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 Greenbrier already offers digital sports gambling experience to West Virginia bettors through a partnership with sports wagering giant FanDuel that the casino resort announced last year. FanDuel rolled out a mobile betting app under The Greenbrier’s license in August 2019. In West Virginia, the minimum gambling age is 21 years old. Share This Story, Choose Your Platform!

1. What Is The Gambling Age In West Virginia
2. Casino Gambling Age In West Virginia
3. Gambling Age In West Virginia
4. Gambling Age In West Virginia

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.

What Is The Gambling Age In West Virginia

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.

Casino Gambling Age In West Virginia

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.

Your Guide

West Virginia is becoming one of the more liberal gambling states in the US. With the recent legalization of sports betting, online gambling is burgeoning. Online casinos accept West Virginia player who must be at least 21 years old.

Online Gambling

West Virginia State Lottery holds monopoly on lottery products; commercial licenses are awarded for land-based, riverboat, and racetrack casinos as well as sports betting;

There are, no state regulated online onshore gaming operators. Some offshore operators continue to accept players from West Virginia.

Best 5 West Virginia Online Live Casinos

Online casino activity is currently available and offered through various sites that are based offshore. These sites are safe and secure to play at, with no risk posed to West Virginia players, both regarding legality or to player data protection.

The best online casinos all use the latest SSL internet technology, and feature secure payment methods that are common, trusted and processed by reputable financial institutions. These include: VISA, MasterCard, Amex, Bitcoin (BTC), direct wire transfers and many other methods.

Casino Bonuses are extremely important in selecting an online casino. We have therefore displayed some of the best casino bonuses that can be found whilst balancing other important criteria such as safety and security as previously mentioned. However, for ease of reference, we have listed them according to the size of bonus.

Without doubt, at the time of writing, El Royale Casino offers the best casino bonus deal. It is also one of the safest. Coupled with excellent customer service, El Royale is our top recommended online casino for West Virginia players.

Sports Betting Sites

Online sports betting sites, however, do exist and they are based offshore. They accept West Virginia bettors, with no precedence of any bettor being informed of a breach in law, let alone charged with a misdemeanor or felony.

Daily Fantasy Sports

Daily Fantasy Sports is growing fast in popularity. New to the gambling scene, it is considered a game of skill by many which requires bettors to create a fictitious team based on real players. The performance of the real sports players in real life determine how successful the fictitious team is. As a result, it truly is those with the most “skills” will win.

The two dominate daily fantasy sports providers is DraftKings and FanDuel. On this site, we do not actively promote daily fantasy sports as we understand that it is a game of “skill” which is being exploited by bettors who have the best risk modelling. That is, it isn’t nearly about how well you know your sport, the sport players etc, it is very much about who has the best statistical model and who has access to the most detailed sports player data.

As someone who may be a big fan of sport, and thinking that they would have a good chance of winning money in DFS, think again. You are pitted against statistical modelling experts who deliberately target games that mostly have new players to DFS. In fact, it has been alleged that those who are extremely good at DFS have been known to collaborate among themselves and not compete with each other. Thereby creating a sustainable winning formula shared by the experts.

Gambling Age In West Virginia

We therefore want our readers to be aware that DFS is not what is appears to be. In fairness, DFS is legal in West Virginia and many DFS onshore operators accept West Virginia players.

Online Bingo

West Virginia bingo laws are stipulated under Charitable gaming state legislation. These laws provide for the licensing of non profit organizations to operate bingo games. At present, these laws do not address nor permit online bingo by onshore operators. Accordingly, online bingo sites that do accept West Virginia players are based offshore (which is the same as online casinos and sports betting sites).

The recommended online bingo sites all accept players from West Virginia. They offer advanced features that include instant messaging, fun bingo games and protocols that ensures bingo participants play together in a civil enjoyable manner. Due to the social aspect of bingo, there is a cultural aspect to bingo which cannot be found with casino or sports betting. As an example, A LOT of acronyms form part of instant chat messaging. If you are not familiar with online bingo lingo, do not be afraid, learning it is one of the most fun parts!

Legal Minimum Gambling Age

The gambling age ranges between 18 for bingo (live and online), lottery, horse and dog race betting and 21 for online gaming.

Gambling Laws

Land-based, riverboat and racetrack casinos are authorized for licensed operators, as is horse and dog racing and sports betting

Licensed sports betting operators are permitted to offer online betting;
The Racetrack Lottery Table Games Act, authorized table games at licensed racetrack facilities. VLTs are permitted at pari-mutuel racing facilities (as well as at a selection of adult establishments), but gaming machines are not authorized to display casino themes

The Gaming Act allows for a maximum of three casinos to be located in three different geographical locations and for one slots facility within the State; State law does not expressly prohibit online gaming but does prohibit onshore online operators from operating within the market;

Gambling Taxes

• Casino activity is taxed on a progressive rate from 35-49% adjusted gross gaming revenue
• Sports betting is taxed at 10% of gross win
• The surplus from the State Lottery is circulated to fund education, health and leisure and tourism

Regulation and Governance

• West Virginia Charitable Organizations Division
  

Gambling Legislation

• West Virginia Code, Chapter 29
• State Lottery Act 1985
• Racetrack Video Lottery Terminal Act 1994
• Limited Video Lottery Act 2001
• Racetrack Lottery Table Games Act.

Is it legal to gamble online in West Virginia?

Gambling laws vary for each type of game. Online games are not permitted to be offered by onshore gaming operators. As a result, online operators are based offshore at regulated and licensed jurisdictions. West Virginia players are accepted by the offshore operators. In regards, to player legality, the laws neither explicitly declare online gambling as illegal or legal. As a result West Virginia players can continue to enjoy playing online games.

What is the legal minimum age to play at online casinos?

Gambling Age In West Virginia

Legal minimum ages vary from online casino to online casino, however their requirement is that the higher of the player’s jurisdiction the the online casino’s own legal minimum is taken to be the determine age limit. Therefore, for West Virginia players the legal minimum age is 21.