West Virginia Gambling Laws: A Gambler’s Guide

Article by: Larry Grant - Casino Еxpert

Date Published: 21/12/22

Over half of the United States has legalized gambling in some form, ever since a landmark 2018 Supreme Court verdict that gave states the authority to legalize gambling within their borders. West Virginia is an interesting case simply because it is one of the states that has evolved most radically. Stay tuned to find out everything you need to know about the West Virginia gambling laws.

What Are The Gambling Laws in West Virginia?

While over half of the United States has legalized gambling in some shape or form, this article will answer your questions about whether it has been legalized in West Virginia and to what extent. From legal casino information to sports betting and more, we’ll provide yo with vital info, We will also cover certain FAQs that most gamblers would be concerned about, and is a broad overview of what to expect if you’d like to gamble in West Virginia.

History of West Virginia Laws on Gambling

The history of West Virginia gambling laws paints a clear portrait of how the state’s legal stance on gambling has always been selective. In contrast, the people of West Virginia clearly always had an appetite for gambling.

It all started in 1933 when West Virginia gambling laws were liberalized to include betting on horse racing. This set a precedent for the same West Virginia gambling laws to be further liberalized – which was exactly what happened. In 1984, the Mountain State established its first lottery under West Virginia’s amended gambling laws, and a referendum in 1994 paved the way for Video Lottery Terminals as well.

These terminals would soon be used to a greater extent in bars, restaurants, and dedicated gaming venues over the course of the 2010s as all the West Virginia gambling laws truly started to undergo radical changes.

However, no change to these laws would be as radical as the move to legalize sports betting came almost immediately on the heels of the 2018 Supreme Court verdict. This allowed West Virginians to bet on any sport of their choice online, opening the doors to the best online sportsbooks for betting on the NFL, NBA, MLS, and more.

Overview of West Virginia Gambling Laws

The radically evolved West Virginia gambling laws make it a true gambler’s paradise in 2022. Anyone 18 years of age and above can now legally bet on lotteries, video lottery terminals, bingo, and racing. Anyone above legal West Virginia gambling age of 21 years can now bet on their favorite sports teams and experience the thrill of casino games both online and offline.

West Virginia gambling laws allow casinos and sportsbooks to operate online and offline in the state, but unlicensed betting remains a criminal offense. Placing an unlicensed bet in cash or kind amounts to a misdemeanor under West Virginia gambling laws, which could result in a fine with the guilty party needing to provide a financial surety for one year to the state.

Online Gambling in West Virginia

West Virginia gambling laws allow for online gambling, opening the doors to the best online sportsbooks in the USA. Initially, the law only allowed online gambling if provided to West Virginians through a land-based casino operating in West Virginia. This essentially made it illegal to bet on other online sportsbooks, but that has now been changed, and DraftKings was one of the first leading online sportsbooks to open operations in West Virginia. Still, the state offers some of the best US casino sites.

Casinos in West Virginia

West Virginia certainly isn’t a bad place to celebrate your 21st birthday, with land-based casinos offering top-notch services with an array of popular casino games. Poker, in particular, has become a huge hit in Virginia, with some of the best high-stakes action taking place in the state’s more famous casinos.

There are five land-based casinos in West Virginia, two of which are considered the biggest and best casinos in the state. That doesn’t mean that the gambling scene is lacking in any way – as we mentioned earlier, some of the best high-stakes action goes down in these five rooms.

These casinos are:

• Hollywood Casino at Charles Town Races
• Wheeling Island Hotel, Casino & Racetrack
• The Greenbier
• Mardi Gras Casino & Resort
• Mountaineer Casino, Racetrack, & Resort

As the names imply, a number of these casinos offer fantastic racing action with comfortable accommodation if one wishes to take a gambling holiday or staycation. Of the casinos mentioned in this list, the Hollywood Casino and Wheeling Island Casino & Racetrack are the two biggest and best casinos in West Virginia that’ll give any gambler that Las Vegas feeling.

Sports Betting Laws

As mentioned earlier, West Virginia gambling laws hit their peak in terms of liberalization when the state was one of the first to legalize sports betting in all forms. Initially, only land-based casinos in West Virginia could legally provide sports betting options.

However, that rule has now been expanded to include some of the best online sportsbooks that are available in the United States. DraftKings, BetMGM, Caesars, and FanDuel are some of the best online gambling sites that have now opened their virtual doors in West Virginia.

West Virginia Gamling Laws FAQs

We hope you now have a sense of West Virginia gambling laws and whether you can finally gamble in the state. Here are answers to more questions you may have.

1️⃣ What types of gambling are legal in West Virginia?

After years of gradual liberalization, West Virginia gambling laws allow both online and offline casino gaming, as well as finally, offshore sportsbooks to offer their services in West Virginia. Horse racing, sports betting, lottery, and casino games such as poker and blackjack are legal in the state.

2️⃣ Is online gambling legal in West Virginia?

Yes, online gambling is legal in West Virginia. Sportsbooks such as DraftKings, FanDuel, Caesars, and BetMGM provide their services to players from the state with excellent offers, bonuses, and more. Overall, the West Virginia online gambling laws are quite liberal.

3️⃣ Do West Virginians participate in online gambling?

It’s a bit early to state to what extent, based on statistics, but West Virginians do participate in online gambling thanks to a complete legal array of options, including some of the best online casinos in the USA. West Virginia gambling laws were one of the first to accommodate sports betting in the wake of the 2018 Supreme Court verdict.

4️⃣ How many casinos are there in West Virginia?

There are presently five land-based casinos in West Virginia. These are the Hollywood Casino, Wheeling Island Hotel, Casino & Racetrack, The Greenbier, Mardi Gras Casino & Resort, and Mountaineer Casino, Racetrack, & Resort. All of them operate under the West Virginia laws on casino gambling.

5️⃣ Is sports betting legal in West Virginia?

Yes, sports betting is legal in West Virginia. It started with the legalization of on-site wagering, and then the WV sports betting laws expanded to cover online sportsbooks as well. Today, you can place your bets at top-quality operators like FanDuel and Ceasars.