The proposed $110 million, 86,000-square-foot casino would be about half the size of the flagship Hollywood Casino at Penn National Race Course in Grantville. It will contain 750 slot machines and 30 table games, the maximum allowed under the 2017 law that permits casinos to open satellite operations no closer than 25 miles from existing casinos. Hollywood Casino features over 2,200 of the most popular slots and 74 table games, including a live poker room near Baltimore, MD and Washington, DC. K e e p i n g y o u u p - t o - d a t e The Casino will be open from 8 a.m. Entrance into the casino will end at 3:30 a.m.
Online casinos are now live and legal in West Virginia. DraftKings Casino became the first online casino to open its doors to West Virginians in July 2020. The launch of DraftKings is only the first of a handful of casinos that could come to the Mountain State.
Real money casinos come equipped with a number of features including blackjack, table games and of course slot machines. One of the defining though, is the bonus offers. Almost all legal casinos offer a no deposit bonus in addition to a deposit offer. This can add hundreds of dollars to your casino account if you know where to go and what code to use.
Hollywood Casino at Charles Town Races was the first WV sportsbook to open. The Mardi Gras Casino and Wheeling Island Casino both suspended their sports betting operation on March 7, 2019. – Sports betting in West Virginia has proven to be a popular activity since it first went live in August of 2018.
Thankfully, you're in the right place to find that information, too. We have and will have all the latest deals with online casinos in West Virginia. Read on for all the latest news, updates, and those bonus codes for online casinos in the Mountain State.
Best online casino in West Virginia
When did WV online casinos launch?
The first West Virginia online casino launched in July 2020. DraftKings began accepting wagers as part of its partnership with Hollywood Casino Charles Town.
With the launch, West Virginia became the fourth state in the US to offer online casino play to its residents and visitors. The Mountain State joins Delaware, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania as locations for casino play through laptops and mobile devices.
As it happens, West Virginians can now access their favorite casino games through Android or Apple (iOS) devices. The app allows for both real money and demo play so that players can play at their preferred comfort levels.
DraftKings is unlikely to be the only game in town for very long. Both FanDuel and MGM already have inroads in the state, and their online products are already available elsewhere.
Nevertheless, you can enjoy online casino play in West Virginia right this second.
Online Casino Bonuses in West Virginia
One of the truths about running an online business of any type is that your competitors are only a click away. No business owners are more acutely aware of this fact than online casino operators.
So, in order to attract and retain players, online casinos will always have some sort of promotions or bonuses running. Since these bonuses often come with an opportunity for you to put hundreds of extra dollars into your casino bankroll, they are worthy of your attention.
So, below are explanations about the common types of online casino bonuses that you may find in West Virginia online casinos.
No deposit bonuses
One of the first types of bonuses that you might find is also one of the sweetest. It is possible to get money or free bets placed into your account without ever having to spend a dime. The no deposit bonus is always a good thing.
No deposit bonuses are pledges from the online casino to infuse a certain dollar amount into your player account. This amount is usually no more than about $20, and it may come in the form of free bets. However, there is rarely a time that you should not take advantage of this kind of bonus offer.
Risk-free bet
Another excellent type of promotion to grab if you see it is the risk-free bet. With this kind of bonus, the online casino will issue you a voucher for a wager of a certain amount that is good for betting on its games.
Now, there are a couple of things to keep in mind. The first thing is that the online casino may limit the games that you can use the risk-free bet to play. You should still use risk-free bets when they come along, but you might have to go outside your comfort zone to do so.
The second issue is that risk-free bets are usually indivisible and cannot be split to make multiple bets. Any unused portion will become void, so make sure to bet it all with these types of wagers.
However, risk-free bets are great things. There's a reason that this type of promotion and no-deposit bonuses are the most common types offered to new players. Don't ever miss out on them when they come around.
Deposit/match/reload
Deposit bonuses are quite common offers that you can find at most online casinos. In this type of bonus, the casino will match all or a portion of your deposit amount and put it into your account.
The only catch is that the casino will always require you to play through the amount before you can withdraw it as cash. In some cases, you need only wager through once, but some deposit bonuses require playthrough 50x the bonus amount.
Between the requirement and the time limit placed upon its redemption, you might find yourself in a bit of a bind to redeem a deposit bonus. However, not all deposit bonuses are impossible, so you should consider each offer carefully.
These bonuses are also called match bonuses from time to time. A casino might also offer a reload bonus to existing customers, but they are essentially identical to deposit bonuses.
Free spins
Free spin bonuses are quite similar to free bet bonuses, in that you are granted the ability to take part in a gambling game without paying anything. In a free spin bonus, the casino will present you with a certain number of slot machine spins that you can redeem at any time.
However, the casino will usually designate the slot machines eligible for the promotion, and they tend not to be the progressive machines with the highest jackpots. In some cases, a casino might have a special slot machine specifically set aside for the promotion.
There's really no reason not to use this promo, though. At worst, your only loss is the time you spend spinning.
