In the US, internet gambling is defined as an act of wagering, betting, or gambling on the internet. In the past years, different states have had other laws for gambling. The online casino industry has seen a lot of changes since the first platform went live in 1994. Today, this industry generates billions of dollars yearly.

In 2019, West Virginia became the fourth state to legalize online gaming. How did it happen? The last bill was sent to Governor Jim Justice on March 9th, 2019. After signing it into law, the state began setting up the vital infrastructure. In 2020, people witnessed the launch of DraftKings, one of the best WV online casinos in the state. It was the first legal online site in the state. Players took to it like a moth to a flame, and it is known that some US players access offshore accounts using VPNs. The debate has always been whether gaming brings more evil than good.

The people against gaming always mention addiction as the main reason why it should be checked as much as possible. On the other hand, one cannot overlook the revenues that states leave on the table when they choose to ignore this stream of income.

Other casinos that launched later include:

·       BetMGM

·       Caesars

·       FanDuel

These online casinos in WV come equipped with a massive array of features like the best slot machines for real money which have many bonuses, table games, jackpot titles, and more. One feature that stands out is their promotions and bonuses. Most of them offer a no-deposit bonus on top of the deposit bonus. Some of these offers are lucrative and can win punters life-changing wins if they know where to look and the right rewards to choose.

History of Casinos in WV

West Virginia was one of the first states to regulate and support pari-mutuel horse racing formally. It created an oversight committee in the 1930s. When the sport became popular, and revenues continued to increase, the state launched its lottery.

The state legalized Brick and mortar gambling in 1994. In 2007, authorities allowed racinos to provide table games. The Greenbrier hotel resort was licensed to provide gambling in 2008.  

Before 2019, it was illegal to place a real money wager in West Virginia. However, things have changed now. The state passed a bill to legalize online gambling in 2019. The first casinos in West Virginia began operating in 2020.

West Virginia residents can also bet on sports and daily fantasy gaming. Currently, the only type of online gambling illegal in this state is an online lottery. Although the online gaming industry in VW is young, gamblers can still enjoy a vast range of excellent options.

Currently, the state has five physical casino licensees, and each establishment can form an online partnership for online poker and offline gambling. West Virginia players can play free games at most social casinos like Chumba and Luckyland. 

You can find the free games on their official websites or Facebook pages. Some even allow you to win cash prizes!

Pros and Cons of Legalizing Online Casinos

There are plenty of West Virginia online casinos that provide legal gambling services. Today, players don’t need to dress up and drive to the nearest land-based casino if they want to gamble. However, what are the advantages and disadvantages of this? We have discussed them below.

Pros

1.       Massive array of bonus offers

Unlike land-based gaming houses, the best West Virginia online casinos have plenty of bonuses for their customers. The prizes are meant to entice the players or the existing players to join. Standard bonuses include welcome offers, cashback, free spins, etc.

2.       Convenience

Players don’t need to leave their houses to play their favorite games. As long as they are connected to the internet, they can play games anytime, anywhere.

3.       Many gaming options

There are all types of gambling activities in WV casinos online. One website can offer sports betting, slots, cards, bingo, horse racing, and more. It’s hard to find an offline casino with all this.

4.       Suitable for all types of players

Online casinos accept everyone, whether you’re a high roller with thousands of dollars to spend or on a budget with $10 to spare. Some physical casinos demand players dress a certain way and pay specific wagers.

5.       Privacy

Your privacy in the best WV online casinos is assured. If you prefer to keep gambling to yourself, this is the place to be.

Cons

1.       Risk of addiction

If players are not careful, online gambling can become addictive. They can access a casino anytime they want can be a disadvantage. It’s always essential to gamble responsibly.

2.       Loss of social interactions

Unless you’re playing live dealer games, the social element of gambling is lost. If you enjoy interacting with other players, online gambling can become tiresome.

The Effect of Online Gaming Sites in WV today

Gaming sites have led to increased revenues. The state is earning millions of dollars from licensed casinos. In the past, players would bet in offshore accounts, thus benefiting other countries. Administrations that are against them are challenged to put in place measures that check the privileges that could lead to the exploitation of gamblers.

Final thoughts

Casinos in West Virginia have been operating since 2020 since the bill passed. This has given players an excellent opportunity to enjoy a vast range of different online casino games. They have a good number of online sites that accept real money bets. However, if you decide to play an online casino WV games, always gamble responsibly. Know your limits because betting can be addictive!