Gambling in West Virginia became legal in 1994. Currently, there are five West Virginia casinos:
- Hollywood Casino at Charles Town Races
- Mountaineer Casino, Racetrack & Resort
- Mardi Gras Casino & Resort
- Wheeling Island Hotel
- The Casino Club at The Greenbrier Hotel
WV Online Casinos
West Virginia online casinos became a reality on March 27, 2019, when Gov. Jim Justice failed to act on the bill passed by the legislature earlier in the month. Now the watch for online gambling launch dates in WV begins.
The law allows each of the five WV casinos a license to launch online casino games. Players can expect games similar to those found in a brick-and-mortar casino, including:
- Blackjack
- Roulette
- Craps
- Slots
If we look back to last year and the launch of WV sports betting, expect legal online casinos in WV to go live by the end of the year.
Legal WV online casino gambling
While waiting for the first online casino to launch in WV, there is a legal online casino gambling option in the Mountain State. Chumba Casino is legal because it uses a sweepstakes model. Chumba online casino games include:
- Slots
- Table games
- Poker
Players can play Chumba’s online casino games through its Facebook app or online through its website.
Casino goers are awarded gold coins for signing up. They use those gold coins to place “bets” at the online casino. Players can also win gold coins through play or buy gold coins through PayPal or Facebook payments. Additionally, players will have opportunities through Chumba’s online casino games to earn Sweeps cash which can be exchanged for real US dollars.
Players can not buy Sweeps cash outright, but Chumba is offering a special Sweeps cash bonus worth $2 for new players. For West Virginia players who want to play online casinos games legally look no further than Chumba Casino.
- $2 in Sweeps Cash FREE
- PLUS $10 when you deposit
- US Players Accepted
- Bonus Code: JUST USE OUR LINK
Types of WV online casino games
While it is impossible to predict with 100 percent certainty what online casinos games will come to WV once online gambling is legalized, looking at other states with legal online casinos gives us a clue. Here is our best guess at the types of online casino games players can expect.
WV online slots
Online slots are one of the most popular online casino game because it requires little skill and can provide hours of entertainment for a small investment. There is an undeniable attraction to the possibility of turning that small investment into a big win.
WV online blackjack
Another popular online casino game is blackjack. Most likely, online blackjack, along with online slots, will be at every online casino when they launch. There are several versions of the game often referred to as “21” guaranteeing something for everyone.
WV online video poker
Online video poker takes the popular casino game based on five-card draw poker and computerizes it in a slot-style game. Like online blackjack, there are many variations of video poker available.
WV live dealer games
Live dealer games were first introduced in the US in New Jersey in 2016. Live dealer games offer social interaction that is often missing from online casino gambling. The games feature live dealers that are using real cards to determine the outcome of the games.
Importance of playing at legal WV online casinos
Legal and regulated online casinos offer a safer environment for online gamblers than casinos that operate outside of the US. Your money and personal information are better protected when you choose to play locally through WV Lottery Commission regulated online casinos than non-US regulated offshore casinos.
Offshore casinos that take your bets are breaking the law. By association, you may also be breaking the law. Additionally, gambling at WV online casinos will benefit the local economy, something betting with offshore casinos does not do.
West Virginia Online Casinos FAQs
Is gambling legal in WV?
Yes. Gambling in West Virginia became legal in 1994. West Virginia currently has five land-based casinos and five land-based sportsbooks.
Online casino gambling is not legal yet, but it stands a good chance of becoming legal in the near future.
Is online gambling legal in WV?
Yes. West Virginia is one of the few states that has legalized online casino games, online poker, and online sports betting. Online casinos are coming to WV sometime in the future.
How many WV online casinos will there be?
We don’t know how many potential online casinos there will be in WV until regulations are in place. The law allows for one license per WV casino. Regulations, however, may allow for additional skins. If we look at West Virginia sports betting, each casino was granted three online sports betting licenses.
Who will regulate online casinos in West Virginia?
The regulation of WV online casinos will fall to the WV Lottery Commission, the same agency that regulates WV sports betting.
Who will be able to play at online casinos in WV?
Anyone over the age of 21 can legally gamble at a WV online casino. A player must be physically located within the borders of West Virginia to place a bet.