West Poker
Posted By admin On 29/03/22West Virginia became the fifth US state with legal online poker when lawmakers passed the WV Lottery Interactive Wagering Act in 2019.
The law authorizes up to 15 online poker sites in WV, three apiece for each of the state’s land-based casinos. Lottery officials continue to work through the rule-making and licensing process, with the first launch approvals possible this summer.
West Virginia online poker sites
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There are not yet any real-money poker sites operating legally in West Virginia, but that could change soon.
The law allows poker operators to access the market in partnership with one of the five land-based casinos, which act as the primary licensees. Each may offer online poker under up to three brands, creating room for as many as 15 WV online poker sites.
At this point, however, it’s not clear which — if any — operators will bring online poker to WV. The small size of the market and the lack of a clear path to multi-state poker make it a tough sell for large gambling companies focused on immediate growth in the broader US.
WV online poker should be available for both desktop computers and smartphones like iOS and Android devices.
West Virginia online poker partnerships
| Licensee | Brand | Launch |
|---|---|---|
| The Greenbrier | -- | -- |
| Hollywood | -- | -- |
| Mardi Gras | -- | -- |
| Mountaineer | -- | -- |
| Wheeling Island | -- | -- |
MGM does have a market-access deal with The Greenbrier, making it possible that a partypoker site could eventually appear in WV. Whether or not that happens remains unclear, however, given the private casino is more firmly allied with FanDuel.
PokerStars also seems to have a path into WV — or seemed to, at least.
The Stars Group entered into a partnership with Eldorado Resorts in 2018, but the dynamic has since changed for both parties. Eldorado sold off its WV property as part of its mammoth Caesars acquisition, and TSG is no longer a standalone company thanks to its own takeover by Flutter.
All that is to say very little is certain about online poker partnerships in WV.
WV online poker games
Presuming one or more of the major operators enters the market, players can expect to have access to most major forms of poker — including cash games and tournaments in a number of hold’em, Omaha, and stud variants.
No-limit Texas hold’em is the most popular format and the one seen most often on televised broadcasts from the likes of the World Series of Poker and World Poker Tour.
Stakes should range from a few pennies into the thousands of dollars for both tournaments and cash games.
Online poker tournaments in West Virginia
Should PokerStars and/or partypoker come to West Virginia, they would no doubt introduce some of the same popular tournaments and series they offer on their New Jersey online poker sites.
Given the state’s relatively small size, though, any WV-specific tournament series is likely to be modest in comparison to those larger US markets.
West Virginia poker bonuses
When the first online poker sites launch in West Virginia, players should keep an eye out for welcome bonuses and promotions. These bonuses might involve a simple reward for signing up, giving players a small amount of cash and/or tournament entries with which to get started.
Online poker sites also frequently offer those who deposit for the first time a matching bonus based on the amount. These matching bonuses usually come with play-through requirements, meaning the player has to play and contribute a minimum amount of rake and tournament fees before being able to collect the bonus.
Depositing and withdrawing at West Virginia online poker sites
Available banking methods for West Virginia online poker sites are among the details that have to be finalized as regulations are put into place.
Looking at options available to WV online sports bettors could provide some clues. Deposit options include credit/debit card and PayPal, while players can withdraw funds via ACH/eChecks, PayPal, or check by courier.
West Poker Game
Those methods would likely be among those available to WV online poker players as well, as would transactions at the cashier cage inside the casino with which the online poker site is partnered.
Sweepstakes poker sites in WV
While players in West Virginia await licensed and regulated real-money options, there exists an alternative in sweepstakes online poker sites such as Global Poker.
Under the sweepstakes model, players don’t use real money on the site but rather play with one of two virtual currencies — gold coins and sweeps coins. Global Poker is therefore legally able to welcome players from West Virginia and nearly every other US state.
While some players will always prefer real-money online poker, sweepstakes sites do offer WV players a chance to compete in larger player pools than are currently available among traditional real-money US poker sites.
FAQ: West Virginia online poker
Here are answers to some of the most common questions related to online poker in West Virginia.
Is online poker legal in WV?
Yes. Real-money online poker became legal in West Virginia under a law passed in 2019, though the first regulated sites have yet to launch.
Sweepstakes online poker sites like Global Poker also welcome West Virginians.
Who can play online poker in WV?
The law requires individuals to be at least 21 years old to play real-money online poker in West Virginia. Sites use geolocation software to ensure those who try to play are doing so from within the borders of the state. Residency is not a requirement, but physical location is.
