Clock Strikes Midnight: WV Casinos Suspend Operations To Fight Coronavirus

Written By Bill Gelman on March 20, 2020 – Last Updated on March 21, 2024

Until further notice, casinos in West Virginia are currently closed.

Dubbed as the most recent preventive measure, it aims to effectively decelerate the spread of COVID-19.

On Tuesday evening, West Virginia Governor Jim Justice declared his official announcement, stating that the executive order would come into effect at midnight.

The order pertains to the five casinos in the Mountain State.

There is currently no destination for West Virginia casino customers eager to engage in slot or table game activities.

Online casinos are not a fallback option, unlike Pennsylvania or New Jersey.

Although West Virginia’s online gambling law has been approved, the anticipated launch is set for Spring 2021.

How long will WV casinos be closed?

Answering this question is difficult because everything is currently at a standstill.

The Greenbrier intends to resume operations on Friday, April 17, although it is subject to potential changes.

This is the complete statement:

The Mountaineer Casino has decided to temporarily close until further notice.

Mardi Gras Casino & Resort extended its operating hours until noon on March 18 to cater to the needs of its hotel guests.

Below is a short excerpt of the online message from GM Eric Althaus:

Up until now, our efforts have focused on safeguarding public health through adherence to CDC guidelines regarding sanitization protocols and thorough cleaning practices within our venue. We will maintain ongoing communication with health officials at the State and County levels, and we eagerly anticipate the reopening of our property to ensure the continuation of a clean and secure environment.

WV sports betting status check

The suspension of West Virginia casinos puts a temporary stop to retail sports betting as well.

The COVID-19 pandemic has had an impact on almost every industry at this stage.

This encompasses both the realm of college and professional sports.

Operations of professional sports organizations such as the NBA, NHL, MLB, and others have been temporarily halted.

The Big 12 Conference and NCAA Tournaments were both completely canceled, leaving the West Virginia University Mountaineers basketball teams without the opportunity to participate.

However, West Virginia gamblers are not entirely isolated, thanks to the availability of online sports betting.

You can access the most recent odds through these applications.

Although the current sports betting market is highly restricted, there are active possibilities for future growth.

DraftKings and other operators are accepting bets on the NCAA football Big 12 Conference championship, which includes the Mountaineers. Both West Virginia and Baylor have odds of +1800 for winning the championship.

Here’s a comparison of West Virginia with some other teams:

Oklahoma -143
Texas +175
Oklahoma State +450
Iowa State +1000

When it comes to the reopening of casinos, similar to all other aspects affected by the coronavirus, it is crucial to exhibit a high level of patience.