Guide to Gambling in West Virginia

West Virginia is more famous for coal mines and mountains than casinos, but unlike many states, it has one of the most liberal stances when it comes to gambling, particularly in comparison to states like Hawaii or Utah.

Apart from horse and dog racing, pretty much all gambling was illegal in West Virginia up until 1986. This was the year that saw a turning point for the state when the first slot machines were installed at racetracks and given the green light to offer other types of casino games. Heading well into the millennium, it seems that this trend has stuck, and WV continues to broaden its gambling landscape every year.

West Virginia Gambling Laws

Some might say that West Virginia is stuck in its old-fashioned ways when it comes to gambling laws, but this is quite the contrary. Other than Atlantic City and gambling in Nevada, WV has one of the most relaxed attitudes toward gambling than any other state in the US. Lotteries, racinos, and table games are permitted pretty much everywhere in West Virginia, and private and social gambling is no exception either.

In total, it’s estimated that West Virginia’s gambling industry takes in almost $1 billion in revenue each year. This is already pretty impressive, but what’s more, is that tax alone equates to nearly ⅓ of this total revenue. The state has considered raising this figure in the past, but lawmakers have established that this is the sweet spot, and nobody plans to change the figures any time soon.

Online gambling has been legal in West Virginia since 2020. The Mountain State became the fourth to legalize online slots and online table games when DraftKings entered the WV market on July 15, 2020. Less than two months later, BetMGM followed suit.

As online casino games are played against the house on an individual player basis, they don’t endure the same liquidity issues as markets with a low population have. It’s likely that more major brands will become available in the upcoming months or years, but for now, it’s only the operators above who hold a license to offer online casino games and online sports betting.

Deposit Options at West Virginia Gambling Sites

Practically all of the available payment options available to players in WS are subject to short processing times. Deposits are instant when playing at online gambling sites, but as a player has to submit a withdrawal request and then wait for the accounts team to process it before they can release any funds, you may find you’ll have to wait anywhere between a few hours up to a few working days to receive your winnings. If you choose to receive your money using a different method to your original deposit method, this may also delay the time it takes for the funds to appear in your account.

The easy-to-use online banking methods at WV casinos include all major debit and credit cards like Mastercard and Visa, e-wallet services such as Neteller, Skrill, and PayPal, plus bank transfer, wire transfer, and some sites may also accept bank checks. Do bear in mind that some methods may be subject to a processing fee depending on your bank or service provider. All legit online casinos will never charge you for a deposit or withdrawal transaction.

West Virginia Casinos

You’ll find a total of five casino venues in West Virginia. These are all located in different cities, which can give many players and state residents an advantage. Each one is packed with a first-class casino games collection that boasts slots, table, and specialty games, plus other gambling options to pick and choose from, such as poker, horse racing, and sports betting.

In addition, you’ll find that many venues host regular tournaments and contests that you can enter for free. These will have a range of lucrative cash prizes to play for and will possibly award things like free vacations, hotel room upgrades, free meal vouchers, and other generous rewards. Mountaineer Casino, for example, has weekly deals that can see you pick up prizes worth a three to four-figure amount.

Most of the casinos in West Virginia are open 24/7 but note that not all of the tables may be open if you turn up outside of peak hours. These operations are expensive to run, so if the casino isn’t receiving a high number of visitors, they’ll try to keep their costs down as much as possible. You should also be aware that most of these establishments are smoke-free and there are strict policies in place about where you can smoke. If this could be a problem for you, we advise checking the house rules in advance.

West Virginia Poker

Online video poker is also legal in West Virginia and has been since 2020. While West Virginia has legalized online poker, PokerStars is still not available to play in the region yet, though this may well change in the near future. At current, only players in Pennsylvania and New Jersey have access to PokerStars but there are some good alternatives you can opt for instead. Ignition Poker and Americas Cardroom are two sites that WV players can access and which hold regular poker tournaments with generous cash prizes to play for.

