Online gaming in West Virginia, cleared to go live

Governor Jim Justice signed a bill into Law and cleared online gaming in West Virginia to begin casino and poker operations.

US.- House Bill 2934 has been signed into Law by Governor Jim Justice, allowing online gaming in West Virginia to go live. The new legislation clears casino and poker operations to launch online in the state after it passed both chambers in the Legislature.

The new Law, also branded West Virginia Lottery Interactive Wagering Act, was introduced in February. The House of Delegates first approved it and then the Senate did as well, after amending it and sending it to the governor’s desk.

Five land-based casinos will be allowed to apply for one of five permits to offer online gaming in West Virginia. They will receive a licence to operate casino and poker permits, after the state became the fifth in the nation to legalise the segment.

Licences will cost US$250k and have a renewal fee set at US$100k, to be paid every five years. The state will charge a further US$100k for platform and service management licences and US$10k for supplier licences.

All five casinos already operate sports betting and are expected to expand their offerings to include online casino and poker. However, there was no timeline set for such operations yet.

“We have made great steps thus far in providing greater flexibility for the gaming industry in West Virginia, and I am encouraged by the support we have received on this particular online gaming initiative. Our house finance chairman has a real interest in taking up the legislation and I believe it has great potential to pass with bipartisan support both in the house and senate,” said Delegate Jason Barrett had said when he introduced the bill.