Casinos in West Virginia

The Best Casino in West Virginia

The Biggest Casinos in West Virginia

Are There Tribal Casinos in West Virginia?

Tribal casinos are those on Indian reservations that are owned, run, managed, and regulated by the governing body of the respective tribe. Tribal casinos are normally established by a tribe or conglomerate of tribes as a way of generating revenue that then supports the community by being allocated to things such as education, healthcare, job creation, and more. West Virginia does not play host to any Tribal casinos but offers four fantastic racinos and a commercial casino you’re bound to love.

Racinos

A ‘racino’ is a casino based around a race track that hosts regular horse races for para-mutual wagering as well as certain types of casino gaming. The racinos available in West Virginia give you the opportunity to witness horse races in person. This is a one-of-a-kind experience that is not available at most gambling venues. Of course, you can also try your luck at traditional casino games if you wish.

Of the four WV racinos, two stood out with an excellent betting service and the adjoining casino facilities. Specifically, the racinos in Charles Town and New Cumberland have been on the radar of any avid horse racing fan since they opened for business. Therefore, it is only logical for us to recommend them.

Are There Cruise Ship or Riverboat Casinos in West Virginia?

Riverboat and cruise ship casinos are a special kind of gambling business operated on a ship or another type of vessel. These came about as means to skirt local gambling laws in states where gambling was illegal. There was some variation in how they were run, but they were prevalent in jurisdictions where casinos were not available.

West Virginia has no need for such workarounds since casino gaming is fully regulated and legal. As such, gamblers can freely visit a venue of their choice without having to leave dry land. If you want to experience the joys of playing slots or table games out at sea, you can find plenty of cruises in neighbouring states. Virginia Beach, VA, is the docking location of several such cruises.

Full West Virginia Casino List

All five establishments for gambling in West Virginia have been listed below. Four of them are racinos, offering both horse racing and casino gambling, as well as other gaming products. Looking at the different casinos, we see that certain ones are aimed at particular players. Generally, most casinos are open between 09:00 AM to 04:00 AM, except The Greenbrier, which has varying working hours.

If you are thinking of visiting one of these resorts, we advise checking its location on the West Virginia casinos map. Additionally, we would also pay attention to the number and types of games available, as well as the accommodation offers.

Expected New Casinos

Currently, there are no plans for opening any new venues in West Virginia gambling cities. However, there has been a significant development recently. The state legalized web based gambling in 2019, and 2020 saw the launch of the first West Virginia casino sites. This is major news for WV gamblers, as they can now play from their desktop and mobile devices.

Gambling in West Virginia

Gambling in West Virginia is perfectly legal, provided that you visit a licensed operator. The state currently permits all major forms of gambling, including casino gaming, sports betting, poker, and more. To obtain a permit, the operator must comply with responsible gambling policies.

To gamble at casinos, a WV resident needs to be 21 years old. However, the minimum age requirement for pari-mutuel and charitable gambling is only 18 years. See more important details in the table below:

Casino Games in West Virginia

West Virginia casinos offer many different and unique games, such as slots, Craps, blackjack, and more. You can also take part in betting as well as a number of charitable games and the state lottery. The best part about playing these games in WV is that, except for the lottery, you won’t be taxed on your winnings from any of them! Here’s a compilation of games and notable details of each.

Gambling Legal Situation in West Virginia

Taxation of Winnings

West Virginia does not tax individuals on winnings made from gambling at a casino. The only taxable winnings are those made from the state lottery if the prize is above $5000. In this case, WV takes 6.5% as state tax in addition to the standard 24% federal income tax. For more on the federal tax, visit our homepage where we have a dedicated section on the taxation of gambling winnings.

West Virginia Gambling Laws

The West Virginia state law is very tolerant of gambling compared to many other states and has been for a long time. Just about all forms of gambling are legal in West Virginia, including casino gaming, sports betting, horse and dog racing, poker, charitable gambling, and iGaming. WV has proven to be one of the most liberal states when it comes to the gambling industry. Below, we have outlined some of the most important gambling laws:

History

West Virginia has been on the gambling map for almost a hundred years already. Compared to other states, WV’s gaming history is fairly colourful due to the states more relaxed pre-disposition towards the idea of gambling and the laws that regulate it. Here’s a play-by-play of all the developments that mattered in West Virginia’s gaming history.

• 1931: Horse races and greyhound races were both legalised.
• 1984: People voted in favor of the state lottery and it was established. For ten years only normal tickets could be bought, but a decade after its founding, the lottery allowed for video tickets too. Following this, slots and video poker were permitted at the then four racetracks which later became full racino facilities.
• 1994-2001: After the legalization of video poker in 1994, the terminals quickly spread throughout the state in bars, restaurants, and other places.
• 2007: In 2007, live poker and table games were made legal and the existing casinos were given permission to offer them at their facilities.
• 2018: In March of 2018, sports betting was also legalized by the West Virginia state government. One year later the online gambling was legalized.

Upcoming Changes in the Gambling Regulation

West Virginia has proven to be quite liberal where it concerns gambling. It is one of a handful of states to permit every major type of gambling – both online and at land-based venues. As of 2021, WV gamblers can legally take part in casino gaming, sports betting, horse race betting, poker, and more. Operators are licensed by the local West Virginia Lottery Commission. The only significant change we can expect is an increase in the number of available licenses.