Gambling Age in West Virginia Much in line with the other states that offer various forms of legal gambling, there are different minimum ages depending on the type of activity being undertaken. In West Virginia, players must be over 18 to participate in the lottery or bingo, or to make pari-mutuel wagers on horse or greyhound races. West Virginia Gambling Laws and Regulatory Organizations You must be at least 21 years of age to gamble at a casino and wager online in West Virginia. For bingo, the lottery, and pari-mutuel betting, it's 18.

West Virginia has a relatively liberal policy towards online and offline gambling. The state has recently legalized online casinos, and its first operators are expected to launch by 2020. All players can also legally enjoy daily fantasy and sports betting. WV also offers legal racinos, several tribe casinos and pari-mutual facilities. As you can imagine, this means there are a lot of options for gambling in West Virginia.

Stay with us and keep reading this guide as we reveal your legal gambling options in the state. We will discuss the land-based casinos in the state, their legality, and the available WV sports betting options. Additionally, we will discuss the current status of daily fantasy, online poker, and lottery gaming. Moreover, we will cover important topics such as the responsible gaming institutions in the state, West Virginia’s gambling history, hotels, landscapes, and much more! For quick answers to questions, jump down to our FAQ section below.

Gambling in West Virginia: Where to Legally Bet

Contents

• Gambling in West Virginia: Where to Legally Bet
  • WV Sports Betting: Where to Bet on Sports
• An Overview of the West Virginia Gambling Market
  • Famous Gamblers from the Mountain State
• Frequently Asked Questions

As we have already mentioned, West Virginia has legalized several gambling activities, including sports betting, daily fantasy, online and offline casinos, and online poker. If you are looking for a convenient gambling venue, however, you can choose among various tribal casinos with sportsbooks and racinos. West Virginia also runs its own state lottery and even allows winners to remain anonymous. Eager to learn more? Stay with us as we discuss each product for gambling in West Virginia in the following paragraphs.

West Virginia Casino Establishments

West Virginia currently offers a total of five land-based casinos, four of which classified as racinos. The pari-mutuel facilities are rather popular among the players and offer several table games, slot machines, horse racing, and sports betting. Interestingly, until 2007, most casinos were allowed to offer solely electronic games. The situation eventually changed when an additional legislature was passed. Nowadays, the only classic casino in the state is located in The Greenbrier Luxury Resort and is exclusively available to its guests.

Please note that in order to visit any of the casinos in West Virginia, you must be at least 21 years old. The minimum age requirement for playing the lottery, bingo and horse racing, however, is 18 years. Most casinos in the state would request your ID card upon entering. Access to minors is strictly forbidden. Please also bear in mind that most casinos in West Virginia often run special promotions that all visitors can benefit from. Players will also have the opportunity to stay at elegant hotels, enjoy numerous shows and exquisite restaurants.

WV Online Gambling: Your Options

Even though all online casinos in West Virginia used to be illegal until recently, the state eventually decided to legalize the activity officially. The decision came out in March 2019, after the Senate approved the bill H 2934. According to the bill, five of the West Virginia casinos will launch their online platforms and will offer table games, slots, and poker. The new law suggests a 15% tax rate on online gambling revenue. The operators are expected to be regulated by the West Virginia Lottery. Estimates indicate that the state’s online casinos could welcome their first players by the end of 2019, or by early 2020. The minimum West Virginia gambling age for all casino sites will be 21. West Virginia is currently the fifth state to legalize online casinos.

WV Sports Betting: Where to Bet on Sports

In August 2018, West Virginia sports betting became legalized making the state the fifth to offer sports betting. Only a few months later, in December 2018, the state decided to allow online sports betting. Currently, West Virginia sports gambling is available at three land-based casinos, which partner with some of the most popular companies such as FanDuel and William Hill.

Gamble on sports at the following WV sports betting locations:

WV is a sports betting haven at the moment. not only can you gamble at any of the state’s land-based bookies, people within WV boarders can also legally bet online. Many of the world’s greatest online sportsbooks have launched in the state and have struck up partnerships with WV casinos.

