According to the most recent report from the West Virginia Lottery, retail sports betting in West Virginia experienced a decline in February.
During the second month of 2025, sports betting in West Virginia reached a staggering $40 million through both retail and online outlets. As a result, the state was able to collect approximately $2.8 million in tax revenue.
Nevertheless, there was a decrease in betting compared to the previous month, with a difference of nearly $10 million less than the amount wagered in February 2022.
West Virginia retail sports bettors fared better than operators
The sports betting data in West Virginia encompasses both retail and online activities. Individuals have the option to place their bets online through seven different sportsbooks or visit any of the five casinos and racetracks within the state to place their bets.
In February, retail sports betting operators experienced a challenging month, resulting in financial losses of approximately $566,705 for brick-and-mortar establishments. Conversely, it proved to be a fruitful period for the bettors.
Last month, retail sports bettors wagered approximately $4.3 million and received around $4.9 million in winnings. Sportsbooks incurred a loss of approximately $9,765 due to retail voids.
Online sports betting continues to be a West Virginia favorite
In contrast to its retail equivalent, online sports betting generated approximately $3.4 million in taxable revenue in February. Bettors placed bets amounting to nearly $35.4 million through online sportsbooks, with winnings totaling around $32 million.
Between January 1st and February 4th, the initial sports betting report for West Virginia indicated a total of $55 million in bets.
- A total of $48 million was contributed by online sports betting.
- Approximately $7.5 million in handle was claimed by the retail sector.
In total, the taxable revenue generated from sports betting in January amounted to $4.5 million.
West Virginia’s bets and revenue experience a decline on a monthly basis. It is important to mention that the most recent statistics from the Lottery only cover a period of four weeks, unlike January’s data which spanned five weeks.
The sports betting handle for February 2022 reached approximately $48.5 million, showing a significant increase of nearly $9 million compared to the previous month’s $39.8 million.
Despite this, there was an increase in total taxable receipts. The revenue generated in the previous month, amounting to approximately $2.8 million, surpassed February 2022 by nearly $1 million. During that period, the state collected around $1.9 million in tax revenue from sports betting.
2023 Super Bowl set a betting record in the US
From December until March, the sports betting world experiences a temporary slowdown. This period includes thrilling events like a complete NFL schedule and college football bowl season, alongside other significant factors.
In February, the Super Bowl takes place and in 2025, it broke a gambling record in the United States. GeoComply, a company responsible for verifying the location of bettors using sportsbook apps, reported that approximately $100 million was wagered during the eventful weekend. This represents an impressive almost 25% rise compared to the previous year’s statistics.
During the Super Bowl, FanDuel acquired approximately $17 million in bets, as reported by CNBC. Throughout the game, the sportsbook maintained an average of two million active users.
Sports betting numbers often rise with March Madness
After all is said and done in March, make sure to watch for the report from the West Virginia Lottery. In March last year, approximately $55.7 million was bet in the Mountain State, representing a significant increase of around $7 million compared to February 2022’s numbers.
The American Gaming Association reported that over 17% of American adults intended to place bets on March Madness. The AGA’s projections for 2022 estimated a total of $3.1 billion in wagers.
As the tournament draws near, keep an eye out for the projections of 2025. It is highly likely that we will witness unprecedented levels of excitement, similar to the Super Bowl, due to the increased legalization of sports betting in numerous states.
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