Cashback
Whenever you gamble, there's always a chance that things won't work out. So, online casinos will sometimes offer to make things right if you lose. Cashback bonuses do exactly that. A cashback bonus will compensate all or a portion of your net losses during a certain period of time or on a certain game. The bonus will either be in the form of site credit, or it will be straight cash.
Either way, you'll have another bite at the apple. For the most part, these are a no-brainer.
Loyalty/rewards programs
In order to reward players who keep returning to their site, online casinos will often create a loyalty program or rewards scheme. These programs allow players to accrue points as they play normally.
Those points are redeemable for various prizes, perks, or benefits on the site. Those benefits can include free bets, cash, restaurant vouchers, or reservations at the casino's land-based partner. The more you play, the bigger your award.
Loyalty programs are almost always free to join. Since they exist in the background, make sure to sign up so that you can get extra spiffs when you're onsite.
How to play free and real money casino games
West Virginia online casinos will launch with hundreds of different games, as long as the West Virginia Lottery Commission approves.
The lottery commission will need to approve all games run by online casinos in WV. It will likely to stick to electronic versions of the same games already approved at land-based casinos across the state.
While the list of lottery commission-approved games will include a small variety of online table games and online poker variants, it is sure to be filled to the brim with online slots.
Here's a look at the games you can or will find in West Virginia online casinos:
Online slots
Slots are popular enough with the gambling public that they take up the majority of the floor space inside West Virginia land-based casinos. They will undoubtedly take up the most bandwidth at WV online casinos, as well.
Inside WV casinos, some of the classic reel one-armed bandits are still around, although most have been replaced by modern video slots with new gameplay features, bonus games and pop-culture themes.
The most popular of these slots have also made the move to online sites. Designers such as IGT, Bally and WMS have created online versions of their most popular titles at brick and mortar casinos.
That means West Virginia online casinos will feature dozens of these modern video slots, which are based on popular television, movie and musical themes with wild and scatter symbols and bonus games. Plus, there will be online versions of classic reel slots, too.
There are sure to be multi-denomination slots, penny slots, and high-roller slots. Some will come with fixed and others will have progressive jackpots. Slot english word meaning.
In fact, as time goes by, there will literally be hundreds of online slots for you to choose from at West Virginia casinos online.
Online blackjack
Blackjack is the most popular table game at WV casinos, and the game's popularity is bound to translate online. You'll probably find the same blackjack game you encounter at WV land-based casinos employed online.
The good news is that blackjack is played under player-friendly rules in WV with a return-to-player rate of 96.6%. In other words, the house advantage is only 3.4%.
The low-house edge is due to the following rules:
- Blackjack pays 3:2.
- Dealer stands on soft 17.
- Double down any cards.
- Double after splitting.
- Surrender available.
Online roulette and video poker
American roulette has a single and double zero slot, which almost doubles the house edge of European roulette and its single zero slot. In other words, if you want to play roulette online in West Virginia, we suggest you look around for European roulette.
Video poker has made the transition online in every state with online casinos.
The popular standards you play at brick and mortar casinos make it online in WV as well. That means multi-denominational and multi-hand versions of jacks or better, deuces wild and bonus poker should soon be available at WV online casinos.
Other online table games
Since you can find the following table games at WV land-based casinos, WV casino sites host online versions of the same games. The only real difference between the two is computerized random number generators determine the outcome of the games online, instead of dealers and playing cards.
- Three card poker
- Four card poker
- Pai gow poker
- Let it ride
- Mini baccarat
- Ultimate Texas Hold 'em
Games you won't find online in WV
The following games may one day be played at online casinos in West Virginia, but aren't available just yet.
Online craps
Craps is the most social game at WV casinos, but the social side of the game doesn't translate all that well online.
Simply put, online craps isn't as much fun as its live counterpart. The loss of the social aspect hurts the appeal of the game, and the speed at which the online game plays can make the tumbling dice difficult to follow.
Live dealer games
Live dealer games combine live casino games with online wagering. The games are run by real people inside live gaming studios. Real dealers run the action, online casinos put up a simulcast of it and you can bet on it through an online betting interface.
You can even interact with the dealers and other players as it happens. Online casinos offer the following live dealer games across the US:
- Blackjack
- Three-card poker
- Baccarat
- Casino hold 'em
- Roulette
However, WV online casinos aren't likely to offer live dealer casino games right away – mostly due to the cost of setting up a studio.
Casinos will more likely want to see what the market is like without live dealer games before determining if there is a big demand for these games. The size of the WV online gambling market may mean it is never financially feasible to run online live dealer games.
Most popular casino game developers
The top land-based slot and casino game developers in the world also build games for online casinos in the US. They include:
IGT Slots
International Gaming Technology is one of the biggest gambling companies in the world. Iconic IGT slot titles include Megabucks and Wheel of Fortune.
IGT is also a leader in pop-culture-themed slots and linked jackpot slots like its MegaJackpots series. Some of IGT's most popular slots include:
- Cleopatra
- Texas Tea
- Da Vinci Diamonds
- Wolf Run
- Monopoly
- Ghostbusters
- Sex and the City
- Jurassic Park
- Avatar
WMS Slots
WMS Industries has designed and built iconic slot titles like the Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory and James Bond 007-themed games.