Those who are excluded from gambling in WV are similarly prohibited from playing real-money online poker in the state.
Is PokerStars legal in WV?
There’s been no official word yet about PokerStars’ plans in the state.
Third-party suppliers must partner with a land-based casino in order to offer online gambling in West Virginia, including poker. Although PokerStars should have access to the market, it’s not yet clear under which casino’s license it will operate.
Will WV have multi-state poker?
It’s not yet clear.
Because of West Virginia’s small population, interstate liquidity sharing may be a necessary precondition to the viability of online poker in the state. However, the legality of multi-state poker partially hinges on the ongoing Wire Act lawsuit against the US Department of Justice.
New states like WV are unlikely to join any such multi-state poker compacts until that case is resolved.
What are the fees and taxes for WV online poker?
The law that legalized online poker in West Virginia imposes a $250,000 licensing fee and a 15% tax on revenue. Licenses are valid for five years before requiring a $100,000 renewal.
Total revenue will largely depend on whether or not WV is able to pool players with other states with legal, regulated online poker. It might make a modest contribution to the bottom line with interstate liquidity sharing in place but will otherwise likely be negligible.
Who regulates online poker in WV?
The West Virginia Lottery regulates all online gambling in the state, including online poker.
- Phone: 800-982-2274
- Email: [email protected]
West Virginia online poker history
West Virginia lawmakers picked away at the possibility of online poker for three consecutive years before a bipartisan effort finally stuck in 2019.
The WV Lottery Interactive Wagering Act (HB 2934) was the vehicle, with online poker and casino gambling lumped together under the new authorization. Both chambers passed the bill with relative ease in early March, and WV online casinos and poker subsequently became legal without the governor’s signature.
Rule-making has proceeded on schedule in the time since, with the final emergency version set to be published to the state register this summer. Once that happens, WV online poker can begin.
Minus the lack of complimentary drinks, online gambling apps in West Virginia do a solid job of replicating the in-house experience. But there is something other than a watered-down well vodka tonic that you can only get in person.
Online Poker.
For a number of reasons, online poker in West Virginia remains closer to a dream than reality. And the bulk of those reasons involve issues that can only be untangled by lawyers and lawmakers.
Most importantly, there has not been the type of legal challenge to open online poker to more states in a similar fashion as the Supreme Court ruling that lifted the federal ban on sports gambling in 2018.
The law impeding online poker in West Virginia
John F. Kennedy remains a revered figure in West Virginia, where his primary victory in 1960 signaled to many that America was ready to elect a Catholic president.
But it’s a law Kennedy and brother Robert pushed to get passed that serves as the biggest hindrance for online poker.
The Interstate Wire Act of 1961 sought to fight organized crime, which was one of the scourges of that era. In summary, the act prohibits the use of wire communications for betting across state lines. As currently interpreted, that affects online poker.
The difference between poker and other online games is the presence of other players. Blackjack and slots pit you against a computer. Poker, meanwhile, requires more complicated machinations to pull off with dealers and players.
West Poker
Online poker in the US
Three states currently offer poker as part of a joint agreement:
- Nevada
- New Jersey
- Delaware
Pennsylvania may join that partnership, but legislators have not made a decision yet. Complicating matters is the possibility that the Department of Justice will prohibit such an arrangement from continuing.
Online poker is legal in West Virginia. However, WV online casino operators consider it cost-prohibitive because of the state’s relatively small population.
In order for poker to work in West Virginia, it almost certainly needs to be part of a multi-state agreement. Such a process would be much easier with a reinterpretation of the Wire Act.
Western Poker Table
Where the state stands in the debate
WV Lottery director John Myers welcomes online poker in West Virginia but concedes that he has no timeline for knowing when it may happen.
“Our casino partners are working on their own time frames in regards to what gaming options they bring to us for approval,” Myers told PlayWV.
“In the past several months we have had several providers launch mobile sports wagering and iGaming apps in the state, and we expect several of our casinos and their service providers will be adding to their iGaming offerings in the coming months.
“We would love to see the launch of an online poker option with a provider in West Virginia. However under advice from the attorney general’s office, that will be delayed until the Department of Justice’s current opinion regarding the Federal Wire Act is resolved or a studio is built inside the borders of West Virginia.
Pokerstars West Virginia
“That said, we understand that the size of our market and concerns over the Wire Act are likely impacting our casinos and provider’s business plans in regards to offering online poker in our jurisdiction.”