West Virginia Sports Betting

Sports betting was legalized in West Virginia in 2018 when the state-wide PASPA rules were demolished by the Supreme Court. All of the best sports betting apps in WV accept wagers on an array of top league games, such as NBA, NFL, and MLB, to name a few. You can opt for single-team bets, plus combo wagers and parlays.

Collegial sports are also popular betting options in the Mountain State, and you can bet on other prolific events such as MMA, Super Bowl, NHL, and major world events such as the English Premier League. Many sportsbooks in West Virginia also offer online casino gaming, and players may be able to access online poker rooms in the coming months.

West Virginia Daily Fantasy Sports

Since the state’s attorney general gave praise in 2016, daily fantasy sports have been made legal in West Virginia. While many other states have banned DFS or continue to face legal uncertainty as to whether these games will be permitted, West Virginia has welcomed them as new additions to the already thriving industry. The state’s decision to allow daily fantasy sports was based on the opinion that they are constituted as games of chance, and therefore do not need to come under the laws of prohibited gambling forms. As a result of this decision, the state now has many active DFS operators, including major brands like FanDuel and Draftkings.

West Virginia Lotteries

West Virginia’s lottery has been running for decades and it’s one of the state’s most-loved and popular forms of gambling entertainment. In 1985, the Lottery Amendment was approved by 67% of the West Virginia voters. A little while later, the government in WV established the lottery’s regulatory gambling body, aka the West Virginia Lottery Commission. Since it was established, the lottery has overseen all other forms of gambling in the state and the laws have only ever been implemented under its strict supervision.

Furthermore, the Lottery Commission is the gambling authority that permits and distributes licenses to land-based casinos and sportsbook retailers. So, if you ever decide you want to open your own commercial casino in West Virginia, remember that you’ll need to go through the Lottery Commission first, which is governed and constituted by seven state officials.

West Virginia Esports

Esports does not have the required legal framework in place for West Virginia just yet, but sports betting has gained traction among residents and visitors, which implies it may well become legal soon. While esports wagering is not available at the moment, it is a form of gambling that is becoming more globally popular every year, so we can’t rule out that official wagering on video games won’t become an option in the not too distant future.

West Virginia Bingo

There are several domestic bingo halls and brick-and-mortar bingo venues in West Virginia.  These establishments offer traditional bingo-style games that work with paper cards, daubers, and the classic, albeit somewhat annoying number callers who moderate each game.

In terms of online bingo options in WV, players can find bingo games at the majority of state-licensed online casinos. You can also find other types of bingo games such as online keno, which is played in a similar way but tends to offer more ways to win and bigger, better prizes than classic bingo.

West Virginia Horse Racing

West Virginia has two thoroughbred race tracks that conduct live horse racing. These events can also be wagered at off-track venues and racing parlors, plus at selected online gambling sites and sportsbooks. Greyhound racing is also legal and a popular sport you can wager on in WV, and players can bet on games in two different locations within the state.

As for online options, horse racing is legal and regulated as an online gambling form in West Virginia. The West Virginia Racing Commission oversees all activities related to horse racing and acts as the governing body for other forms of pari-mutuel betting in the state. WV’s Racing Commission is responsible for issuing licenses and auditing state operators.

West Virginia Tribal Casinos

We’re sad to say that West Virginia doesn't have a network of tribal casinos, and you won’t find any Indian-style gaming options here. Of course, there are tribal casinos in neighboring states, so you can always cross the borders of West Virginia if you really want to partake in some tribal casino game action. The closest states are Indiana and New York, or you can travel further east where you’ll find the biggest and best tribal casinos including Foxwoods and Mohegan Sun, among others. You can also head to nearby Pennsylvania to play in tribal-owned casinos.

Land-Based Casinos in West Virginia

As mentioned, West Virginia has a grand total of five land-based casinos, which are scattered throughout various cities in the state. Even though some are quite far apart, it’s still definitely worth a round trip if you plan to visit the Mountain State for a few days of casino action. Here are the top three casinos where you can expect to have the full WV gambling experience.