WMS now operates under the Scientific Games umbrella, alongside Shuffle Master and Bally.
Some of its other popular slots include several Monopoly titles, Zeus and Kronos Unleashed. WMS is also responsible for themed slots such as:
- The Simpsons
- Mad Men
- Seinfeld
- Star Trek
- The Flintstones
Bally Slot Machines
Bally is an iconic American casino and gaming brand. Its most popular slots include the Quick Hit series, Triple Cash Wheel and Asian-themed slots like Lucky Tree and Fu Dao Le.
AGS Slots
American Gaming Systems is a Nevada-based live casino and online slot designer responsible for titles like:
- River Dragons
- Fire Wolf II
- Rakin' Bacon
AGS' Xtreme Jackpots linked-progressive series is also growing in popularity. It includes:
- Wolf Queen
- Winter of the Dragons
- Longhorn Jackpots
Konami slots
Konami is a video-game-turned-worldwide-slot-machine developer. It now creates original slots and games based on its popular video game licenses.
Some of Konami's hottest slots include:
- Dragon's Law Twin Fever
- Solstice Celebration
- Chili Chili Fire
- Lion Festival
- Castlevania
Deposit options and how to cash out winnings
Every West Virginia online casino operator wants to make it easy for you to get money into your online casino account. So, there are a wide variety of deposit and withdrawal options available to you.
Deposit options include:
- Credit and debit cards: Casinos take Visa, Mastercard and other major cards, provided the issuing institution approves of online gambling transactions.
- Electronic checks: E-checks allow you to link your bank account and online casino account through a clearinghouse.
- Online banking: Online banking transactions permit you to link your bank account and online casino account.
- Electronic wallets: E-wallets like PayPal and Skrill can be used for online casino transactions.
- Prepaid cards: The online casinos may issue their own or accept other companies' prepaid cards as deposit methods. Prepaid cards typically function in the same manner as a gift card.
- PayNearMe: PayNearMe transactions allow you to make cash deposits at 7-Eleven stores. You need only to let the PayNearMe software to generate a unique barcode for your transaction, then head to your nearest convenience store to complete the transaction.
For the most part, online casinos in West Virginia allow you to withdraw money the same way you deposited it. If that doesn't work, they issue you a check through the mail. Withdrawals may take a day or two on average.
WV casinos eligible for online gambling
Five casinos in West Virginia are eligible to offer online slots, blackjack and video poker.
Hollywood Casino at Charles Town Races
- Location: 750 Hollywood Drive, Charles Town, WV 25414
- Casino: 2,500 slot machines, 100 table games, 16-table poker room
- Owner/Operator: Penn National Gaming
- Mobile Sportsbook Operator: DraftKings Sportsbook
- Online Casino Partner:DraftKings Casino – Launched July 2020
Mountaineer Casino, Racetrack & Resort
- Location: 71420 Mountaineer Circle, New Cumberland, WV 26047
- Casino: 1,500 slot machines, 36 table games, 12-table poker room
- Owner/Operator: Century Casinos
- Retail Sportsbook Operator: William Hill
- Possible Online Casino Partners: William Hill, Bet365
Mardi Gras Casino & Resort
- Location: 1 Greyhound Drive, Cross Lanes, WV 25313
- Casino: 1,000 slot machines, 30 table games, 18-table poker room
- Owner/Operator: Delaware North
- Retail Sportsbook Operator: Betly powered by IGT
- Possible Online Casino Partner: IGT
Wheeling Island Hotel-Casino-Racetrack
- Location: 1 S. Stone St., Wheeling, WV 26003
- Casino: 2,000 slot machines, 40 table games, 20-table poker room
- Owner/Operator: Delaware North
- Retail Sportsbook Operator: Betly powered by IGT
- Possible Online Casino Partner: IGT
The Greenbrier Casino Club
- Location: 101 Main St. West, White Sulphur Springs, WV 24986
- Casino: 320 slot machines, 37 table games
- Owner/Operator: Justice Family Group, LLC
- Mobile Sportsbook Operators: FanDuel Sportsbook, BetMGM
- Possible Online Casino Partners:FanDuel Casino, Betfair, PokerStars, BetMGM Casino, Golden Nugget online casino
Which gambling sites are live in WV?
| Online Sportsbook | Land-Based Partner | Date Launched | |
|---|---|---|---|
| DraftKings | Hollywood Casino | Aug. 28, 2019 | Play Now |
| FanDuel | FanDuel at The Greenbrier | Sept. 13, 2019 | Play Now |
| BetMGM | The Greenbrier | Jan. 29, 2020 | Play Now |
| N/A | Hollywood Casino | N/A | N/A |
| N/A | Mountaineer Sportsbook | N/A | N/A |
| N/A | Wheeling Island | N/A | N/A |
| N/A | Mardi Gras | N/A | N/A |
How online casinos work in West Virginia
The launch of online gambling completed a journey that West Virginia has been traveling since lawmakers passed the West Virginia Lottery Interactive Wagering Act in early 2019. The bill became law on March 27, 2019, when Gov. Jim Justice let his legislative veto window pass without signing it.
