Gambling Age In West Virginia
- Gambling Age In West Virginia
- What Is The Gambling Age In West Virginia
- Minimum Gambling Age In West Virginia
- Legal Gambling Age In West Virginia
- Gambling Age In West Virginia
- What is the legal minimum age to play at online casinos? Legal minimum ages vary from online casino to online casino, however their requirement is that the higher of the player’s jurisdiction the the online casino’s own legal minimum is taken to be the determine age limit. Therefore, for West Virginia players the legal minimum age is 21.
- When it comes to the legal gambling age, you should know that in West Virginia, a player must be at least 18 years old to play the lottery, bingo, and racing; while players must have a minimum gambling age of 21 years old for video lottery and casino gambling.
- West Virginia gambling laws allow land-based casinos to offer in-person and online poker. In-person poker came to WV in 2007 through a law allowing each of the state’s four racetracks to offer table games such as poker, blackjack and so on.
West Virginia AMBER Alerts Receive AMBER Alerts on missing children based on your state of residence. West Virginia County and State Taxes This service reminds you when your county/state tax payments and assessments are due. West Virginia Elections and Voter Information Receive information and notifications for primary and general elections. The legal gambling age in North Carolina for video game gambling is 18 years of age. However the gambling age for a casino is North Carolina is 21. What is the legal smoking age in west Virginia?
Introduction to West Virginia Slot Machine Casino Gambling in 2020
West Virginia slot machine casino gambling consists of five casinos including one casino resort and four racetracks with slot machines. Many retailers have a few video lottery terminals.
The West Virginia state legislature has two sets of minimum and maximum theoretical payout limits depending upon the location of the gaming machine. Limited return statistics are available annually.
This post continues my weekly State-By-State Slot Machine Casino Gambling Series, an online resource dedicated to guiding slot machine casino gambler to success. Now in its third year, each weekly post reviews slots gambling in a single U.S. state, territory, or federal district.
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Relevant Legal Statutes on Gambling in West Virginia*
The minimum legal gambling age in West Virginia depends upon the gambling activity:
- Land-Based Casinos: 21
- Poker Rooms: 21
- Bingo: 18
- Lottery: 18
- Pari-Mutuel Wagering: 21
In 1994, West Virginia legalized video lottery terminals at their thoroughbred and greyhound racetracks. In 1999, West Virginia began allowing physical reel slot machines at licensed racetracks.
Machine restrictions at these pari-mutuel wagering facilities include approval by the local county and having only:
- Slots
- Blackjack
- Keno
- Many versions of poker
In 2001, West Virginia passed the Limited Video Lottery Act allowing bars and restaurants to have up to five video lottery terminals (VLTs) and fraternal organizations to have up to ten VLTs. The Act also restricted the state to a total of 9,000 VLTs.
*The purpose of this section is to inform the public of state gambling laws and how the laws might apply to various forms of gaming. It is not legal advice.
Slot Machine Private Ownership in West Virginia
It is legal to own a slot machine privately in West Virginia.
Gaming Control Board in West Virginia
The West Virginia Lottery Commission controls VLT gaming regulations. This lottery was created in 1984 by amending the Constitution of West Virginia with Article VI, Section 36.
Afterward, West Virginia legalized VLTs with subsequent amendments, acts, rules, and statutes. Each statute is available in the West Virginia Lottery’s Rules and Regulations.
Casinos in West Virginia
There are four pari-mutuel racetracks and one casino resort in West Virginia, where their slot machines have 18 different games. In 2019, 1,303 commercial retailers each had between five and ten VLTs, offering eleven games.
The largest casino in West Virginia is Hollywood Casino at Charles Town Races with 2,500 slot machines.
The second-largest casino is Mountaineer Casino Racetrack & Resort with 1,525 slot machines.
Commercial Casinos in West Virginia
The four pari-mutuel racetracks with slot machines in West Virginia are:
- Hollywood Casino at Charles Town Races in Charles Town, 320 miles northeast of Charleston.
- Mardi Gras Casino & Resort in Cross Lanes, 10 miles northwest of Charleston.
- Mountaineer Casino Racetrack & Resort in New Cumberland, 35 miles north of Wheeling.
- Wheeling Island Hotel Casino Racetrack in Wheeling.
The single casino resort in West Virginia is:
- The Casino Club at The Greenbrier in White Sulphur Springs, 120 miles southeast of Charleston
Gambling Age In West Virginia
Tribal Casinos in West Virginia
West Virginia has no federally-recognized tribes and, therefore, no tribal casinos.
Other Gambling Establishments
As an alternative to enjoying West Virginia slot machine casino gambling, consider exploring casino options in a nearby state. Bordering West Virginia is:
- North: Maryland Slots and Pennsylvania Slots
- East and South: Virginia Slots
- West: Kentucky Slots and Ohio Slots
Each of the links above will take you to my blog for that neighboring U.S. state to West Virginia.
Our West Virginia Slots Facebook Group
Are you interested in sharing and learning with other slots enthusiasts in West Virginia? If so, join our West Virginia slots community on Facebook. All you’ll need is a Facebook profile to join this closed Facebook Group freely.
There, you’ll be able to privately share your slots experiences as well as chat with players about slots gambling in West Virginia. Join us!
Payout Returns in West Virginia
West Virginia has two sets of theoretical payout limits including:
- Racetracks and casino resort: 80% and 99.9%
- Commercial retailers: 80% and 92% (or 95%, if approved)
Retailers must obtain individual permissions to have a greater than 92% payout. These high payout terminals must obtain Commission approval twice, including:
Written consent prior to manufacturing
Approval before applying for testing
From its 2019 Annual Report, the Commission reported the annual return statistics in West Virginia to be:
- Casino resort: 92.5%
- Racetracks: 89.6%
- Commercial Retailers: 92.1%
Summary of West Virginia Slot Machine Casino Gambling in 2020
West Virginia slot machine casino gambling consists of one casino resort, four racetracks, and 1,303 retailers with VLT-style gaming machines. Retailers may have up to five VLTs if a bar or tavern, and up to ten VLTs if a fraternal organization. Up to 18 different games are available on these VLTs, including slot machine game themes.
The minimum theoretical payout is 80% for all VLTs. The maximum theoretical payout is 99.9% for casinos, but 92% for retailers. With permissions, retailers can obtain a 95% maximum theoretical payout for specific VLT machines.
What Is The Gambling Age In West Virginia
Annual Progress in West Virginia Slot Machine Casino Gambling
Minimum Gambling Age In West Virginia
Over the last year, there has been no change in the West Virginia gaming industry.
Legal Gambling Age In West Virginia
Other State-By-State Articles from Professor Slots
- Previous: Washington Slot Machine Casino Gambling
- Next: Wisconsin Slot Machine Casino Gambling
Gambling Age In West Virginia
Have fun, be safe, and make good choices!
By Jon H. Friedl, Jr. Ph.D., President
Jon Friedl, LLC