West Virginia Online Casinos
Over the past few decades, West Virginia has been increasing its gambling options to players in the state. It was also one of the first states to pass a sports betting bill, while other states stayed in limbo and increasing demand for better gambling options. Now that online gambling has become a growing trend, players are looking to online casino gambling.
Currently, players in the state can participate in gambling games like charitable bingo and raffles, pari-mutuel betting, the state lottery, video lottery games, and non-traditional casinos within racetrack establishments.
What Online Casinos are Available in West Virginia?
| CASINO | RATING | BONUS | PLAY | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 
Vegas Casino Online | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
| 400% up to $10,000 Welcome Bonus | PLAY NOW |
| 2 | 
Slots Empire | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
| 220% up to $1,000 Welcome Bonus | PLAY NOW |
| 3 | 
El Royale Casino | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
| 250% up to $12,500 Welcome Bonus | PLAY NOW |
| 4 | 
Red Dog Casino | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
| 225% up to $1,000 Welcome Bonus | PLAY NOW |
| 5 | 
Slots.lv | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
| 200% up to $1,000 Welcome Bonus | PLAY NOW |
Is Online Gambling Legal in West Virginia?
West Virginia is one of the most progressive states for online gambling. Currently, players can participate in online casino gambling through authorized sites that are connected to the most popular land-based casinos like The Greenbrier Casino Club, Hollywood Casino Charles Town, and Wheeling Island Casino Racetrack. Most of the casinos will have an online casino site for games and casino information. Some also have the right to offer sports betting online.
Players in the state can also participate in online lottery, pari-mutuel betting, and daily fantasy sports through authorized sites that are regulated by the state lottery.
Since there are still few options available to players, there is also growing interest in offshore casinos sites, as they often have larger collections of games, not to mention all of the latest titles for slots and table games.
West Virginia Offshore Casino Statistics
West Virginia is the 39th most active state that participates in offshore online gambling at casinos as of 2020 with a gross win amount of $4.47m. West Virginia contributes to 0.35% of all offshore casino activity in the United States for 2020.
Click here to see a breakdown of all offshore gambling activity broken down by state. The following is a breakdown of all offshore casino gambling from West Virginia since 2003.
| Year | 2003 | 2004 | 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 | 2011 |
| Gross Win | $4.08m | $4.89m | $6.24m | $7.57m | $4.81m | $4.84m | $4.79m | $4.75m | $4.48m |
| Year | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020* |
| Gross Win | $4.40m | $4.32m | $4.14m | $3.73m | $3.48m | $3.48m | $3.47m | $3.31m | $4.47m |
*Note: Data from 2020 are currently based on estimates.
Source – H2 Gambling Capital
Offshore gambling statistics for sports betting from West Virginia can be found here.
Which Is Better – A Land-based or Online Casino?
West Virginians are lucky in the fact that they have a choice of land-based and online casino gambling. Unlike many other states that are behind the curve for opening up the market to players, WV is on the right track to stay competitive with other states that are very open to gambling.
Land-based Casinos
Although there are not too many land-based casino options available in the state, there are a few casinos that are joined with racetracks, and they are designed to have a little something for everyone. From the standard casino games to pari-mutuel betting and sportsbooks, the casinos will also have bars and restaurants with live shows for even more entertainment.
Some casinos will have membership options for anyone who plans to regularly participate in the races or casino gaming, and they are a great choice to earn extra benefits just for being a loyal member. Although each casino is free to choose what type of promotions they run and how frequently they will be offered, players who often attend will be able to get something extra in their gameplay.
Online Casinos
Just like brick and mortar casinos, online casinos will have an array of games like slots, blackjack, roulette, craps, poker, baccarat, and more. Unlike land-based casinos that are limited in the type or number of games it can offer players (generally due to space restrictions), online casinos can easily grow their game offers to thousands of games, with all the latest titles being regularly added when they are released.
The very fact that online casinos can be accessed from the comfort of home is what makes them incredibly attractive options for anyone who might have a hard time traveling to a land-based racetrack-casino.
