Mountaineer Casino Gambling Age
Introduction to West Virginia Slot Machine Casino Gambling in 2020
Minimum Legal Gambling Age by State. Legal gambling ages across the US vary, with states setting the minimum age at either 18 or 21. This can however change depending on the type of gambling, as. Gambling is restricted in USA. A few states such as New Jersey and Pennsylvania permit online gambling to persons over 21 years. Land based casinos are popular and legal in most states. Mountaineer Casino Racetrack and Resort 1420 Mountaineer Cir, New Cumberland, WV 26047 The Greenbrier Gourmet 101 W Main St, White Sulphur Springs, WV 24986 Wheeling Island Hotel-Casino-Racetrack 1 S Stone St, Wheeling, WV 26003 Wheeling Island Casino Racetrack.
West Virginia slot machine casino gambling consists of five casinos including one casino resort and four racetracks with slot machines. Many retailers have a few video lottery terminals.
The West Virginia state legislature has two sets of minimum and maximum theoretical payout limits depending upon the location of the gaming machine. Limited return statistics are available annually.
This post continues my weekly State-By-State Slot Machine Casino Gambling Series, an online resource dedicated to guiding slot machine casino gambler to success. Now in its third year, each weekly post reviews slots gambling in a single U.S. state, territory, or federal district.
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Relevant Legal Statutes on Gambling in West Virginia*
The minimum legal gambling age in West Virginia depends upon the gambling activity:
- Land-Based Casinos: 21
- Poker Rooms: 21
- Bingo: 18
- Lottery: 18
- Pari-Mutuel Wagering: 21
In 1994, West Virginia legalized video lottery terminals at their thoroughbred and greyhound racetracks. In 1999, West Virginia began allowing physical reel slot machines at licensed racetracks.
Machine restrictions at these pari-mutuel wagering facilities include approval by the local county and having only:
- Slots
- Blackjack
- Keno
- Many versions of poker
In 2001, West Virginia passed the Limited Video Lottery Act allowing bars and restaurants to have up to five video lottery terminals (VLTs) and fraternal organizations to have up to ten VLTs. The Act also restricted the state to a total of 9,000 VLTs.
*The purpose of this section is to inform the public of state gambling laws and how the laws might apply to various forms of gaming. It is not legal advice.
Slot Machine Private Ownership in West Virginia
It is legal to own a slot machine privately in West Virginia.
Gaming Control Board in West Virginia
The West Virginia Lottery Commission controls VLT gaming regulations. This lottery was created in 1984 by amending the Constitution of West Virginia with Article VI, Section 36.
Afterward, West Virginia legalized VLTs with subsequent amendments, acts, rules, and statutes. Each statute is available in the West Virginia Lottery’s Rules and Regulations.
Casinos in West Virginia
There are four pari-mutuel racetracks and one casino resort in West Virginia, where their slot machines have 18 different games. In 2019, 1,303 commercial retailers each had between five and ten VLTs, offering eleven games.
The largest casino in West Virginia is Hollywood Casino at Charles Town Races with 2,500 slot machines.
The second-largest casino is Mountaineer Casino Racetrack & Resort with 1,525 slot machines.
Commercial Casinos in West Virginia
The four pari-mutuel racetracks with slot machines in West Virginia are:
- Hollywood Casino at Charles Town Races in Charles Town, 320 miles northeast of Charleston.
- Mardi Gras Casino & Resort in Cross Lanes, 10 miles northwest of Charleston.
- Mountaineer Casino Racetrack & Resort in New Cumberland, 35 miles north of Wheeling.
- Wheeling Island Hotel Casino Racetrack in Wheeling.
Mountaineer Casino Gambling Age In Florida
The single casino resort in West Virginia is:
- The Casino Club at The Greenbrier in White Sulphur Springs, 120 miles southeast of Charleston
Tribal Casinos in West Virginia
West Virginia has no federally-recognized tribes and, therefore, no tribal casinos.