Some of the most popular WV sports betting apps are:

• FanDuel Sportsbook
• William Hill Sportsbook
• DraftKings Sportsbook
• BetMGM Sportsbook

Daily Fantasy Sports: Legal in the State

West Virginia officially legalized daily fantasy sports back in 2016. The state based its decision on the fact that DFS is a game of skill, and not so much of a chance. Hence, there was no reason to keep daily fantasy sports banned. Currently, players can join many fantasy leagues and create their teams at some of the leading operator, such as DraftKings and FanDuel. The legal age for playing daily fantasy is, once again, 21 years. Players might be asked to provide identification upon registering.

Online Poker

In March 2019, West Virginia took the decision to legalize online poker. According to our information, the first poker sites in the state are expected to launch in 2020. When this happens there will be yet another WV online gambling option. Based on the fact that WV has a rather small population, it is not clear whether it will be able to support an online poker market on its own. Thus, we expect the state to join the multi-state online player pool, which currently includes Nevada, Delaware, and New Jersey.

Gambling on the State Lottery

The West Virginia lottery was established in 1984, after a voter referendum. All residents of the state who are aged over 18, are allowed to play the lottery and buy tickets. Some of the most popular draws in West Virginia include Powerball, Mega Millions, and Lotto America, among others. Please note that the West Virginia lottery has the lowest payoff of any lottery in the States, and returns an average 15% to winners. Most of the lottery profits are used to support the state’s schools and education, senior citizen, and tourism and state parks.

An Overview of the West Virginia Gambling Market

As we have already mentioned, West Virginia has a rather liberal gambling policy. The state has several legally functioning racinos and one exclusive casino. In recent years, West Virginia has also focused on expanding its online gambling industry. In 2016, the state officially legalized daily fantasy and welcomed some of the biggest DFS operators in the US. A year later, in 2017, West Virginia introduced bill H 2751, which aimed to legalize and regulate sports betting at the state’s casinos. The bill initially failed but was once again introduced in 2018, when players were officially allowed to wager on sports. In 2019, the state also legalized online casinos and poker, and the first operators are expected to launch by 2020.

Important West Virginia Gambling Laws

West Virginia gave start to its gambling industry back in 1931, when the state’s regulator the first WV gambling laws established the West Virginia Racing Commission. In 1984, The West Virginia Lottery was officially legalized and had been successfully running ever since. The racing industry in the state is probably the most popular, as players have had access to it ever since 1931. Currently, they are permitted to bet on live horse and dogs. We must note that video lottery is also allowed in the state as well as video poker, slots, and keno. Please bear in mind that there is a 52% tax on the winnings of all video lottery machines.

When it comes to casinos, there are no specific West Virginia gambling laws that apply to resorts. The only exception is made for The Greenbrier, a popular resort located in White Springs. The casino resort offers numerous games and racetracks. The casino, however, is open exclusively for hotel guests and members of the private club. No local residents are allowed. The state’s gaming laws have set the official West Virginia Gambling age at 21+ years of age.

Resources for Responsible Gambling

The West Virginia Gaming and Racing Association promotes responsible gambling and encourages affected players to seek professional help. Various organizations in the state offer help with potential gambling addiction. All interested players can turn to the Problem Gamblers Help Network of West Virginia – a state-funded organization, dedicated to providing free, confidential help to problem gamblers. Alternatively, players can also contact the National Problem Gambling Helpline at 1-800-522-4700.

West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources may also be able to provide relevant information and direct you to the nearest problem West Virginia gambling therapist. Of course, you can also opt for contacting one of the self-help resources such as Gamblers Anonymous, Gam-Anon, and Gam Talk. Please note that there are various gambling West Virginia treatment centers in West Virginia, where you can find individual help with your particular case. Bear in mind, however, that most of them might be paid and not state-funded.

The History of Gambling in the State

As we have already mentioned, gambling was initially introduced in West Virginia in 1931 when horse and greyhound racing were legalized. The first tracks to offer races in the state were Charles Town Races, Mountaineer Race, Tri-State Race Track and Wheeling Racetrack. Each one of them now functions as a part of racinos, regulated by the West Virginia lottery.