More than a year later, on April 29, 2020, the West Virginia Lottery Commission, tasked with overseeing all types of gambling in the state, approved a set of emergency rules related to the launch of online casinos.
The licenses granted by the law gives holders the right to launch up to three online gambling sites offering online poker, online slots and online table games for a period of 270 days. Each operator is charged a $100,000 license fee; software providers must pay a $10,000 fee, and West Virginia will implement a 15% tax on gross online gambling revenue.
The West Virginia Legislature will have the opportunity to make the regulations permanent when they reconvene for the 2021 legislative session. However, with the interim rules in place, online casinos are already beginning to launch in the state.
Who is eligible for an iGaming license?
Only existing land-based West Virginia casinos can apply for master iGaming licenses. This includes:
However, each casino can operate up to three skins under its master license. That means online casino operators from outside WV are free to partner with West Virginia casinos to launch inside the state.
Who will regulate the casino industry?
The West Virginia Lottery Commission regulates the casino industry in West Virginia. It has also been tasked with providing oversight and running the licensing process for online gambling and online casinos in the state.
Taxes and licensing requirements for online casinos
Land-based casinos in WV can obtain a master license that allows them to operate up to three online casino skins. Each operation must pay a $100,000 license fee. Plus, software providers working with these casinos must pay a $10,000 fee to operate inside the state.
Once the online casinos are up and running, they will be required to pay the state a 15% tax on all gross online gambling revenue.
The road toward legal WV online casinos
West Virginia's path to legal online gambling started with online and mobile sports betting. The state authorized the launch of retail and online sportsbooks in 2018.
BetLucky, a partnership between Mardi Gras and Wheeling Island casino owner Delaware North and sports betting tech provider Mionmi, launched in December 2018. The pair also partnered on retail sports betting operations at Mardi Gras and Wheeling Island.
Charles Town Casino West Virginia
Then, a dispute arose between the partners resulting in the online and retail operations both closing abruptly in March 2019. It was around this same time that WV lawmakers passed the West Virginia Lottery Interactive Wagering Act. The bill, which authorized online casino gaming, became law on March 27, 2019, when Gov. Jim Justice let his legislative veto window pass. He did not sign the bill.
West Virginia Lottery officials spent the next year continuing to work mostly on mobile sports betting regulation. FanDuel Sportsbook and DraftKings Sportsbook received licenses and launched in August 2019. BetMGM has since launched, as well.
Delaware North also partnered with IGT to re-launch retail sports betting at Mardi Gras and Wheeling Island.
Then, on April 29, 2020, the West Virginia Lottery Commission finally approved a set of emergency rules to govern online casinos in the state.
The lottery commission sent these rules over to the West Virginia secretary of state for approval on May 15, 2020. The secretary of state has 42 days from May 15 to approve or reject the rules, which means interim licenses could be granted to West Virginia's first online casinos anytime from now through the beginning of July.
The WV casino market
Horse racing and pari-mutuel wagering have been popular in West Virginia since the 1930s.
In 1987, West Virginia allowed for video lottery terminal gaming to launch inside the Mountaineer Park racetrack.
By 1994, the West Virginia Racetrack Video Lottery Act passed, making the operation of video lottery terminals legal at all West Virginia race tracks in an effort to boost the local horse racing industry. The Mountaineer, Wheeling and Mardi Gras tracks all started running video lottery terminal casinos with over 1,200 video lottery machines that year.
Hollywood Casino West Virginia News Headlines
In 1997, the Hollywood Races and Slots facility opened at Charles Town Races, running a similar VLT operation. Best way to get good at online poker gambling.
In 2007, the Mountaineer and Wheeling facilities installed poker tables and eventually began running table games as well, including blackjack, Caribbean stud, craps, roulette, three-card poker and four-card poker.
Mardi Gras installed table games a year later, and by 2008 the Greenbrier launched with video lottery and table games as well.
The first West Virginia online casino launched in July 2020. DraftKings began accepting wagers as part of its partnership with Hollywood Casino Charles Town.
With the launch, West Virginia became the fourth state in the US to offer online casino play to its residents and visitors. The Mountain State joins Delaware, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania as locations for casino play through laptops and mobile devices.
As it happens, West Virginians can now access their favorite casino games through Android or Apple (iOS) devices. The app allows for both real money and demo play so that players can play at their preferred comfort levels.
DraftKings is unlikely to be the only game in town for very long. Both FanDuel and MGM already have inroads in the state, and their online products are already available elsewhere.
Nevertheless, you can enjoy online casino play in West Virginia right this second.
Online Casino Bonuses in West Virginia
One of the truths about running an online business of any type is that your competitors are only a click away. No business owners are more acutely aware of this fact than online casino operators.
So, in order to attract and retain players, online casinos will always have some sort of promotions or bonuses running. Since these bonuses often come with an opportunity for you to put hundreds of extra dollars into your casino bankroll, they are worthy of your attention.