The Casino Club at the Greenbrier

The long-standing classic American resort underwent some much-needed changes in 2009.  After suffering a bout of bankruptcy, the casino went downhill for a few years until it eventually transferred ownership. Today it’s considered one of the state’s most lavish hotel and casino venues and it’s had the honor of welcoming an array of celebrities, presidents, and royal family members.

According to guests and critics, it’s been described as the Monte Carlo meets Gone with the Wind. And while the hotel has kept its classic Southern charm, its fully-fledged casino has been kitted out to look like the Riviera, housing poker rooms, table games, and hundreds of high-rolling slot machines.

About the only thing the property is missing is a racetrack. However, it does host simulcast wagering as a tribute to West Virginia's long and varied history with both greyhound and horse racing.

The Casino Club at The Greenbrier truly does have something for everyone, and you won't be strapped for recreational activities just outside of the venue either. Nearby are the Allegheny Mountains, plus hot springs and a spa that first attracted people to the area close to 230 years ago. It’s now recognized as one of the state's most relaxing hotspots.

Hollywood Casino at Charles Town Races

The casino and racetrack in Charles Town, WV has been in operation for over 85 years and is estimated to bring in around 2.5 million visitors through its doors per annum.

The casino’s packed events calendar features 162 days of live racing spread throughout the year, with an additional 20 stakes races people can wager on. The casino floor houses a wide range of table games that include baccarat, roulette, blackjack, and craps, along with 2,500 slot machines and a poker room that hosts 18 individual poker tables for the biggest tournaments.

Visitors can also look forward to regular shows and concerts in the casino’s meeting and conference center, which hosts some of the biggest names in the music industry all year round. In the last few years, the venue also welcomed a sportsbook powered by one of the world’s biggest online sports betting entities, William Hill. To say this area of the casino has been a buzzing success is an understatement!

Mardi Gras Casino & Resort

Mardi Gras Casino & Resort is a popular, family-owned casino and racetrack located in Cross Lanes, WV. Originally a standalone venue, it’s now part of the $3 billion-dollar hospitality conglomerate owned by Delaware North.

Even though a number of residents and keen visitors have expressed concerns about the venue going corporate and losing its original zest and charm, Delaware North seems more than happy to upgrade its facilities and uphold its reputation as one of the country’s prime destinations for live pari-mutuel betting.

There are only 16 greyhound tracks remaining in the United States and this venue has done well to keep its 100-year rep alive. Simulcast racing takes place 7 nights a week here and traditional racing takes place 5 nights a week. The simulcast races also include horse racing tracks which can be bet on 24 hours a day.

In addition to the racetrack, the former Mardi Gras Casino & Resort also sports a 90,000-square-foot casino floor offering a full collection of table games, almost 1,000 slot machines, and weekly poker tournaments.

The casino also offers a generous rewards program for both new and existing customers which includes regular bonuses, credits, and other rewards to utilize on its casino games reguarly.

 

 

West Virginia Gambling FAQ

Is online gambling legal in West Virginia?
Yes, online casinos were legalized in 2020 under the West Virginia Lottery Interactive Wagering Act. You can thank Governor Jim Justice for passing the bill into law, which he did without signing the bill or exercising his right to veto. Online sports betting is also legal in the Mountain State after the Supreme Court dissolved the former PASPA regulations that prevented all US states from offering sports wagering. All forms of gambling online and offline and now regulated by the WV Lottery Commission.

Does West Virginia support responsible gaming?
Yes. The WV Lottery Commission funds the Problem Gamblers Help Network as part of its responsible gambling policy. Lines are open 24/7.

What is the legal gambling age in West Virginia?
Players must be 21 or over in order to gamble legally at West Virginia casinos. This applies to online and offline casinos, plus sportsbooks, poker rooms, and anywhere that accepts wagers on daily fantasy sports. To play the lottery, you must be at least 18 years of age.