Residents in WV can legally sign up for an online casino and play casino games for real money. There are five land-based casinos that operate in the state and are each eligible to apply for an online license.
Sports bettors have a reason to head to West Virginia too, as retail and online sportsbooks have both been legalized and very popular.
Since there are so many ways to go about gambling in WV, residents or visitors could find the different laws and what’s really available a bit confusing.
Below, we’ll go into detail about the different forms of gaming available in the state, current laws, and then take you back in time to how gambling all started in WV.
Let’s start with online casinos.
Online Casinos in West Virginia
There are only a few states that have legalized online casinos, each generating millions a month in revenue. It’s only had a positive effect on the economy in each state.
Online casinos went live in WV this past summer (2020) in July, joining online sportsbooks. The first operator to go live was DraftKings which launched through its brick and mortar partner in the state, Hollywood Casino.
BetMGM, one of the biggest operators in New Jersey, followed shortly after DraftKings launching its own online casino in WV.
For now, there are only a couple of options to play casino games online, but iGaming is just beginning in the state.
Potential casinos include PokerStars and Betfair. Each casino already operates in the NJ online gambling market, so it would have a lot to offer players in West Virginia.
Top 8 reasons why you should play at an online casino
There is nothing wrong with swinging by the local casino every once in a while. But, wouldn’t it be easier to pull out your phone and have a casino game available to you in minutes, rather than making the (hours long) trip to the land-based venue?
Here are just a few reasons why online gaming is better than the brick and mortar:
- Convenience
- Save money
- Claim different bonuses
- Participate in promotions
- Enjoy a large game selection from a variety of sites
- Play at your own pace, on your own time
- Lower min/max bets at online casino tables
- Higher RTP compared to land-based casinos
Playing at a casino online is convenient and allows you to access a lot of games while on the go.
You’re saving money by not spending cash on travel and amenities at the brick and mortar, and can enjoy playing from anywhere you want in the state.
Online gamers also have access to multiple bonuses, which includes free money the minute you sign up.
Land-Based Casinos in West Virginia
All West Virginia casinos feature video lottery terminals (VLT’s). The VLT’s are the same as regular video gaming devices but are called lottery terminals because they are regulated by the state’s lottery commission which receives a share of each machine’s revenue.
Gaming regulations require that VLT’s at all casinos in West Virginia return a minimum of 80% to a maximum of 95%. VLT games include slots, blackjack, keno, and numerous versions of poker.
The average payback percentages on electronic gaming machines at all West Virginia casinos are released as a matter of public record. Just click here to see a list of slot machine payback statistics for all West Virginia casinos.
West Virginia law also allows bars, as well as restaurants that serve alcohol, to have up to five VLT’s. Fraternal organizations are also allowed to have up to 10 VLT’s. All of these machines are identical to the machines found at the racetracks, except they only print out tickets and do not pay out in cash.
All West Virginia casinos offer the following table games: blackjack, craps, roulette, and three-card poker. Optional games offered include poker, pai gow poker, four card poker, Caribbean stud poker, mini-baccarat, Spanish 21, Mississippi stud, and big-6 wheel.
Types of Casinos in West Virginia
There are five casinos in West Virginia: four pari-mutuel facilities and one resort hotel.
The resort hotel is called The Greenbrier and it is only open only to overnight resort guests, members of the hotel’s sporting clubs, or to attendees of an event or convention staying off-property when more than 400 rooms are occupied.
There is also a dress code with jackets required for men after 7 p.m.
List Of Land-Based Casinos In West Virginia
The Greenbrier Casino Club
The grandest casino experience in the world is waiting for you at The Greenbrier. Try your luck at 37 table games or take a spin on 320 different slot machines. The Greenbrier Casino Club was recently ranked the 18th Best Casino in America according to TripAdvisor reviews.
- Address: 101 W Main St, White Sulphur Springs, WV 24986
- Phone: (844) 837-2466
- Website: https://www.greenbrier.com/Casino/Games.aspx
Hollywood Casino at Charles Town Races
Expect to find a Vegas-style casino experience at Hollywood Casino. Visit the gaming floor and choose from more than 1,300 of the hottest slots, 74 action-packed table games, a 16-table poker room featuring 24/7 no-limit action and tournaments throughout the month.
- Address: 750 Hollywood Dr, Charles Town, WV 25414
- Phone: (800) 795-7001
- Website: https://www.hollywoodcasinocharlestown.com/
Mardi Gras West Virginia Casino Resort
The party at Mardi Gras Casino & Resort never stops with some of the hottest casino gaming action in West Virginia! This casino offers 90,000 square feet of gaming fun, with nearly 1,000 slot machines, more than 20 live table games and live Poker games.