Other Gambling Establishments
As an alternative to enjoying West Virginia slot machine casino gambling, consider exploring casino options in a nearby state. Bordering West Virginia is:
- North: Maryland Slots and Pennsylvania Slots
- East and South: Virginia Slots
- West: Kentucky Slots and Ohio Slots
Each of the links above will take you to my blog for that neighboring U.S. state to West Virginia.
Our West Virginia Slots Facebook Group
Are you interested in sharing and learning with other slots enthusiasts in West Virginia? If so, join our West Virginia slots community on Facebook. All you’ll need is a Facebook profile to join this closed Facebook Group freely.
There, you’ll be able to privately share your slots experiences as well as chat with players about slots gambling in West Virginia. Join us!
Payout Returns in West Virginia
West Virginia has two sets of theoretical payout limits including:
- Racetracks and casino resort: 80% and 99.9%
- Commercial retailers: 80% and 92% (or 95%, if approved)
Retailers must obtain individual permissions to have a greater than 92% payout. These high payout terminals must obtain Commission approval twice, including:
Written consent prior to manufacturing
Approval before applying for testing
From its 2019 Annual Report, the Commission reported the annual return statistics in West Virginia to be:
- Casino resort: 92.5%
- Racetracks: 89.6%
- Commercial Retailers: 92.1%
Summary of West Virginia Slot Machine Casino Gambling in 2020
West Virginia slot machine casino gambling consists of one casino resort, four racetracks, and 1,303 retailers with VLT-style gaming machines. Retailers may have up to five VLTs if a bar or tavern, and up to ten VLTs if a fraternal organization. Up to 18 different games are available on these VLTs, including slot machine game themes.
The minimum theoretical payout is 80% for all VLTs. The maximum theoretical payout is 99.9% for casinos, but 92% for retailers. With permissions, retailers can obtain a 95% maximum theoretical payout for specific VLT machines.
Annual Progress in West Virginia Slot Machine Casino Gambling
Over the last year, there has been no change in the West Virginia gaming industry.
Other State-By-State Articles from Professor Slots
- Previous: Washington Slot Machine Casino Gambling
- Next: Wisconsin Slot Machine Casino Gambling
Have fun, be safe, and make good choices!
By Jon H. Friedl, Jr. Ph.D., President
Jon Friedl, LLC
West Virginia is in the top 5 for most friendly gambling states in the country. The Mountain State offers a state lottery, horse and dog racing tracks, and charitable bingo games.
Residents in WV can also legally sign up for an online casino and play casino games for real money. There are five land-based casinos that operate in the state and are each eligible to applyfor an online license.
Sports bettors have a reason to head to West Virginia too, as retail and online sportsbooks have both been legalized and very popular.
Since there are so many ways to go about gambling in WV, residents or visitors could find the different laws and what's really available a bit confusing.
Below, we'll go into detail about the different forms of gaming available in the state, current laws, and then take you back in time to how gambling all started in WV.
Let's start with online casinos.
Online Casinos in West Virginia
There are only a few states that have legalized online casinos, each generating millions a month in revenue. It's only had a positive effect on the economy in eachstate.
Online casinos went live in WV this past summer (2020) in July, joining online sportsbooks. The first operator to go live was DraftKings which launched through its brick and mortar partner in the state, Hollywood Casino.
24 hours of risk-free betting up to $200
BetMGM, one of the biggest operators in New Jersey, followed shortly after DraftKings launching its ownonline casino in WV.
For now, there are only a couple of options to play casino games online, but iGaming is just beginning in the state.
Potential casinos include PokerStars and Betfair. Each casino already operates in the NJ online gambling market, so it would have a lot to offer players in West Virginia.
Top 8 reasons why you should play at an online casino
There is nothing wrong with swinging by the local casino every once in a while. But, wouldn't it be easier to pull out your phone and have a casino game available to you in minutes, rather thanmaking the (hours long) trip to the land-based venue?
