Is online gambling legal in West Virginia?

Federal 24% withholding applies to wins of $5,000 or more, and all winnings must be reported on your state income tax return. The West Virginia Lottery Voluntary Self-Exclusion Program lets you exclude yourself.

Play only on sites licensed in West Virginia; those have to follow its player-protection rules.

Online sports betting is legal on sites licensed in West Virginia. Online casino is legal on sites licensed in West Virginia. Online poker is legal on sites licensed in West Virginia. The lottery is legal on sites licensed in West Virginia.

The minimum age on record for gambling in West Virginia is 21+.

Federal 24% withholding on wins ≥$5,000. State income tax of 2.36%–5.12% applies, but West Virginians can deduct gambling losses from their winnings on state tax returns.

Always verify a casino holds a valid West Virginia Lottery Commission licence before depositing.

West Virginia Lottery Commission's website

Prominent operators in West Virginia

If a site isn't on the regulator's licensee register, ask the regulator before you play: an unlisted site is usually not licensed here (a register can lag behind a new licence). An unlicensed site is outside the regulator's supervision, so you cannot complain to the regulator about it.

1. 1

   1. Contact the Operator

   Players must first attempt to resolve any dispute directly with the customer support department of the licensed online gambling site.

2. 2

   2. File a Complaint with the WV Lottery

   If the issue is not resolved, a player can file a formal complaint with the West Virginia Lottery Commission, which will investigate disputes related to payouts, accounts, and rules.

3. 3

   3. Legal Action

   For unresolved matters, players may pursue legal action through the state's court system.

• ✓
  Verify the Land-Based Partner

  Every legal site must clearly display its partnership with one of the five licensed West Virginia casinos: Hollywood Casino at Charles Town, The Greenbrier, Mardi Gras Casino & Resort, Mountaineer Casino, or Wheeling Island.

• ✓
  Look for the WV Lottery Seal

  Licensed operators are required to display the official seal of the West Virginia Lottery Commission on their website and app, indicating they are regulated.

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  Check for Responsible Gaming Tools

  All legal sites must provide access to responsible gaming resources, including links to 1-800-GAMBLER and tools for setting deposit, wager, and time limits, as well as self-exclusion.

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  Confirm Geolocation Check

  When you log in, the site must perform a mandatory geolocation check to confirm you are within West Virginia. If a site does not do this, it is not a legal, state-licensed operator.

• Myth

  My winnings aren't taxed in West Virginia.
  Reality

  All gambling winnings are taxable income. Federal withholding of 24% applies to wins of $5,000 or more, and all winnings must be reported on your state income tax return. West Virginians can deduct gambling losses from winnings on state returns.

• Myth

  It's legal to play on offshore casino or sports betting sites.
  Reality

  It is illegal for an operator to accept wagers from West Virginia without a license from the WV Lottery Commission. The Attorney General has actively forced these unlicensed sites out of the state, and players have no consumer protection on such platforms.

• Myth

  Online poker isn't popular because West Virginia is a small state.
  Reality

  West Virginia is part of the Multi-State Internet Gaming Agreement (MSIGA), which combines its player pool with larger states like Michigan and New Jersey. This creates a much larger and more active online poker market than the state could support alone.

What you can expect from a licensed site's offers in West Virginia. The rules operators must follow are on the operator page.