Tax amendment to include iGaming in West Virginia

A committee is pushing an amendment that would include online gambling legislation, should it pass.

US.- West Virginia has already legalised sports betting, but has yet to legalise online gambling activities. However, the West Virginia House Judiciary Committee is pushing a bill to legalise online gambling through an amendment, requiring operators to pay a higher rate of tax than the one it was first introduced with.

The West Virginia Lottery Interactive Wagering Act (H2934) is set to approve legal, online poker, slots, table games and other services at selected venues across West Virginia. It also proposed a 10% tax for licence-holders from adjusted gross interactive wagering receipts weekly, but the percentage was recently raised to 15%.

However, that’s the only part of the bill that has been changed since it was discussed, as operational licences will be worth US$250k and will last for five years, with a US$100k renewal fee.

Though it would mean a major step for the state, only the four racetrack casinos in West Virginia and the Greenbrier resort would able to apply for one of these licences. Still, the bill was designed to open up the market to further licensees in the future.