The West Virginia Lottery Interactive Wagering Act arrived on Governor Jim Justice’s desk on March 9th and was allowed to become law without his signature. West Virginia became the fourth U.S. state to legalize online casino gaming on March 27, 2019. Then, the lottery was tasked with establishing regulations and the licensing process. After taking some time to get the necessary groundwork in place, online casinos were officially launched on July 15, 2020.
The West Virginia Lottery is responsible for overseeing the state’s iGaming operations. Meaning, no legal online casino or sportsbook can accept a bet without permission from the Lottery Commission.
All brick-and-mortar casinos are eligible to host online casino sites on their gaming license. For the licensing, the operator will need to pay an application fee of $250,000, along with an additional $100,000 every five years for renewal. Moreover, there is also a service provider fee of $100,000.
The WV online casinos must pay a very reasonable 15% tax on generated revenues, which is far less than some other states.
The minimum gambling age in West Virginia is 18 for racing, bingo, and lottery games and 21 for casino-style games and sports betting. Playing on offshore sites is illegal and will be classified as a misdemeanor.