| Online Casinos | Legal Since: |
|---|---|
| Online Slots | Will be legal in: 2020 |
| Online Roulette | Will be legal in: 2020 |
| Online Blackjack | Will be legal in: 2020 |
| Live Casino | Will be legal in: 2020 |
Guide to Online Casinos in West Virginia: The Best West Virginia Casino Sites for 2019
West Virginia has a relationship with gambling that goes back decades. Horse racing and greyhound racing are engrained into the culture of the Mountain State. Even before the watershed Supreme Court ruling in 2018 they had been making active amendments to state law in a preparation to establish a legal and functional state run gambling industry. Everything is in place for this to happen, and we fully expect West Virginia online casinos to emerge in early 2020, as they bid to join the small group of legalized gambling territories in the United States.
- Relying on sources such as WSAZ News Channel and the FOX News West Virginia helps us have fresh information about all industry news and current developments.
- We’re experts when it comes to online casinos but we can also teach you more about the famous industry of Sports Betting and have created a detailed report on famous table games blackjack.
- Since we follow the movements of the West Virginia State Legislature and the Justia: West Virginia legal encyclopedia we can also provide you with valuable legal information as well!
- WSAZ
- FOX
- Justia
Available Casino Games in West Virginia
There are in fact many casino games available for users located in West Virginia. As the intrastate casino network is fully accessible throughout the nation, even in a state were hosting such a service would be deemed illegal, to access and play services located in other states is perfectly within the remit of the law. You’ll be able to access the games listed below without any repercussions or using any VPNs or shady legal loopholes.
- Roulette: a great casino game with different US and European variants to choose from!
- Slots: an abundance of classic slot games swarm the West Virginia casinos.
- Sports Betting: is available with a huge emphasis on Horse Racing.
- Lottery: test your luck, and potentially win millions of dollars.
- Blackjack: is frequently played by professional and casual players.
Biggest State Land-Based Casinos
West Virginia is one of the few states that doesn’t have any Tribal reservations within its territory, and also offering commercial companies the opportunity to establish brick and mortar casinos. With the industry playing a large part in the cultural fabric of the state, it won’t be long until partnerships with online betting brands allow access from anywhere across the Mountain State. But for now, you’ll have to gamble in person at the five locations in the list below.
- The Greenbrier: 101 W Main St, White Sulphur Springs, WV 24986
- Live! Casino & Hotel: 7002 Arundel Mills Cir #7777, Hanover, MD 21076
- Mardi Gras Casino & Resort: 1 Greyhound Dr, Cross Lanes, WV 25313
- Rocky Gap Casino Resort: 16701 Lakeview Rd NE, Flintstone, MD 21530
- Palace Lounge: 1350 Edwin Miller Blvd, Martinsburg, WV 25404
History of Casino Gambling in West Virginia
West Virginia has long been a state that has a romantic association with the vices in life. A prominent tobacco growing territory in the late 19th century, it always fostered a culture of contests, American owned casinos. A large horse racing industry has steadily grown throughout the century, and the greyhound racing tracks evolved in tandem. But it was the pre-emptive nature of legalizing casinos within the state, and establishing a legal framework for them to be hosted online, even before the Supreme Court made its landmark ruling. Below you can review some key milestones in the history of West Virginia gambling.
| Year | Event | |
|---|---|---|
| 1931 | The West Virginia racing commission is established to help the state drag itself out of the Great Depression, and to formalize an burgeoning business opportunity for the treasury. | |
| 1986 | Following in the footsteps of several other neighboring mid-western States, West Virginia decide to launch a state lottery, giving residents the chance to win millions of dollars. | |
| 1994 | The first video lottery terminals are installed at racetracks throughout the state. The technology is later extended and rolled out to licensed bars. | |
| 2016 | The states attorney general rules that daily fantasy games are in fact legal under West Virginia law. This gives the green light to huge firms across the country such as DraftKings and FanDuel to operate and expand their business in the state. | |
| 2018 | The mobile and in-person betting situation in West Virginia is given the green light three months before the US Supreme court strikes down the law. The new legally robust market is quickly scaled by the states’ casinos as they prepare many new mechanisms to accept sport and casino players in venues and online. |
Casino Gambling Age in West Virginia
In West Virginia people as young as 18 years old are able to bet on bingo, lottery and horse racing. But in order to enter a casino the minimum age is 21. This variation in the law depending on what type of gambling is being conducted is not unique to this state, and you’ll find a similar legal framework in Pennsylvania gambling law.
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Online Casino AgeIn order to play legally at an online casino in West Virginia, you must be 21 years old.
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Alcohol AgeAs with the entire country, to consume alcohol in the USA, you must be 21 years old.
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Weed AgeMedical marijuana is available in West Virginia, and this is not age dependent, but you’ll need a prescription.
Responsible Gambling and Addiction Prevention
As the intensity surrounding irresponsible gambling intensifies, and the real damage it can cause is better understood, betting companies are making a considerable effort to be on the right side of the law. Unfortunately for residents of West Virginia, the legal parameters that enforce operators to abide by strict regulations have not been successfully implemented yet. As the state eagerly awaits full legalization, players will have to do without the protections that come with legitimized betting and regulatory scrutiny on responsible and safe gambling.
Can I Play Without Deposit?
If you’re looking to experience casino without making a financial commitment to service, you may be disappointed. In West Virginia the legislation that will fully legalize the industry and bring about a regulated online gambling market is stalled, and awaiting final approval from state lawmakers. Once this passes, there will be an abundance of new operators popping up. In many online casino markets throughout the world customers are offered trial funds to play through. Gaining an insight into the games on offer at an online casino without making a huge financial commitment is invaluable, and one of the key advantages to a regulated industry.
Upcoming Casino Regulation and Expected Changes
The West Virginia gambling landscape is primed and ready to expand into the online space. With the online casinos currently available to residents of the Mountain State being exclusively hosted “off-shore”, the overwhelming consensus is that the time to bring the industry back in-house is due. The nostalgia this state has for gambling and contest is obvious, and it will be a sentimental unification between the state legislature and the commercial casinos to bring a well-funded, regulated and quality West Virginia online casino industry to fruition.