So, below are explanations about the common types of online casino bonuses that you may find in West Virginia online casinos.
No deposit bonuses
One of the first types of bonuses that you might find is also one of the sweetest. It is possible to get money or free bets placed into your account without ever having to spend a dime. The no deposit bonus is always a good thing.
No deposit bonuses are pledges from the online casino to infuse a certain dollar amount into your player account. This amount is usually no more than about $20, and it may come in the form of free bets. However, there is rarely a time that you should not take advantage of this kind of bonus offer.
Risk-free bet
Another excellent type of promotion to grab if you see it is the risk-free bet. With this kind of bonus, the online casino will issue you a voucher for a wager of a certain amount that is good for betting on its games.
Now, there are a couple of things to keep in mind. The first thing is that the online casino may limit the games that you can use the risk-free bet to play. You should still use risk-free bets when they come along, but you might have to go outside your comfort zone to do so.
The second issue is that risk-free bets are usually indivisible and cannot be split to make multiple bets. Any unused portion will become void, so make sure to bet it all with these types of wagers.
However, risk-free bets are great things. There's a reason that this type of promotion and no-deposit bonuses are the most common types offered to new players. Don't ever miss out on them when they come around.
Deposit/match/reload
Deposit bonuses are quite common offers that you can find at most online casinos. In this type of bonus, the casino will match all or a portion of your deposit amount and put it into your account.
The only catch is that the casino will always require you to play through the amount before you can withdraw it as cash. In some cases, you need only wager through once, but some deposit bonuses require playthrough 50x the bonus amount.
Between the requirement and the time limit placed upon its redemption, you might find yourself in a bit of a bind to redeem a deposit bonus. However, not all deposit bonuses are impossible, so you should consider each offer carefully.
These bonuses are also called match bonuses from time to time. A casino might also offer a reload bonus to existing customers, but they are essentially identical to deposit bonuses.
Free spins
Free spin bonuses are quite similar to free bet bonuses, in that you are granted the ability to take part in a gambling game without paying anything. In a free spin bonus, the casino will present you with a certain number of slot machine spins that you can redeem at any time.
However, the casino will usually designate the slot machines eligible for the promotion, and they tend not to be the progressive machines with the highest jackpots. In some cases, a casino might have a special slot machine specifically set aside for the promotion.
There's really no reason not to use this promo, though. At worst, your only loss is the time you spend spinning.
Cashback
Whenever you gamble, there's always a chance that things won't work out. So, online casinos will sometimes offer to make things right if you lose. Cashback bonuses do exactly that. A cashback bonus will compensate all or a portion of your net losses during a certain period of time or on a certain game. The bonus will either be in the form of site credit, or it will be straight cash.
Either way, you'll have another bite at the apple. For the most part, these are a no-brainer.
Loyalty/rewards programs
In order to reward players who keep returning to their site, online casinos will often create a loyalty program or rewards scheme. These programs allow players to accrue points as they play normally.
Those points are redeemable for various prizes, perks, or benefits on the site. Those benefits can include free bets, cash, restaurant vouchers, or reservations at the casino's land-based partner. The more you play, the bigger your award.
Loyalty programs are almost always free to join. Since they exist in the background, make sure to sign up so that you can get extra spiffs when you're onsite.
How to play free and real money casino games
West Virginia online casinos will launch with hundreds of different games, as long as the West Virginia Lottery Commission approves.
The lottery commission will need to approve all games run by online casinos in WV. It will likely to stick to electronic versions of the same games already approved at land-based casinos across the state.
While the list of lottery commission-approved games will include a small variety of online table games and online poker variants, it is sure to be filled to the brim with online slots.
Here's a look at the games you can or will find in West Virginia online casinos:
Online slots
Slots are popular enough with the gambling public that they take up the majority of the floor space inside West Virginia land-based casinos. They will undoubtedly take up the most bandwidth at WV online casinos, as well.
Inside WV casinos, some of the classic reel one-armed bandits are still around, although most have been replaced by modern video slots with new gameplay features, bonus games and pop-culture themes.
The most popular of these slots have also made the move to online sites. Designers such as IGT, Bally and WMS have created online versions of their most popular titles at brick and mortar casinos.
That means West Virginia online casinos will feature dozens of these modern video slots, which are based on popular television, movie and musical themes with wild and scatter symbols and bonus games. Plus, there will be online versions of classic reel slots, too.
There are sure to be multi-denomination slots, penny slots, and high-roller slots. Some will come with fixed and others will have progressive jackpots. Slot english word meaning.
In fact, as time goes by, there will literally be hundreds of online slots for you to choose from at West Virginia casinos online.
Online blackjack
Blackjack is the most popular table game at WV casinos, and the game's popularity is bound to translate online. You'll probably find the same blackjack game you encounter at WV land-based casinos employed online.
The good news is that blackjack is played under player-friendly rules in WV with a return-to-player rate of 96.6%. In other words, the house advantage is only 3.4%.
