West Virginia Online Gambling
West Virginia recently ushered in a new era for West Virginia gambling. The West Virginia Lottery Interactive Wagering Act automatically became law on March 27, 2019, when Gov. Jim Justice let the veto window pass.
The law legalizes online casino gambling in West Virginia, providing one license for each of the five casinos, and three skins or brands per casino.
West Virginia gambling apps
West Virginia sports betting opened up when FanDuel Sportsbook and DraftKings Sportsbook each launched an online sportsbook and sports betting app in 2019. BetMGM Sportsbook joined them in 2020.
You can now legally bet on sports in WV at retail locations within WV casinos, and via the online sportsbooks and apps. For more on NFL and college football betting in WV, see our guides here:
DraftKings Sportsbook WV
DraftKings Sportsbook announced in late December of 2018 that it partnered with Hollywood Casino to bring mobile sports betting to West Virginia, and launched its sportsbook app for WV bettors in August of 2019.
FanDuel Sportsbook WV
FanDuel operates the retail sports betting operations for The Greenbrier. The FanDuel Sportsbook at The Greenbrier opened its betting windows on Sept. 13, 2018.
The partnership now extends into the world of mobile sports betting, with the launch of FanDuel Sportsbook WV bringing sports betting access to residents throughout the Mountain State.
BetMGM Sportsbook WV
BetMGM Sportsbook is the third online sportsbook to open its doors in West Virginia. It went live on January 22, 2020.
BetMGM is the result of a partnership between MGM Resorts International and GVC Holdings. The site is open in West Virginia as the second sportsbook under The Greenbrier’s license.
Caesars Sportsbook WV
Mountaineer Casino originally partnered with UK sportsbook William Hill for its land-based sportsbook and launched in Nov. 2018. The online sportsbook came along shortly after and was re-branded as Caesars Sportsbook after the William Hill and Caesars merged in 2021.
Launch dates for WV online sportsbooks
| Online partner | Online launch date | Retail launch date | Retail sportsbook | WV sportsbook |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DraftKings WV Sportsbook | Aug. 28, 2019 | NA | NA | Hollywood Casino Sportsbook |
| FanDuel Sportsbook WV | Aug. 26, 2019 | Sept. 13, 2018 | FanDuel Sportsbook at The Greenbrier | The Casino Club at The Greenbrier |
| BetMGM Sportsbook | January 22, 2020 | NA | NA | The Casino Club at The Greenbrier |
| Caesars Sportsbook | September 4, 2020 | NA | NA | Mountaineer Casino |
West Virginia online casino launch dates
Again, it was DraftKings that was first to go live with an online casino app in the state called DraftKings WV Casino, partnering again with Hollywood Casino at Charles Town Races for a July 2020 launch.
It was followed by BetMGM Casino WV, in a partnership with The Greenbrier, in August 2020. Over a year later and following the William Hill rebrand to Caesars, Caesars Casino is now available for online gaming.
All five WV casinos will likely apply for an online license at some point. The WV Lottery opened applications for the process in June of 2020, so not all of the casinos may have had time to work out a partnership with an online casino or sportsbook brand yet.
Here are some of the possibilities for future WV real money casinos:
Betfair Online Casino
Paddy Power Betfair acquired FanDuel in 2018, providing the sportsbook access to one of the more popular casino platforms. FanDuel partnered with The Greenbrier for its retail sports betting operation. Mobile sports betting and online casino gambling is just speculation at this stage.
PokerStars Online Casino
PokerStars Online Casino from the global online poker giant will likely look for a way to enter the West Virginia online gambling market. If it does, it will almost certainly be the one of the most popular online poker apps in WV. The company has made its plans known to pursue legal and regulated gaming markets as they become available.
Hollywood Online Casino
Owned by Penn National, Hollywood Casino can probably have its pick of online casino partners. It has inked a mobile sports betting partnership with DraftKings and its awaiting approval from regulators. Additionally, in Pennsylvania, Penn National is working with IGT to bring online casino games to Hollywood Casino in Grantville, PA.
Wheeling Island Online Casino
Delaware North, the owner of Wheeling Island Casino is currently looking for a new sports betting partner. It would make sense that they would also be looking for an online casino partner.
Mardi Gras Online Casino
Mardi Gras Casino is also owned by Delaware North. Providing operations for two online casinos might be enticing enough to lure some other popular casino platforms to the state.
Projected launch dates for WV online casinos
| WV casino | Existing online partner | Launch | Application status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hollywood Casino at Charles Town Races | DraftKings Casino | July 2020 | Approved |
| Mountaineer Casino, Racetrack & Resort | Caesars | Sept 2020 | Approved |
| The Casino Club at The Greenbrier | BetMGM Casino | August 2020 | Approved |
| Mardi Gras Casino & Resort | TBD | TBD | TBD |
| Wheeling Island Hotel | TBD | TBD | TBD |
What did the West Virginia online casino bill legalize?
HB 2934 allows WV online casinos to operate games similar to those offered in land-based casinos.
Games such as:
- Table games
- Online poker
- Video lottery (WV online slots)
Tax rates and licensing fees
The initial version of the bill set the online casino revenue tax at 10%, the same as online sports betting.
However, during the process, some legislators sought higher rates of taxation. Eventually, the law passed with online casino games revenue taxed at 15%.
Online gaming license will cost each operator $250,000 and are valid for five years. Licenses can be renewed for a fee of $100,000.
Gambling history
West Virginia’s earliest sports betting app, BetLucky Sportsbook, suspended operations in 2019, and hasn’t resumed yet.
On March 6, 2019, online sports betting in West Virginia came to a sudden halt due to a contract dispute between Delaware North and its sports betting provider, Miomni.
The shutdown also found Mardi Gras Casino Sportsbook and Wheeling Island Sportsbook with closed betting windows.
Delaware North, the owner of the West Virginia sportsbooks, announced it was severing its contract with Miomni, which makes it unlikely that BetLucky will return to the Mountain State. Presumably, Delaware North is still looking for another sportsbook and online gambling partner for its two WV casinos.