Here are just a few reasons why online gaming is better than the brick and mortar:
- Convenience
- Save money
- Claim different bonuses
- Participate in promotions
- Enjoy a large game selection from a variety of sites
- Play at your own pace, on your own time
- Lower min/max bets at online casino tables
- Higher RTP compared to land-based casinos
Playing at a casino online is convenient and allows you to access a lot of games while on the go.
You're saving money by not spending cash on travel and amenities at the brick and mortar, and can enjoy playing from anywhere you want in the state.
Online gamers also have access to multiple bonuses, which includes free money the minute you sign up.
Land-Based Casinos in West Virginia
All West Virginia casinos feature video lottery terminals (VLT's). The VLT’s are the same as regular video gaming devices but are called lottery terminals because they are regulated by thestate’s lottery commission which receives a share of each machine’s revenue.
Gaming regulations require that VLT’s at all casinos in West Virginia return a minimum of 80% to a maximum of 95%. VLT games include slots, blackjack, keno, and numerous versions ofpoker.
The average payback percentages on electronic gaming machines at all West Virginia casinos are released as a matter of public record. Just click here to see a list of slot machine payback statistics for all West Virginia casinos.
West Virginia law also allows bars, as well as restaurants that serve alcohol, to have up to five VLT’s. Fraternal organizations are also allowed to have up to 10 VLT’s. All of these machinesare identical to the machines found at the racetracks, except they only print out tickets and do not pay out in cash.
All West Virginia casinos offer the following table games: blackjack, craps, roulette, and three-card poker. Optional games offered include poker, pai gow poker, four card poker, Caribbean studpoker, mini-baccarat, Spanish 21, Mississippi stud, and big-6 wheel.
Types of Casinos in West Virginia
There are five casinos in West Virginia: four pari-mutuel facilities and one resort hotel.
Mountaineer Casino Gambling Age Rating
The resort hotel is called The Greenbrier and it is only open only to overnight resort guests, members of the hotel's sporting clubs, or to attendees of an event or convention stayingoff-property when more than 400 rooms are occupied.
There is also a dress code with jackets required for men after 7 p.m.
List Of Land-Based Casinos In West Virginia
Click on the casino name below you want to learn more about.
Casino Club at The Greenbrier
- 101 W Main St, White Sulphur Springs, WV 24986
- 1 844-837-2466
- Games: Slots, Video Poker, Video Keno, Video Blackjack, Craps, Roulette, Poker, Three Card Poker, Four Card Poker, Let It Ride, Baccarat, Mini-Baccarat
Hollywood Casino at Charles Town Races
- 750 Hollywood Dr, Charles Town, WV 25414
- 1 800-795-7001
- Slots, Video Poker, Video Keno, Video Blackjack, Craps, Roulette, Three Card Poker, Four Card Poker, Let It Ride, Mini-Baccarat, Big Six Wheel, Pai Gow Poker
- Horse and dog racing track
Mardi Gras West Virginia Casino Resort
- 1 Greyhound Dr, Cross Lanes, WV 25313
- 1 304-776-1000
- Games: Slots, Video Poker, Video Keno, Video Blackjack, Blackjack, Craps, Roulette, Three Card Poker, Four Card Poker, Let it Ride, Big Six Wheel, Poker
- Dog racing track, simulcasting of horse and dog racing
Mountaineer Casino Racetrack & Resort
- 1420 Mountaineer Cir, New Cumberland, WV 26047
- 1 800-804-0468
- Games: Slots, Video Poker, Blackjack, Craps, Roulette, Poker, Three Card Poker, Four Card Poker, Let It Ride, Mini-Baccarat, Pai Gow Poker, Spanish 21
- Daily simulcasting of horse and dog racing
Wheeling Island Racetrack & Gaming Center
- 1 S Stone St, Wheeling, WV 26003
- 1 304-232-5050
- Games Offered: Slots, Video Poker, Blackjack, Craps, Roulette, Poker, Pai Gow Poker, Three Card Poker, Let It Ride
- Dog racing track, simulcasting of horse and dog racing