West Virginia Slot Machine Laws

In the state of West Virginia, Video Lottery is the legal use of player interactive gaming machines similar to those commonly known as “slot” machines in the casino industry. As of 1994, video lottery was approved, with restraints set forth by law, at West Virginia’s four thoroughbred and greyhound racetracks. The issue had to be approved by voters in the counties in which each track is located.

In 2001, the West Virginia Legislature passed a bill allowing for a limited number of video lottery machines in adult environments. It is referred to as the “Limited Video Lottery Act.” The measure outlawed pre-existing “gray” or “poker” machines and restricted the number of Limited Video Lottery terminals to no more than 9,000. The environments in which they are permitted are classified as adult-only based on the fact that they possess a Class A, Alcohol Beverage Control Administration (ABCA) license and meet various other legal requirements.

How are Profits Spent?

1. Online Gambling Options in Virginia. The state of Virginia doesn’t regulate online gambling or allow any casinos to operate within state lines. But since the state’s laws don’t mention online gambling at all, it’s technically legal to gamble with offshore-based casino, poker, and sports betting sites.
2. Not to be used for gambling, Home use only Pachislos are Prohibited in Alabama, California, Louisiana, Missouri and Oregon. Real Las Vegas Slots are legal in: Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, Kentucky, Maine, Minnesota, New Mexico, Nevada, Ohio, Rhode Island, Texas, Utah, Virginia and West Virginia “Pachislo OK” refers to token use only.
3. Slot Machines Ownership Laws by State. Virginia: All Legal: Va. Code 18.2-334: Washington: Machines 25 years or older legal: Rev. 9.46.235: West Virginia: All Legal: WV Code 61-10-1: Wisconsin: Machines 25 years or older legal: WI Stat. 945.035(1) Wyoming: Machines 25 years or older legal.

West Virginia Gaming Laws and Information West Virginia has a long history with the gambling industry, particularly when it comes to horse racing. Particularly, the last 25 years have been a very busy period for the state: there is now a large casino presence here, one that offers the full range of classic games that are enjoyed by gamblers.

In general, profits from video lottery gaming fund West Virginia programs for senior citizens, education and tourism. In 2000, House Bill 102 capped the lottery’s 4 percent administrative allowance under the Racetrack Video Lottery Act at the fiscal year 2001 level. Today, excess funds are deposited into the State’s Excess Lottery Revenue Fund, used to provide West Virginia students with college scholarships and to back bonds for economic development endeavors. West Virginia cities and counties also receive two percent of the State’s revenues produced by the limited video lottery machines located within their geographic boundaries.

• Year West Virginia Regulated Gambling: Racing (1931), Bingo (1980), Lottery (1984), Video Lottery at Tracks (1994), Video Lottery at Bars (2001), Table games (2008)
• Estimated Tax Revenue from Gambling: $385 million
• Estimated Gambling Revenue: $1 billion
• West Virginia Gambling Age: Bingo, lotteries and racing: 18 Casinos and video lottery: 21
• Smoking ban: West Virginia does not have a statewide smoking ban. County bans affect Mountaineer Casino and Mardi Gras Casino. The Greenbrier does not permit smoking by choice in its resort casino.
• West Virginia Online gambling: Horse racing is the only form of legal online gambling.

West Virginia Casino Locations: Charles Town, Cross Lanes, Chester, Wheeling and White Sulphur Springs. Those are the prominent locations for West Virginia casinos.

West Virginia was the first state in the region to legalize most forms of gambling. Horse racing dates back to the 1930’s, as does greyhound tracks. It was the first state in the Appalachians with a state lottery.

It also specifically legalized convenience video poker and full-service casinos. West Virginia drew players from Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Maryland before those states legalized gambling.

The only states without casinos that West Virginia attracts players from these days are Kentucky and Virginia.

Paying Gambling Taxes in West Virginia

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West Virginia Casinos Map & Guide

• Hollywood Casino
• Mardi Gras Casino
• Mountaineer Casino
• Wheeling Island Casino
• Casino Club at Greenbrier

• Number of B&M Casinos: 5
• Number of Poker Rooms: 5
• Number of Indian Casinos: 0

Types of West Virginia Online Gambling Allowed

The only form of expressly legal online gambling in West Virginia is off-track betting on horses and greyhounds. TVG, TwinSpires, and XpressBet all accept players from West Virginia. Races at Charles Town and Mountaineer tracks are not on the board for bettors located in the state at the time of action.

Daily fantasy sports sites claim to be legal in West Virginia. DraftKings and FanDuel are among the sites that hold this position and accept action from players in the state. West Virginia’s attorney general and legislature have not acted in this opinion by the daily fantasy sites. A bill is pending that would declare daily fantasy sports to not be gambling. It has not moved forward in the state legislature.

Types of Live West Virginia Gambling

• Slots: Yes
• Blackjack: Yes
• Poker: Yes
• Craps/Roulette: Yes
• Horses: Yes
• Lottery: Yes

West Virginia gambling offers almost every form betting you can imagine. Horse and greyhound racing are legal. This includes live and off-track betting. There is a state lottery that permits sales of instant game tickets. Lotto drawings may also be held. This includes contests where numbers are drawn for instate games, as well as massive interstate pools like Mega Millions and Powerball. Charities may hold bingo drawings and sell raffle tickets.

There are video lottery casinos in every developed part of the state. This includes video poker, slots, and keno. These businesses may not look like video lottery casinos. Words like “gambling” and “casino” may not be used.