Meanwhile, the state lottery was officially established in 1984 and sold traditional tickets for the first ten years. In 1994, West Virginia legalized video lottery, which could be found at the state’s four tracks. Similarly, video poker was officially introduced to West Virginia in 1990. The machines, however, were not regulated or controlled by the state. It was not until 2001 when West Virginia decided to legalize video poker under the Limited Video Lottery Act. The new legalization, however, came with certain requirements. All old video poker machines had to be removed from the state and replaced with new, licensed ones. The initial tax rate was 48% but was eventually raised to 52% in 2007.

Famous Gamblers from the Mountain State

Considering the well-developed and constantly progressing gambling industry in West Virginia, it comes as no surprise that various successful poker players have unleashed their gaming skills at the Mountain State. Wondering who are the most famous gamblers from West Virginia? You can find more about them in the following paragraphs.

Jason Koon

Jason Koon is a professional poker player, born in Weston, West Virginia. His roommate taught him how to play Texas Hold’Em while he was still studying at West Virginia Wesleyan College in Buckhannon. Koon realized he could make a lot of money playing poker, and back in 2006 started playing online under the alias JAKoon1985. His first significant success came in 2009 when Jason Koon won $300,000 from the Spring Championship of Online Poker. In 2009, Koon played in his first WSOP, where he cashed twice. Some of his other wins include significant rewards from the World Poker Tour main event, an “FTOPS” event, and Seminole Hard Rock Poker Open, among others. The total amount of his poker winnings exceeds $28 million.

Lee Childs

Born in Charles Town, West Virginia, Lee Childs is another professional poker player, whose winnings reach $1.5 million. Even though he does not have a WSOP bracelet, Childs has won more than $1 million from the tournament and has registered 33 wins. His most significant success came back in 2007, in the WSOP event when he finished seventh and won a total of $705,229. Nowadays, Childs contributes to the Ante Up Magazine and represents Blue Shark Optics. He has also founded Inside the minds – an agency that provides training sessions for poker players. Even though Lee Childs has not been particularly active poker player in recent years, we hope that he would make his comeback in the future.

Key State Facts

West Virginia is famous not only for its gambling industry but also for its many mountains, which attract plenty of tourists each year. However, West Virginia remains the least populous southeastern state. Many residents even live below the poverty level than the national average, and the state has the fifth-worst economy in all US states. Still, recent statistics show a gradual improvement in the economy and employment rate of West Virginia. Eager to learn more? We have stated some of the most essential facts about West Virginia in the table below:

West Virginia is famous for its beautiful nature, majestic mountains, and great architecture. It is also the only state in the US to have acquired its sovereignty by proclamation of the President of the United States himself. Mother’s Day was also first observed and celebrated in West Virginia back in 1908.

Gambling in West Virginia – Final Overview

To sum up, West Virginia has a rather liberal gambling policy and legal systems. All residents and visitors of the state can currently choose among five excellent casinos, many sports betting options, an state lottery, and horse racing. West Virginia has also legalized daily fantasy, online casinos, and online poker. The state is planning to launch its first poker and casino sites by the end of 2020. The online sports betting options are also in development after the state’s only betting app ceased to function. While no legal gambling changes are expected in the future, we expect the state to keep perfecting its gambling industry.

Frequently Asked Questions

We hope that our West Virginia gambling guide has been useful and informative for you. Still, we realize that as the state’s gambling industry continues to grow, some topics might become slightly confusing for you. We will gladly resolve your doubts by answering some of the most popular gambling questions in West Virginia.

What Is the Legal Gambling Age in West Virginia?

If you want to enjoy gambling in West Virginia, you must be at least 21 years old. Minimum age to bet on lottery, bingo or horse races, though, is 18. Underage gambling is not tolerated nor by brick and mortar casinos nor by online operators and bookies. Keep in mind that you must pass verifications before to start playing!

When Did West Virginia Pass Gambling Law?

The very first one was back in 1931 when West Virginia established its Racing Commission. In 1984, also lottery was legalized. Things kept on improving when in 2001, the state accepted video poker as legal too. The final fight was won recently, with online betting passing all the tests and becoming regulated in West Virginia as well.

How Many Casinos Does West Virginia Have?

Currently, there are five land-based casinos in the state of West Virginia. Unfortunately, there are no Indian casinos in the territory, but those five options can give you everything you might require. They are also spread around the state, so you can choose a location that fits your taste the best.