The low-house edge is due to the following rules:
- Blackjack pays 3:2.
- Dealer stands on soft 17.
- Double down any cards.
- Double after splitting.
- Surrender available.
Online roulette and video poker
American roulette has a single and double zero slot, which almost doubles the house edge of European roulette and its single zero slot. In other words, if you want to play roulette online in West Virginia, we suggest you look around for European roulette.
Video poker has made the transition online in every state with online casinos.
The popular standards you play at brick and mortar casinos make it online in WV as well. That means multi-denominational and multi-hand versions of jacks or better, deuces wild and bonus poker should soon be available at WV online casinos.
Other online table games
Since you can find the following table games at WV land-based casinos, WV casino sites host online versions of the same games. The only real difference between the two is computerized random number generators determine the outcome of the games online, instead of dealers and playing cards.
- Three card poker
- Four card poker
- Pai gow poker
- Let it ride
- Mini baccarat
- Ultimate Texas Hold 'em
Games you won't find online in WV
The following games may one day be played at online casinos in West Virginia, but aren't available just yet.
Online craps
Craps is the most social game at WV casinos, but the social side of the game doesn't translate all that well online.
Simply put, online craps isn't as much fun as its live counterpart. The loss of the social aspect hurts the appeal of the game, and the speed at which the online game plays can make the tumbling dice difficult to follow.
Live dealer games
Live dealer games combine live casino games with online wagering. The games are run by real people inside live gaming studios. Real dealers run the action, online casinos put up a simulcast of it and you can bet on it through an online betting interface.
You can even interact with the dealers and other players as it happens. Online casinos offer the following live dealer games across the US:
- Blackjack
- Three-card poker
- Baccarat
- Casino hold 'em
- Roulette
However, WV online casinos aren't likely to offer live dealer casino games right away – mostly due to the cost of setting up a studio.
Casinos will more likely want to see what the market is like without live dealer games before determining if there is a big demand for these games. The size of the WV online gambling market may mean it is never financially feasible to run online live dealer games.
Most popular casino game developers
The top land-based slot and casino game developers in the world also build games for online casinos in the US. They include:
IGT Slots
International Gaming Technology is one of the biggest gambling companies in the world. Iconic IGT slot titles include Megabucks and Wheel of Fortune.
IGT is also a leader in pop-culture-themed slots and linked jackpot slots like its MegaJackpots series. Some of IGT's most popular slots include:
- Cleopatra
- Texas Tea
- Da Vinci Diamonds
- Wolf Run
- Monopoly
- Ghostbusters
- Sex and the City
- Jurassic Park
- Avatar
WMS Slots
WMS Industries has designed and built iconic slot titles like the Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory and James Bond 007-themed games.
WMS now operates under the Scientific Games umbrella, alongside Shuffle Master and Bally.
Some of its other popular slots include several Monopoly titles, Zeus and Kronos Unleashed. WMS is also responsible for themed slots such as:
- The Simpsons
- Mad Men
- Seinfeld
- Star Trek
- The Flintstones
Bally Slot Machines
Bally is an iconic American casino and gaming brand. Its most popular slots include the Quick Hit series, Triple Cash Wheel and Asian-themed slots like Lucky Tree and Fu Dao Le.
AGS Slots
American Gaming Systems is a Nevada-based live casino and online slot designer responsible for titles like:
- River Dragons
- Fire Wolf II
- Rakin' Bacon
AGS' Xtreme Jackpots linked-progressive series is also growing in popularity. It includes:
- Wolf Queen
- Winter of the Dragons
- Longhorn Jackpots
Konami slots
Konami is a video-game-turned-worldwide-slot-machine developer. It now creates original slots and games based on its popular video game licenses.
Some of Konami's hottest slots include:
- Dragon's Law Twin Fever
- Solstice Celebration
- Chili Chili Fire
- Lion Festival
- Castlevania
Deposit options and how to cash out winnings
Every West Virginia online casino operator wants to make it easy for you to get money into your online casino account. So, there are a wide variety of deposit and withdrawal options available to you.
Deposit options include:
- Credit and debit cards: Casinos take Visa, Mastercard and other major cards, provided the issuing institution approves of online gambling transactions.
- Electronic checks: E-checks allow you to link your bank account and online casino account through a clearinghouse.
- Online banking: Online banking transactions permit you to link your bank account and online casino account.
- Electronic wallets: E-wallets like PayPal and Skrill can be used for online casino transactions.
- Prepaid cards: The online casinos may issue their own or accept other companies' prepaid cards as deposit methods. Prepaid cards typically function in the same manner as a gift card.
- PayNearMe: PayNearMe transactions allow you to make cash deposits at 7-Eleven stores. You need only to let the PayNearMe software to generate a unique barcode for your transaction, then head to your nearest convenience store to complete the transaction.
For the most part, online casinos in West Virginia allow you to withdraw money the same way you deposited it. If that doesn't work, they issue you a check through the mail. Withdrawals may take a day or two on average.
WV casinos eligible for online gambling
Five casinos in West Virginia are eligible to offer online slots, blackjack and video poker.
