many West Virginians, a winning betting slip.
For the first time, West Virginia sportsbooks will have their windows open during MLB Spring Training and the MLB regular season.
Baseball season is right around the corner and WV fans have plenty of Major League teams in neighboring states to root for. There will be plenty of opportunities to wager when all 30 teams get the action underway on March 28.
That’s baseball’s official opening day, the earliest in league history, and bettors will have a chance to lay some money down even earlier with the Seattle Mariners battling the Oakland Athletics at the Tokyo Dome on March 20-21.
Want to try on West Virginia sports betting? Here’s a guide on what to expect as spring training and the season approaches.
How to bet on Major League Baseball games
West Virginians have no shortage of MLB teams in nearby states to have a rooting interest:
- West of WV: Cincinnati Reds
- North of WV: Cleveland Indians and Pittsburgh Pirates
- East of WV: Washington Nationals and Baltimore Orioles
There should be no lack of action throughout the season and those in West Virginia have several sports betting options.
But what all goes into betting on baseball? Is it different than other sports?
Like every sport, it’s first important to do some MLB research. Take a look at matchups and look for value. That includes starting pitchers and bullpens, and team records including home versus away and head-to-head.
Look at each team’s offensive numbers as well and make your best predictions.
Types of MLB sports bets:
- Moneyline – predicting who will a specific game.
- Over/Under – This is a bet based on the total number of points scored between two teams in a game.
- Runline –A typical runline is 1.5 means a bet favors a team to win by 2 runs or more.
- Futures – A prediction of teams that will win those pennant races and the World Series.
- Parlays – Players select more than one outcome that must happen.
Where to bet on MLB in West Virginia
WV sports betting launched in Aug. 2018. Today, West Virginians now have numerous options to wager.
Here is a look at where to make that next Moneyline or Runline wager.
Hollywood Casino at Charles Town Races
Hollywood Casino at Charles Town Races was the first sportsbook to open and is located near Skybox Sports Bar. It offers 24 odds-display monitors and 50 feet of wall space with 80-inch TVs for checking out the action on the court.
The property’s location may make it a popular destination for players in Maryland, as it’s located within an hour drive from Baltimore and Washington, D.C.
Mardi Gras Casino and Resort
The newly-opened Bet Lucky sportsbook offers players an easy opportunity to take in all the matchups with plenty of screens. Mardi Gras Casino offers a great location for bettors in the western part of the state as well as those in Ohio and eastern Kentucky.
Wheeling Island Hotel-Casino-Racetrack
Wheeling Island Hotel also offers a Bet Lucky sportsbook. Make that MLB bet and grab a bite to eat or an ice cold beer. Located between Ohio and Pennsylvania, it should be a popular destination during baseball season.
Mountaineer Casino, Racetrack and Resort
The William Hill Sportsbook at Mountaineer Casino offers plenty of action and amenities for every level of bettor. William Hill is a leader in sports wagering and bettors can expect a top-notch experience. The property is located between Ohio and Pennsylvania.
The Greenbrier
The Casino Club at The Greenbrier has partnered with FanDuel for its sportsbook lounge. The company brings plenty of experience to the sports wagering industry and bettors will enjoy making those baseball selections.
MLB + WV mobile sports betting
Legal sports betting apps first made an appearance in late Dec. 2018. There is currently only one mobile app in the Mountain State. There are 13 available licenses for online sportsbooks, so it is likely more WV sports betting apps are on the way.
BetLucky Sportsbook
This mobile app is operated by Delaware North (which operates Wheeling Island and Mardi Gras) and Miomni Gaming. It was the first mobile wagering option for bettors in the Mountain State.
Players are able to place bets anywhere in the state. The app is offered on iOS and Android devices. Users can create an account anywhere, and the app currently has odds for World Series futures as well as the player who will hit the most home runs.
BetLucky offers a new sign-up bonus, doubling your first bet up to $20. Give it a download and maybe a nice World Series wager is a good way to start.
DraftKings Sportsbook
DraftKings WV Sportsbook announced in December that it had partnered with Hollywood Casino to offer mobile wagering with plans to go live soon. No doubt plenty of West Virginians are awaiting its launch.
Current odds to win MLB World Series
Here’s a look at current World Series futures odds as of March 6, 2018, on the BetLucky mobile sports betting app.
- Red Sox +600
- Yankees +600
- Astros +600
- Dodgers +700
- Phillies +800
- Cubs +1000
- Indians +1000
- Cardinals +1000
- Nationals +1200
- Brewers +1400
- Braves +1500
- Mets +2000
- Athletics +2000
- Rockies +2500
- Twins +2500
- Rays +2500
- Angels +3500
- Reds +4000
- White Sox +5000
- Diamondbacks +5000
- Padres +5000
- Pirates +5000