- Address: 1 Greyhound Dr, Cross Lanes, WV 25313
- Phone: (304) 776-1000
- Website: https://www.mardigrascasinowv.com/
Mountaineer Casino Racetrack & Resort
Mountaineer Casino Racetrack & Resort is the area’s only full-service resort and casino featuring world-class thoroughbred racing. The casino game floor offers approximately 1,000 slot machines and a variety of table games including: Blackjack, Craps, Roulette, Let It Ride, Mississippi Stud, Spanish 21, and Three Card Poker.
- Address: 1420 Mountaineer Cir, New Cumberland, WV 26047
- Phone: (800) 804-0468
- Website: https://www.cnty.com/mountaineer/
Wheeling Island Hotel-Casino-Racetrack
Wheeling Island of West Virginia offers some of the best gaming, entertainment, dining, and hotel accommodations around. The casino floor features over 1,100 slot machines and your favorite table games including, Craps, Blackjack, Roulette and more!
- Address: 1 S Stone St, Wheeling, WV 26003
- Phone: (304) 232-5050
- Website: https://www.wheelingisland.com/
West Virginia Land-Based Casinos Map
You can easily see all casino locations by using our West Virginia casinos map. To zoom in, just click the + (plus) sign in the lower right corner of the map, or to zoom out, just click the – (minus) sign in the same area. To move the map of casinos in West Virginia, click and hold down either of your mouse buttons. Then use the hand icon to drag the map in whichever direction you desire. Each of the red icons on the map is a casino location. Just click on any red icon to see the name of the casino at that location. If you want more information on that casino, simply click again on the casino’s name and it will direct you to another page with detailed information on that particular casino, including address, phone number, toll-free phone number, room rates, casino size, dining information, games offered, availability of discounts for seniors, any special features, and a direct link to that casino’s website.
History Of Gambling In West Virginia
Gambling kicked off in West Virginia in 1931 when horse and dog racing was legalized.
The lottery came next in 1984, and by the late 1980s, one racino had started operating video lottery machines.
The West Virginia Racetrack Video Lottery Act ended up legalizing video lottery gaming in the ’90s, which led to every racino eventually offering video lottery machines shortly after the new law came out.
By 2007, there were multiple racetracks in WV and video poker had now be deemed legal. Racinos introduced casino games to the venues, offering poker tables, blackjack, craps, roulette, and other variations of poker.
For years, the casino industry in WV strived. It wasn’t until other states, like Pennsylvania and New Jersey, started legalizing different forms of gambling when the economy took a bit of a hit, revenue-wise.
Finally, in 2019, the state announced online gambling would be legal. This included online sports betting and casino gaming.
The first online casino, DraftKings, launched over the summer in 2020, followed by BetMGM.
Fanduel and DraftKings also launched online sportsbooks in 2020.
West Virginia Gambling Laws and Regulatory Organizations
You must be at least 21 years of age to gamble at a casino and wager online in West Virginia. For bingo, the lottery, and pari-mutuel betting, it’s 18.
To play at a WV online casino, you must be within the state borders. Users are permitted to create an online account from anywhere in the state but will not have access to real money games.
Online casinos will require players to have Location Services turned on for the entire duration of play to verify where they are in the country.
West Virginia Legislature
All forms of gambling in the state are regulated by the West Virginia Legislature. This includes horse and dog racing, sportsbooks, casino, and online gaming.
The West Virginia Lottery Commission sees over the State lottery.
Gambling in West Virginia Today
Over the past few years, West Virginia has earned a title as one of the most gambling-friendly states in the country.
Residents can play the lottery, bingo, wager on dog and horse races, and have five land-based casinos to choose from.
There are also multiple options for online betting, including sportsbooks and casino gaming.
Online casinos are still very new and minimal, but a lot of operators have plans to go live shortly.
Fun Facts
Did you know?
West Virginia was the fifth state in America to legalize online gambling.
Did you know?
Mardi Gras Casino used to be known as the Tri-State Race Track when it first opened in the 1930s.
Useful Resources
- Video gambling machines performing at record pace after restart
- BetMGM Launches BetMGM Casino in West Virginia
- West Virginia Video Lottery
Try an online casino for FREE. We have over 15 No Deposit Bonus Codes. No credit card needed, just sign up and start playing!
For West Virginia tourism information call (800) 225-5982 or go to www.gotowv.com.