Hollywood Casino at Charles Town Races
- Location: 750 Hollywood Drive, Charles Town, WV 25414
- Casino: 2,500 slot machines, 100 table games, 16-table poker room
- Owner/Operator: Penn National Gaming
- Mobile Sportsbook Operator: DraftKings Sportsbook
- Online Casino Partner:DraftKings Casino – Launched July 2020
Mountaineer Casino, Racetrack & Resort
- Location: 71420 Mountaineer Circle, New Cumberland, WV 26047
- Casino: 1,500 slot machines, 36 table games, 12-table poker room
- Owner/Operator: Century Casinos
- Retail Sportsbook Operator: William Hill
- Possible Online Casino Partners: William Hill, Bet365
Mardi Gras Casino & Resort
- Location: 1 Greyhound Drive, Cross Lanes, WV 25313
- Casino: 1,000 slot machines, 30 table games, 18-table poker room
- Owner/Operator: Delaware North
- Retail Sportsbook Operator: Betly powered by IGT
- Possible Online Casino Partner: IGT
Wheeling Island Hotel-Casino-Racetrack
- Location: 1 S. Stone St., Wheeling, WV 26003
- Casino: 2,000 slot machines, 40 table games, 20-table poker room
- Owner/Operator: Delaware North
- Retail Sportsbook Operator: Betly powered by IGT
- Possible Online Casino Partner: IGT
The Greenbrier Casino Club
- Location: 101 Main St. West, White Sulphur Springs, WV 24986
- Casino: 320 slot machines, 37 table games
- Owner/Operator: Justice Family Group, LLC
- Mobile Sportsbook Operators: FanDuel Sportsbook, BetMGM
- Possible Online Casino Partners:FanDuel Casino, Betfair, PokerStars, BetMGM Casino, Golden Nugget online casino
Which gambling sites are live in WV?
| Online Sportsbook | Land-Based Partner | Date Launched | |
|---|---|---|---|
| DraftKings | Hollywood Casino | Aug. 28, 2019 | Play Now |
| FanDuel | FanDuel at The Greenbrier | Sept. 13, 2019 | Play Now |
| BetMGM | The Greenbrier | Jan. 29, 2020 | Play Now |
| N/A | Hollywood Casino | N/A | N/A |
| N/A | Mountaineer Sportsbook | N/A | N/A |
| N/A | Wheeling Island | N/A | N/A |
| N/A | Mardi Gras | N/A | N/A |
How online casinos work in West Virginia
The launch of online gambling completed a journey that West Virginia has been traveling since lawmakers passed the West Virginia Lottery Interactive Wagering Act in early 2019. The bill became law on March 27, 2019, when Gov. Jim Justice let his legislative veto window pass without signing it.
More than a year later, on April 29, 2020, the West Virginia Lottery Commission, tasked with overseeing all types of gambling in the state, approved a set of emergency rules related to the launch of online casinos.
The licenses granted by the law gives holders the right to launch up to three online gambling sites offering online poker, online slots and online table games for a period of 270 days. Each operator is charged a $100,000 license fee; software providers must pay a $10,000 fee, and West Virginia will implement a 15% tax on gross online gambling revenue.
The West Virginia Legislature will have the opportunity to make the regulations permanent when they reconvene for the 2021 legislative session. However, with the interim rules in place, online casinos are already beginning to launch in the state.
Who is eligible for an iGaming license?
Only existing land-based West Virginia casinos can apply for master iGaming licenses. This includes:
However, each casino can operate up to three skins under its master license. That means online casino operators from outside WV are free to partner with West Virginia casinos to launch inside the state.
Who will regulate the casino industry?
The West Virginia Lottery Commission regulates the casino industry in West Virginia. It has also been tasked with providing oversight and running the licensing process for online gambling and online casinos in the state.
Taxes and licensing requirements for online casinos
Land-based casinos in WV can obtain a master license that allows them to operate up to three online casino skins. Each operation must pay a $100,000 license fee. Plus, software providers working with these casinos must pay a $10,000 fee to operate inside the state.
Once the online casinos are up and running, they will be required to pay the state a 15% tax on all gross online gambling revenue.
The road toward legal WV online casinos
West Virginia's path to legal online gambling started with online and mobile sports betting. The state authorized the launch of retail and online sportsbooks in 2018.
BetLucky, a partnership between Mardi Gras and Wheeling Island casino owner Delaware North and sports betting tech provider Mionmi, launched in December 2018. The pair also partnered on retail sports betting operations at Mardi Gras and Wheeling Island.
Charles Town Casino West Virginia
Then, a dispute arose between the partners resulting in the online and retail operations both closing abruptly in March 2019. It was around this same time that WV lawmakers passed the West Virginia Lottery Interactive Wagering Act. The bill, which authorized online casino gaming, became law on March 27, 2019, when Gov. Jim Justice let his legislative veto window pass. He did not sign the bill.
West Virginia Lottery officials spent the next year continuing to work mostly on mobile sports betting regulation. FanDuel Sportsbook and DraftKings Sportsbook received licenses and launched in August 2019. BetMGM has since launched, as well.
