Online Gambling License in West Virginia

West Virginia continues to be a gaming haven thanks to the West Virginia Lottery Commission, a governing body that regulates all manner of gambling in the state. Its immaculate track record and rigorous oversight guarantee that West Virginians can enjoy the highest standards in their gambling pursuits.

The West Virginia Lottery Commission is a seven-member agency overseeing gambling activities in West Virginia. In addition to organizing the state lottery, the Commission approves, regulates, and authorizes commercial gambling in the form of land-based casinos, sports betting, poker rooms, and online casinos.

The West Virginia Lottery Commission was established in 1985 with the aim of generating revenue primarily for the public school sector. Initially, the only available game was West Virginia Jackpot, and over 1.5 million tickets for the game were sold on the first day. Today, the Commission contributes more than $1.1 billion annually to West Virginia’s General Revenue Fund, which is used for public schools, infrastructure, and senior services.

Its members, selected by the Governor and approved by the state Senate, are of varying professional backgrounds and different partisan affiliations. They include a lawyer, a market specialist, a computer expert, an accountant, a law enforcement worker, and two members of the public. Similarly, there cannot be more than four members of the same political party at any given moment.

The Commission adheres to several acts of the Sports Wagering Law and iGaming Law, including but not limited to the Table Games Act, Lottery Act, and Greenbriar Act.

Types of Gambling Regulated by the West Virginia Lottery Commission

Initially established to oversee the operations of the fledgling state lottery, the West Virginia Lottery Commission has grown into the primary regulatory body for all types of legal gambling in the state. It regulates the landscape for video lottery terminals, land-based casinos, sports betting, poker rooms, as well as online casinos.

Lottery Games

The lottery was the first brainchild of the Commission, and today, it includes games such as Powerball, Mega Millions, Lotto America, Daily 3, Daily 4, Keno, and Scratch cards. The state also allows up to 9,000 video lottery terminals (VLTs) at designated racetracks with games that offer RTP of 80-95%. Each licenced racetrack can operate up to 400 VLTs installed in age-restricted areas, which for video lotteries is 21.

Land-Based Casinos

Land-based casinos can only be installed at five designated racetracks, the license fee for which amounts to between $500,000 and $2,500,000 annually. The state lottery oversees operations for each racetrack casino in West Virginia, including the only private casino in the US –  the Casino Club at The Greenbrier Resort.

Apart from the Greenbrier Casino Club, there are four other land-based casinos in the state:

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

Each casino is open 24/7 and only admits players 21 or older.

Online Casinos

West Virginia legalized online gambling in 2019, the fifth state to do so at the time. Each of the five land-based casinos can apply for an interactive wagering license and partner up with up to three online casinos. The application fee is $250,000 and must be renewed every 5 years.

There are half a dozen online casinos in West Virginia, including BetMGM, BetRivers, Caesars, DraftKings, etc. They offer slots, table games, and live dealer games, including numerous tournaments. Additionally, as a signatory of the multi-state Internet Gaming Agreement (MSIGA), players from West Virginia can compete in poker rooms against their counterparts from Nevada, Delaware, and more.

Sports Betting

The same applies to sports betting. All entities holding casino or racetrack licenses may apply for a sports betting permit. Each may have up to three different skins, and their logo has to be clearly visible on the sportsbook website of each skin partner. So far, there are nine sportsbooks in the state.

The West Virginia Lottery Commission’s Regulatory Framework

The West Virginia Lottery Commission was established by Section 29-22-4 of the Code. Its regulatory powers and duties are in Section 29-22-5. Subsequent sections, like 29-22A-19 and 29-22B-1112, regulate specific operations. These include tax allocation and on-premise display requirements. They also outline the framework for video lottery terminals (VLTs).

Some of the more specific  requirements controlled by the West Virginia Lottery Commission include:

• AML Requirements
• Shipping Requirements
• Regulation of Cashless Gaming
• Political Contributions

Section 29-22A-10 details the taxation of gambling revenues. Operators keep 46.5% of all revenues. The Lottery Commission receives 30%. The remaining funds go to host counties, tourism funds, racing purses, and employee pension funds. Each year, $150,000 to $500,000 from taxes supports the Compulsive Gambling Treatment Fund. This fund provides grants for problem gambling initiatives statewide.

FAQs about The West Virginia Lottery Commission