Authority and public resources
Jurisdiction: West Virginia, United States
The West Virginia Lottery is West Virginia’s chief regulator, overseeing casinos, sports, and interactive wagering, and hosting draw games. Players who want to verify a gambling operator’s license or self-exclude use this agency's services.
State laws specify that only the licensed land-based casinos can hold an interactive wagering permit, effectively excluding new operators. The state taxes interactive gaming revenues at 15%, among the highest in the country.
What the WV Lottery Commission Regulates
Lottery and Regulator in One
The West Virginia Lottery Commission holds a unique role in the state’s regulated gambling market. In addition to running the state lottery, it regulates sports betting, casinos, and interactive wagering. There’s no separate commission that handles each vertical.
The Interactive Wagering Act
West Virginia’s regulated betting scene went live in March 2019 thanks to House Bill 2934, the West Virginia Lottery Wagering Act, and was codified at W. Va. Code Chapter 29, Article 22E. Online casinos followed in July 2020, joining Delaware, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania.
Permits, Fees and Tax
The state currently lists several venues allowed to operate with an interactive wagering permit: racetrack casinos, including Mountaineer Casino and Hollywood Casino, the Delaware properties in Wheeling and Nitro, plus The Greenbrier. A licensed operator must pay $250,000 for the permit that’s valid for five years, and another $100,000 as a renewal fee.
When it comes to taxes, West Virginia features one of the highest rates in the country. Currently, registered operators pay 15% on adjusted gross interactive wagering receipts and 10% on sports wagering. The state is currently considering increasing the rate to 25 or even 30% via HB 4397 and SB 392. For more tax information and governing rules, visit wvlottery.com/about-us/rules-and-regulations and look for Rule 179-10 for interactive wagering.
WV Interactive Wagering License Check
The Official License Lists
You can check the actual list of West Virginia casino license holders on the commission’s separate business portal: thebusiness.wvlottery.com. The website hosts four lists: iGaming Registrant, iGaming License, Sports Wagering License, and Sports Wagering Registrant. We recommend visiting this website if you want to verify a specific license.
One Casino, Up to Three Brands
West Virginia’s licensing arrangement works differently from other states. The casino holds the permit, not the online operator. A licensed casino can partner with up to three service providers, meaning one land-based casino can support up to three online casino brands under one permit. So, don’t be surprised if you see a number of national casino brands associated with one West Virginia property.
Signs a Site Is Not Licensed
A few red flags to consider when assessing a site in West Virginia. If the platform offers online slots and table games but isn’t listed on any of the four lists and isn't connected to one of the eligible venues, then it doesn’t hold a WV interactive wagering permit. Use our list of licensed West Virginia casinos, or check the specific operators, including DraftKings and BetMGM, to see if they’re live in the state. West Virginia requires players to be 21+ to register and play.
WV Casino Complaints and Self-Exclusion
Complain to the Operator First
The operator is your first point of contact if you encounter an issue while playing games or betting on sports. Most disputes and complaints are often addressed at this level, and not escalated to the commission.
Escalating to the Lottery
If the operator fails to resolve a West Virginia gambling complaint, the Lottery steps in. The state’s licensing authority receives players' complaints and disputes through its customer resources page, or you can email mail@wvlottery.com or mail them to PO Box 2067, Charleston, WV 25327.
The commission doesn’t publish timelines for filing and resolving interactive wagering disputes. If you can’t settle your issue with the operator, we recommend filing it directly with West Virginia Lottery Commission sports betting support.
How WV Self-Exclusion Works
Players who want to self-exclude can get help directly through the WV Lottery self-exclusion service. The service is administered by the Office of the Deputy Director of Casinos and covers all licensed gaming venues, including their mobile apps, for both in-person and online gaming.
For those struggling with problem gambling, they can ask for help from the Problem Gamblers Help Network of West Virginia, or by calling 1-800-GAMBLER (1-800-426-2537) or 1-800-MY-RESET.
You can learn more about self-exclusion, betting and session limits and other tools in our responsible gambling resources.
Licensed WV Casinos and Sportsbooks
Every operator included in our list holds a West Virginia license, and you can also find the links to their full casino reviews. Our team constantly updates this list to reflect new terms and offerings, so you’ll get updated information, every time.