West Virginia offers several forms of state-sanctioned gambling. Pari-mutuel horse race betting was introduced to the state in 1933. In 1984, the Mountain State established its lottery after following a statewide referendum, and in 1994 another referendum authorized Video Lottery Terminals at the local racetracks.

In 2001, VLTs were also introduced to bars and restaurants that serve alcohol, as well as for fraternal organizations, and in 2007, West Virginia racetracks were allowed to begin offering table games.

West Virginia was also one of the first states that legalized sports betting once the Supreme Court lifted the federal ban on this form of gambling in May 2018. The WV Sports Lottery Wagering Act was passed that same month. The first betting license was awarded to Penn National, the company that operates Hollywood Casino at Charles Town Races. The new sportsbook started taking bets on August 18, 2018, and by the end of the year, four out of five of the local casinos were offering legal sports betting.

West Virginia Gambling Law Summary

Gambling in West Virginia is covered by West Virginia Code, Section 61-10. The current regulations prohibit West Virginia residents from taking part in many unlicensed games with real money involved, but the list doesn’t mention games that are played over the internet. As a result, it’s impossible to tell whether this list should be applied to online gambling scenarios. So far, no players have been prosecuted, so no court interpretation could help us shed some light on this issue.

Other gambling-related offenses are covered by West Virginia Code, Chapter 61, Article 10: Crimes Against Public Policy. The minimum gambling age in West Virginia is 18 for lottery games, bingo, and racing, and 21 for sports betting and casino-style games.

Online Gambling in West Virginia

On March 27, 2019, West Virginia legislators passed the West Virginia Lottery Interactive Wagering Act, which will introduce legal online casino and poker options to the state via the local land-based casinos. This bill will go into effect on June 7, and the regulatory framework for these new forms of gambling is expected to be ready by early 2020.

It’s worth remembering that the new bill does not legalize playing on offshore sites. West Virginia defines gambling as “betting or wagering money or another thing of value on any game of chance or knowingly giving money or something of value for another to bet on any game of chance.” This definition is broad enough to cover all unauthorized internet games. Placing any unlawful bets constitutes a misdemeanor and is punishable by a $5-$100 fine. The offender may also be required to give security for his good behavior for one year.

West Virginia Casinos

West Virginia has five large gambling facilities that offer Video Lottery Terminals and classic table games, such as craps, roulette, blackjack, and casino poker. These facilities are located in White Sulphur Springs (The Casino Club at The Greenbrier), Ranson (Hollywood Casino at Charles Town Races), New Cumberland (Mountaineer Casino Racetrack & Resort), Cross Lanes (Mardi Gras West Virginia Casino Resort), and Wheeling (Wheeling Island Hotel-Casino-Racetrack). As mentioned above, VLTs can also be operated by bars (up to five terminals) and fraternity organizations (up to ten terminals). All terminals are required to have an 80%-95% return-to-player games. West Virginia casinos aren’t required to enforce any bet size limits.

West Virginia recently passed an online gambling bill, and the first sites are expected to go online in 2020. Playing on offshore sites will remain illegal and will still be classified as a misdemeanor.

West Virginia Poker

All West Virginia gambling establishments operate live poker rooms, but they do differ in size:

– Mardi Gras Casino West Virginia – 24 tables

– Hollywood Casino at Charles Town Races – 16 tables

– Mountaineer Casino – 14 tables

– Wheeling Island Casino – 9 tables

– The Greenbrier – 2 tables

Cash game action is very Hold’ em-centric, with most tables running $1/$2 or $2/$5 No-Limit Hold ’em or $3/$6 Limit Hold ’em. The largest poker rooms host multiple Hold ’em tournaments every week, with the buy-ins ranging from $55 to $135.

West Virginia recently passed an online gambling bill, and the first internet poker rooms are expected to become available in the first half of 2020. Playing on offshore sites is prohibited and is considered a misdemeanor.

West Virginia Sports Betting

Sports betting was legalized in West Virginia in May 2018. Since then, all the local sportsbooks have launched land-based sportsbooks in cooperation with well-established betting companies.

As mentioned above, the first license went to Penn National, the owners of Hollywood Casino at Charles Town Races. The online version of this sportsbook was launched in cooperation with William Hill and is known as Hollywood Sportsbook.