The state’s four racetracks offer the same games but add table games to the variety. This includes blackjack, craps, roulette, Three Card Poker, Four Card Poker, Let it Ride, Ultimate Texas Hold’em, and live poker. There are no bet limits at West Virginia casinos.

West Virginia Gambling Laws

West Virginia Slot Machine Laws List

West Virginia gambling laws require any expansion of gambling to be made through a constitutional amendment. This requires a statewide referendum. Minimum West Virginia gambling is 18 years old to play the lottery, bingo, and racing. Video lottery and casino gambling have a minimum gambling age of 21 years old.

The racing industry is permitted to offer live horses and dogs. Each may also have a racebook. Off-track betting companies may also spread action over the Internet and on mobile apps.

Video lottery is permitted throughout the state. These establishments are located in alcohol establishments. The business name cannot resemble any gambling term. Video poker, slots, and real money keno are allowed in these locations. The games must payout between 80 percent and 95 percent. The tax rate on video lottery machines located in bars is 52 percent of the win.

Video lottery machines are also permitted at the state’s horse and greyhound tracks. The same games are spread. The tax rate is 49 percent on these devices’ net win. Racetracks may also offer table games. The tax rate on table games is 35 percent. There is no limitation on the amount of luck and skill involved. Craps, roulette, live poker and house-banked card games are all legal.

There are special rules that apply to historic resort hotels. This law was written specifically for The Greenbrier, a five-star resort located in White Springs. This resort was once home to an underground Congressional bunker in case of nuclear war. The Greenbrier may offer the same games as the racetracks. The only exception is that local residents are not permitted to visit the casino. It is only open to the hotel guests and members of its private club.

West Virginia Slot Machine Laws Today

The state lottery is permitted to offer scratch-off and lotto tickets. Intrastate and interstate lotto games are allowed. Keno is not.

Charities and public organizations may hold bingo games and raffles. Games may be held no more than every other day, except on weekends. Charities must register bingo schedules with the state, at least, sixty days before the event.

List of West Virginia Casinos

Any town of significance has video lottery machines. The businesses will have obscure names that do not sound like West Virginia casinos; this is required by law. These establishments and convenience stores often sell lottery tickets.

There are four racetracks in West Virginia. Each has a casino with slots, video poker, live poker, blackjack, craps, roulette and other house-banked games. Race books are spread at each venue.

Virginia Slot Machine Law

Below you will find a list of West Virginia casinos, along with their locations and websites for more information. You can always look at our West Virginia casinos map for more detailed information on how to get there.

The Greenbrier is a special resort in West Virginia. It is permitted to spread the same casino games as the racetracks. The only difference is that the casino floor is not open to the public. Only registered guests and members of the sporting club may gamble there. Guests must wear proper attire. This includes a sports jacket for men in the evening hours.

History of West Virginia Gambling

The first form of legal gambling in West Virginia was racing. That occurred in 1931. Horse and greyhound racing was legalized. Charles Town Races and Mountaineer Race Track raced thoroughbreds. Tri-State Race Track (now known as Mardi Gras Casino) and Wheeling Racetrack offered greyhound racing. Each of these now has attached racinos regulated by the state lottery.

The state lottery was approved by voters in 1984. It sold traditional tickets in its first 10 years. In 1994, it expanded into a video lottery. At first, slots and video poker was approved at the state’s four tracks. It expanded to table games and live poker in 2007.

Video poker saturated the state in the 1990’s. The machines were of questionable legality. While some states in the region decided to fight the underground video poker industry, West Virginia legalized the games in 2001 under the Limited Video Lottery Act. There were some conditions. All video poker machines in the state at the time were ordered out. New machines were licensed and capped at 9,000 in the state. The tax rate was 48 percent, however, that was raised to 52 percent in 2007.

West Virginia Slot Machine Laws 2019

West Virginia casinos held a monopoly until Pennsylvania legalized slots at racetracks in 2006. West Virginia gaming numbers remained on the uptick until Pennsylvania rolled out table games in 2010. This started a decline that never ended. Maryland and Ohio later legalized casinos. This cut West Virginia casinos and gambling profits even more.

West Virginia Casinos & Gambling FAQ

West Virginia Slot Machine Laws 2020

The minimum West Virginia gambling age is 18 years old for bingo, lottery, and racing. Video lottery and racino patrons must be at least 21 years old.

West Virginia Slot Machine Laws

The West Virginia Video Lottery is video poker, slots, and keno that is spread in bars throughout the state. The businesses are nondescript. They may not advertise gambling.

West Virginia Slot Machine Lawsuit

Slots, video poker, live poker, electronic table games, blackjack, craps, roulette, Let it Ride, Big 6 Wheel, baccarat, Pai Gow Poker, Ultimate Texas Hold’em and Let it Ride are among the games players will find in West Virginia casinos.

The only form of gambling legal in West Virginia is off-track betting. TVG, TwinSpires, and XpressBet accept this action from state residents.

Sites like DraftKings and FanDuel say that their business model is legal in West Virginia. State officials have done nothing to refute that position.

No. All of these types of websites are unlicensed and illegal in the state.

Greenbrier holds a resort gaming license. It is the only one of its kind in the state. Hotel guests and members of the private club are the only patrons permitted at Greenbrier.

Yes. All five casinos in West Virginia offer a poker room.