Gambling in West Virginia includes five casinos with state-owned table games along with two operating horse and dog tracks. The casinos were legalized in 1994 and are primarily known as “racinos” where video lottery games are located at parimutuel horse and dog tracks. In addition, West Virginia has a lottery and allows charitable gambling such as bingo and raffles.

Best Betting Sites for West Virginia

Gaming Laws in West Virginia

West Virginia Code Chapter 29 covers Racetrack Video Lottery, Limited Video Lottery and Lottery Racetrack Table Games in Articles 22A, 22B and 22C. The West Virginia Lottery Commission regulates the five casinos in the state, four of which are known as “racinos” and the other being a land-based commercial casino.

Chapter 61, Article 10 defines illegal gambling in the state as “playing or betting at gaming tables and devices, or playing or betting on games at hotels and public places.” The penalty is a misdemeanor, which upon conviction results in a fine of not less than $5 nor more than $100, and if required by the court give security for his good behavior for one year. In the case of default, you may be imprisoned in the county jail not more than three months.

Tribal Casinos

There are no tribal casinos in the state of West Virginia.

Sports Betting in West Virginia

Sports betting is not allowed in the state of West Virginia.

Online Sportsbooks

Even though there are no sportsbooks available at physical locations or online in the state of West Virginia, bettors still have the opportunity to choose from many offshore options. Offshore sportsbooks are widely considered to be a much safer option than local bookmakers. In addition to having the convenience of placing bets right from a personal computer or mobile device and a variety of options, online bettors can trust reputable and well-reviewed offshore books to always offer lines and pay out, which may not always be the case for local bookies.

Poker and Casino in West Virginia

Poker and other table games in West Virginia are limited to the five casinos that are licensed within the state. They include The Casino Club at The Greenbrier, Hollywood Casino at Charles Town Races, Mardi Gras Casino and Resort, Mountaineer Casino, Racetrack and Resort and Wheeling Island Hotel-Casino-Racetrack. Four of the five are known as “racinos” and all feature some combination of live poker, slots and other table games.

Online Poker

In addition to the casinos in the state of West Virginia with poker rooms, online games may appeal to interested players who can pursue offshore poker websites in order to participate.

Other Gaming Options in West Virginia

Betting on horse and dog racing plus parimutuel wagering is permitted as long as it is licensed by the state. Charitable gambling is also allowed in West Virginia, which includes bingo, raffles and other games of chance.

West Virginia Lottery

The West Virginia Legislature passed the Lottery Act in 1985, and the first instant tickets were made available for purchase the next year with 1.5 million sold the first day. Annually, the West Virginia Lottery produces sales of more than $1.2 billion with more than $8 billion coming back to the citizens of the state since it started in the form of prizes and contributions toward education, senior programs and services and tourism and parks. The lottery games include scratch offs or “scratchers” and drawings such as Powerball and Mega Millions.

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