Just as traditional casinos have a membership for special offers and promotions, so do online casinos. They often have regular offers for site members to stay competitive in the market, but also give players rewards to give them an edge in the games they normally play. Along with special offers, many sites will also have regular tournaments for community members. The tournaments are a chance to play extra challenges and earn prizes that normally would not be available.
How to Find the Best West Virginia Online Casinos
There are thousands of different online casinos that are available to players from the US, and each one will have something unique that will be appealing to new members. Although it would be nice if all sites were legitimate and fair, this sadly is not the case.
To get the best experience online and join one of the best casinos available, there are a few things to look out for:
Sites with an Online Gambling License
Any site that offers real money gambling will have to have an online gambling license. No matter where the casino is based, there are a handful of jurisdictions that are able to provide a license to legally allow gambling to players.
The most common jurisdictions for casinos that cater to players from the US are Costa Rica, Gibraltar, Antigua and Barbuda, Isle of Man, Panama, and Malta. If a site has a license from a different location, a quick check online can confirm if they are legit or not.
Good Payment Options
Online casinos want to give each player a great experience and easy options for deposits and withdrawals. No matter where the site might be based, it will have good payment options to make every transaction quick, so players have more time on the games instead.
US players can expect one or more of the following:
- Wire transfers
- Major credit cards
- Prepaid Cards
- Cryptocurrency
Before signing up to a casino group, players can always check the help pages to see which banking options are accepted to ensure there is something they are familiar with or have an account with.
How Can I Stay Safe Gambling for Real Money Online?
As with anything online, there are some precautions that should be taken to ensure player information is always secure and that they are in a good position to enjoy games with a chance to win big. Safety online is also important because there will be regular money transactions made for deposits and withdrawals.
To stay safe while gambling online, players should keep in mind the following:
Learn the Games
This might seem obvious but knowing the ins and outs of a game will give players the best chance to win and help them avoid any issues with bets (i.e. spending way too much, too quickly). Take the time to read through game instructions along with conditions that might be connected to particular games. This is especially important when participating in casino tournaments against other site members.
Read the Terms and Conditions
It is common for people to skip the terms and conditions for any company, especially since they are introduced and changed regularly in life, but reading them can help players get an edge in gameplay, and keep them safe from potential issues down the line.
When players first join a casino and when new bonus offers are introduced, they will get a set of terms and conditions that pros always recommend reading thoroughly. If there are any points that are vague or confusing, players are also free to contact customer support to get more information before jumping into a game.
Set a Gambling Limit
Gambling online is fun, quick, and very easy to do. Most games are designed to have simple rules and game controls so that everyone can pick it up within minutes. The problem that some players face is that simple, fast-paced games make it easy to spend money quickly unless players pay close attention to their accounts.
Experts who love to gamble online will always recommend setting aside a good budget for gambling, but also one that will be within each player’s means. Gambling online should be fun and exciting, and the best way to keep it that way is by only spending a comfortable amount that is not designated to anything else.
FAQ
Players in West Virginia can easily and conveniently place bets on Bovada. The site is regulated offshore, giving players an opportunity to gamble online without breaking any state or federal laws.
Anyone wanting to participate in charitable gambling (bingo, raffles, lottery) or pari-mutuel betting will have to be a minimum of 18 years of age. Some charitable games allow minors as long as they are accompanied by a parent or legal guardian. Anyone wanting to place a sports bet, video lottery, or play in a casino will have to be at least 21 years of age.
In short, yes. West Virginia was one of the first to legalize sports betting and bring it online for convenience. Although there are still just a few authorized online sites that players can be on sports, there are some offshore online casinos that can also give them a wide variety of sports to bet on. Players in WV also have the option to play in daily fantasy sports online through authorized sites.
The amount any player can win in a casino game depends on several factors: the type of game being played, the type of bet, and what the maximum winning amount is available in the game. While some games can earn players a few hundred dollars, there are some, especially jackpot slots that can get players winnings in the millions.
Always read the terms and conditions of the games and try to take advantage of special bonus offers that could help gain bigger winnings from casino gaming.