The second license went to FanDuel and The Greenbrier. This sportsbook is available online as FanDuel Sportsbook at The Greenbrier.

The two Delaware North Casinos, Mardi Gras Casino and Wheeling Island Hotel-Casino-Racetrack, also launched land-based sportsbooks by the end of the year. Still, they were forced to stop taking bets due to a dispute with their service provider. BetLucky, the online platform tied to these gambling establishments, is still online, but its customers won’t be able to deposit or place any bets until the legal problems are resolved.

The Mountaineer Casino Resort was the last West Virginia gambling establishment to launch a land-based sportsbook. Its customers can place bets online via the Mountaineer Sportsbook, which is operated in cooperation with William Hill.

Also, West Virginia residents are free to engage in on-track and off-track horse race betting. This form of gambling is also available online via popular US-facing platforms, such as TVG, XpressBet, and TwinSpires.

West Virginia Daily Fantasy Sports

DFS contests are considered legal in West Virginia. In 2016, West Virginia Attorney General Patrick Morrisey declared that such games do not meet the state’s threshold of gambling because of the amount of skill required from the players. In 2017, West Virginia lawmakers also introduced a bill designed to clarify the legal status of DFS contests further. The bill designated HB 2751, ended up being passed to the House Judiciary Committee, but no further action was taken.

As it stands, all the popular DFS platforms, including DraftKings, FanDuel, and Yahoo Sports, are available to West Virginia residents.

West Virginia Lotteries

West Virginia lottery offers the following draw games: Powerball, Lotto America, Mega Millions, Daily 3, Daily 4, Cash 25, and Keno. It also provides scratch games and operates the VLTs which are available across the entire state. All lottery tickets have to be purchased from land-based retailers, as the lottery isn’t authorized to sell tickets online. The official lottery website is for information purposes only.

West Virginia Bingo

Charities and public organizations can host bingo games in West Virginia. Also, commercial bingo is available at the local gambling establishments. Legal internet bingo is currently unavailable, and it’s questionable whether any of the casinos will launch dedicated bingo sites once iGaming goes online in West Virginia. Playing on offshore bingo sites is illegal and constitutes a misdemeanor.

West Virginia Online Gambling FAQ

What types of gambling are available in WV?

West Virginia is a gambling-friendly state with plenty of options for the local real money gaming enthusiasts. The Mountain State has commercial casinos, and if that wasn’t enough, the local racetracks are allowed to offer casino-style games as well. West Virginia also allows pari-mutuel betting, charitable gambling, and bingo. The state also operates its own lottery and is planning to start selling lottery tickets online in 2015.

What laws cover online gambling in West Virginia?

Playing games of chance for money in land-based gambling establishments is covered rather extensively by Section 61 of the West Virginia code. However, none of the West Virginia regulations apply specifically to online play, which means that there are no laws that could prevent local gambling enthusiasts from using quality offshore gambling platforms, such as Bovada.

Is real money online gambling legal in West Virginia?

Most probably, yes. West Virginia Code doesn’t explicitly prohibit online gambling, and the authorities simply don’t bother with investigating individual players.

Which offshore gambling sites accept West Virginia residents?

West Virginia-based players are free to enjoy all the high-traffic offshore sites, including Bovada poker, casino, and sportsbook.

What are the most popular banking options supported by West Virginia -facing sites?

Unlike the European and Asian sites, most US-facing casinos, poker rooms, and sportsbooks don’t give you all that many banking options to choose from. In most cases, Visa and MasterCard work best when it comes to making a deposit, while wire transfers are the cheapest way of cashing out.

Does West Virginia offer any intrastate online gambling?

No. There is no legal framework that’d allow the local businesses to launch West Virginia-facing sites. Any site that claims to be licensed and regulated in West Virginia should be treated with caution, as there’s no reason to play on sketchy sites with so many quality services like Bovada around.

Is it likely for West Virginia to regulate online gambling?

Gambling Age In West Virginia

West Virginia is currently in the process of introducing new regulations that’d allow online lottery sales. However, it’s impossible to predict whether this will lead to any new iGaming legislation or not.

Legal Gambling Age In West Virginia