West Virginia is a liberal state when it comes to offline gambling and local gambling enthusiasts are guaranteed to find plenty of casino-style action at the state-licensed commercial gambling venues and racetracks. In addition, the state allows pari-mutuel wagering on horse races, some forms of charity gaming and operates its own lottery.
West Virginia is one of the few states that are almost guaranteed to start selling lotto tickets over the internet this year. The only problem is the fact that the state doesn’t seem to be aiming for casino- or poker-related iGaming-friendly regulations, but in the end local online gambling enthusiasts are essentially free to take advantage of most of the US-facing offshore sites.
Online Gambling in West Virginia
West Virginia residents are definitely prohibited from joining unlicensed land-based games that involve real money, but it’s impossible to say whether those regulations can be applied to online play due to the fact that West Virginia statutes simply fail to address the issue of internet gambling. The local authorities have made no attempts to prosecute individual online players, so the legal status of offshore gambling in West Virginia has never been settled by a local court.
All things considered, most experts agree that West Virginia players have nothing to worry about when it comes to placing bets over the internet, but there’s no guarantee that everything will remain the same in the months to come.
Casinos & Sportsbooks Accepting Players From West Virginia
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Casino Games
West Virginia has four racinos, which include Hollywood Casino at Charles Town Races, Mardi Gras Casino and Resort, Mountaineer Casino, Racetrack and Resort and the Wheeling Island Hotel-Casino-Racetrack. In addition, the Casino Club at The Greenbrier is allowed to offer gambling products exclusively to the hotel’s guests. Online casino gambling is always an option for West Virginia players, however we definitely recommend sticking with the sites that have already been tested by our iGaming experts.
Sports Betting
Pari-mutuel horse race betting in West Virginia is centered around the aforementioned Charles Town and Chester racinos. The state isn’t allowed to offer wagers related to traditional sports, but this restriction doesn’t apply to the quality internet sites we’ve listed here due to the fact that they are all based off-shore.
Poker
Like most Americans, West Virginians prefer to play their daily poker games online rather than in a land-based setting. Online play is faster, allows you to interact with a nationwide player pool as long as you stick with the site we’ve listed here and allows you to plan your gaming session pretty much as you please due to the fact that most cash game tables are simply running in a 24/7 mode.
Online Gambling FAQ
Where can I find regulations that pertain to gambling in West Virginia?
Games of chance are covered by West Virginia Code, Section 61.
What forms of gambling are legal and regulated within the borders of West Virginia?
West Virginia regulates all the popular forms of gambling with the exception of online play, which remains unregulated.
What is the legal status of online gambling in West Virginia?
The local regulations don’t address the issue of online play, so it remains open to interpretation whether playing on offshore sites is a punishable offence or not. The local law enforcement officials don’t try to track down individual online gamblers.
Do offshore gambling sites accept West Virginia residents?
Yes, West Virginia residents are a well come addition to any offshore gambling site.
How can I deposit to an offshore gambling site from West Virginia?
Most sites actually require you to deposit via a credit card payment. Visa and MasterCard cards are supported by literally every offshore site in the industry.
How can I withdraw my money from an offshore iGaming site if I live in West Virginia?
You can request a withdrawal via a check by courier or via a wire transfer.
Is West Virginia planning to regulate online gambling in the future?
West Virginia legislators are currently working on new regulations that’d allow the state lottery to begin selling its tickets online.
Gambling History – Interesting Facts
1. West Virginia lottery was created in 1984 when the voters said “yes” to a constitutional amendment. The first tickets were sold in 1986.
2. In 1995, the local racetracks were approved for VLT usage. Both the West Virginia residents and the lawmakers were happy with the outcome of this decision, so in 2008 local racinos were also allowed to offer table games such as blackjack, roulette or craps.
West Virginia Gambling Resources
West Virginia Code:
http://www.legis.state.wv.us/wvcode/code.cfm
West Virginia Lottery:
List of Casinos in West Virginia:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_casinos_in_West_Virginia