Casino In West Virginia

When West Virginia online casinos do eventually go live, licenses will be restricted to five land-based casinos in the state. Each casino will be required to pay a $250,000 licensing fee and renewal fee of $100,000 every five years.

  • Mountaineer Casino Racetrack and Resort 1420 Mountaineer Cir, New Cumberland, WV 26047 The Greenbrier Gourmet 101 W Main St, White Sulphur Springs, WV 24986 Wheeling Island Hotel-Casino-Racetrack 1 S Stone St, Wheeling, WV 26003 Wheeling Island Casino Racetrack.
  • So, West Virginia will require online casinos to ensure that only those within the state lines can access real money casino games. The only way such casinos can verify your location is by deploying geolocation tracking software and other technologies.
  • Types of Casinos in West Virginia There are five casinos in West Virginia: four pari-mutuel facilities and one resort hotel.

Introduction to West Virginia Slot Machine Casino Gambling in 2020

West Virginia slot machine casino gambling consists of five casinos including one casino resort and four racetracks with slot machines. Many retailers have a few video lottery terminals.

The West Virginia state legislature has two sets of minimum and maximum theoretical payout limits depending upon the location of the gaming machine. Limited return statistics are available annually.

This post continues my weekly State-By-State Slot Machine Casino Gambling Series, an online resource dedicated to guiding slot machine casino gambler to success. Now in its third year, each weekly post reviews slots gambling in a single U.S. state, territory, or federal district.

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Relevant Legal Statutes on Gambling in West Virginia*

The minimum legal gambling age in West Virginia depends upon the gambling activity:

  • Land-Based Casinos: 21
  • Poker Rooms: 21
  • Bingo: 18
  • Lottery: 18
  • Pari-Mutuel Wagering: 21

In 1994, West Virginia legalized video lottery terminals at their thoroughbred and greyhound racetracks. In 1999, West Virginia began allowing physical reel slot machines at licensed racetracks.

Machine restrictions at these pari-mutuel wagering facilities include approval by the local county and having only:

  • Slots
  • Blackjack
  • Keno
  • Many versions of poker

In 2001, West Virginia passed the Limited Video Lottery Act allowing bars and restaurants to have up to five video lottery terminals (VLTs) and fraternal organizations to have up to ten VLTs. The Act also restricted the state to a total of 9,000 VLTs.

*The purpose of this section is to inform the public of state gambling laws and how the laws might apply to various forms of gaming. It is not legal advice.

Slot Machine Private Ownership in West Virginia

It is legal to own a slot machine privately in West Virginia.

Gaming Control Board in West Virginia

The West Virginia Lottery Commission controls VLT gaming regulations. This lottery was created in 1984 by amending the Constitution of West Virginia with Article VI, Section 36.

Afterward, West Virginia legalized VLTs with subsequent amendments, acts, rules, and statutes. Each statute is available in the West Virginia Lottery’s Rules and Regulations.

Casinos in West Virginia

There are four pari-mutuel racetracks and one casino resort in West Virginia, where their slot machines have 18 different games. In 2019, 1,303 commercial retailers each had between five and ten VLTs, offering eleven games.

The largest casino in West Virginia is Hollywood Casino at Charles Town Races with 2,500 slot machines.

The second-largest casino is Mountaineer Casino Racetrack & Resort with 1,525 slot machines.

Commercial Casinos in West Virginia

The four pari-mutuel racetracks with slot machines in West Virginia are:

  1. Hollywood Casino at Charles Town Races in Charles Town, 320 miles northeast of Charleston.
  2. Mardi Gras Casino & Resort in Cross Lanes, 10 miles northwest of Charleston.
  3. Mountaineer Casino Racetrack & Resort in New Cumberland, 35 miles north of Wheeling.
  4. Wheeling Island Hotel Casino Racetrack in Wheeling.

The single casino resort in West Virginia is:

  1. The Casino Club at The Greenbrier in White Sulphur Springs, 120 miles southeast of Charleston

Tribal Casinos in West Virginia

West Virginia has no federally-recognized tribes and, therefore, no tribal casinos.

Other Gambling Establishments

As an alternative to enjoying West Virginia slot machine casino gambling, consider exploring casino options in a nearby state. Bordering West Virginia is:

  • North: Maryland Slots and Pennsylvania Slots
  • East and South: Virginia Slots
  • West: Kentucky Slots and Ohio Slots

Each of the links above will take you to my blog for that neighboring U.S. state to West Virginia.

Our West Virginia Slots Facebook Group

Are you interested in sharing and learning with other slots enthusiasts in West Virginia? If so, join our West Virginia slots community on Facebook. All you’ll need is a Facebook profile to join this closed Facebook Group freely.

There, you’ll be able to privately share your slots experiences as well as chat with players about slots gambling in West Virginia. Join us!

Casino In West Virginia Wheeling Island

Payout Returns in West Virginia

West Virginia has two sets of theoretical payout limits including:

  • Racetracks and casino resort: 80% and 99.9%
  • Commercial retailers: 80% and 92% (or 95%, if approved)

Retailers must obtain individual permissions to have a greater than 92% payout. These high payout terminals must obtain Commission approval twice, including:

Written consent prior to manufacturing
Approval before applying for testing

Casino In West Virginia Mountaineer Casino

From its 2019 Annual Report, the Commission reported the annual return statistics in West Virginia to be:

  • Casino resort: 92.5%
  • Racetracks: 89.6%
  • Commercial Retailers: 92.1%
Virginia

Casino In West Virginia Near Charleston

Summary of West Virginia Slot Machine Casino Gambling in 2020

West Virginia slot machine casino gambling consists of one casino resort, four racetracks, and 1,303 retailers with VLT-style gaming machines. Retailers may have up to five VLTs if a bar or tavern, and up to ten VLTs if a fraternal organization. Up to 18 different games are available on these VLTs, including slot machine game themes.

The minimum theoretical payout is 80% for all VLTs. The maximum theoretical payout is 99.9% for casinos, but 92% for retailers. With permissions, retailers can obtain a 95% maximum theoretical payout for specific VLT machines.

Annual Progress in West Virginia Slot Machine Casino Gambling

Over the last year, there has been no change in the West Virginia gaming industry.

Other State-By-State Articles from Professor Slots

  • Previous: Washington Slot Machine Casino Gambling
  • Next: Wisconsin Slot Machine Casino Gambling

Have fun, be safe, and make good choices!
By Jon H. Friedl, Jr. Ph.D., President
Jon Friedl, LLC