Delaware North also partnered with IGT to re-launch retail sports betting at Mardi Gras and Wheeling Island.
Then, on April 29, 2020, the West Virginia Lottery Commission finally approved a set of emergency rules to govern online casinos in the state.
The lottery commission sent these rules over to the West Virginia secretary of state for approval on May 15, 2020. The secretary of state has 42 days from May 15 to approve or reject the rules, which means interim licenses could be granted to West Virginia's first online casinos anytime from now through the beginning of July.
The WV casino market
Horse racing and pari-mutuel wagering have been popular in West Virginia since the 1930s.
In 1987, West Virginia allowed for video lottery terminal gaming to launch inside the Mountaineer Park racetrack.
By 1994, the West Virginia Racetrack Video Lottery Act passed, making the operation of video lottery terminals legal at all West Virginia race tracks in an effort to boost the local horse racing industry. The Mountaineer, Wheeling and Mardi Gras tracks all started running video lottery terminal casinos with over 1,200 video lottery machines that year.
Hollywood Casino West Virginia News Headlines
In 1997, the Hollywood Races and Slots facility opened at Charles Town Races, running a similar VLT operation. Best way to get good at online poker gambling.
In 2007, the Mountaineer and Wheeling facilities installed poker tables and eventually began running table games as well, including blackjack, Caribbean stud, craps, roulette, three-card poker and four-card poker.
Mardi Gras installed table games a year later, and by 2008 the Greenbrier launched with video lottery and table games as well.
Hollywood Races and Slots became the Hollywood Casino in 2010, and the Greenbrier got the authorization to run a full-scale casino as well.
Hollywood Casino West Va
Almost a decade later, in early 2019 WV lawmakers passed online gambling legislation allowing WV casino to go online.
WYOMISSING, Pa.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Penn National Gaming, Inc. (NASDAQ: PENN) ('Penn National' or the 'Company') announced today that pursuant to an order from Governor Jim Justice, it will temporarily suspend operations at Hollywood Casino at Charles Town Races beginning tonight at midnight as a precautionary measure against the ongoing spread of COVID-19. The Governor will be continuing to work with the state's licensed casinos, as well as local, state and federal health authorities to determine safe protocols for when operations may resume.
Hollywood Casino West Virginia Sportsbook
'The health and well-being of our guests and team members will always be our paramount concern,' said Jay Snowden, President and CEO of Penn National Gaming. 'Since the coronavirus threat began, we have implemented stringent CDC-recommended protocols throughout our enterprise, including increased daily cleaning regimens, maximizing air circulation, cancelling or postponing all live events, and we're in the process of reducing the number of chairs at our dining facilities, table games and poker rooms, as well as the number of slot machines in play at any one time, to increase social distancing, among other initiatives.
'As for our nearly 1,300 team members at Hollywood Casino Hotel at Charles Town Races who will be impacted by this temporary closure, we plan to continue to pay their wages and benefits through the end of March. In addition, we'll be donating perishable food items to the Jefferson County Community Ministries and other local organizations.
'This is a challenging time for all of us, and we are very appreciative of the overwhelming support and understanding from our guests and team members. We look forward to reopening our doors just as soon as possible. In the meantime, we will be taking the opportunity to continue our deep cleaning efforts and preparing our casino to welcome our loyal customers back,' concluded Mr. Snowden.
About Penn National Gaming
Hollywood Casino West Virginia News Today
Penn National Gaming owns, operates or has ownership interests in 41 gaming and racing properties in 19 jurisdictions and video gaming terminal operations with a focus on slot machine entertainment. We also offer live sports betting at our properties in Indiana, Iowa, Mississippi, Pennsylvania and West Virginia. In total, Penn National's properties feature approximately 50,000 gaming machines, 1,300 table games and 8,800 hotel rooms. In addition, the Company operates an interactive gaming division through its subsidiary, Penn Interactive Ventures, LLC, which recently launched iGaming in Pennsylvania and, through strategic partnerships, operates online sports betting in Indiana, Pennsylvania and West Virginia. The Company also has a leading customer loyalty program, mychoice, with over five million active customers.
Forward-looking Statements
Hollywood Casino West Virginia News Release
All statements included in this press release, other than historical information or statements of historical fact, are 'forward-looking statements' within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements, including statements regarding COVID-19, the length of time Penn National's casino in West Virginia will be required to remain closed and the impact of these or other potential closures on Penn National and its stakeholders are subject to risks, uncertainties and changes in circumstances that could significantly affect the Company's future financial results and business. Accordingly, Penn National cautions that the forward-looking statements contained herein are qualified by important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those reflected by such statements. For more information on the potential factors that could affect the Company's financial results and business, review the Company's filings with the SEC, including, but not limited to, its Annual Report on Form 10-K and its Current Reports on Form 8-K. The Company does not intend to update publicly any forward-looking statements except as required by law. In light of these risks, uncertainties and assumptions, the forward-looking events discussed in this press release may not occur.
