Legal West Virginia Online Poker – A Guide
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Scott Kacsmar
- September 16, 2024
In the United States, online poker is still not legal in 44 states as of 2024. For poker players who want the best online gaming options, you have to live in Virginia, New Jersey, Nevada, Delaware, Michigan or Pennsylvania.
But West Virginia differs the most in that while it has legalized online poker since 2019, there are still no legal online operators in the Mountain State. That means you cannot join PokerStars or BetMGM Poker just yet.
But fear not, because you can play online poker tournaments and cash games if you use the best West Virginia online betting sites located offshore. In this guide, we are going to show you the best options, what makes them the best and how to get started playing for real money today.
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$250 Free Bet
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Our Top-Rated Online Poker Sites for 2024
When it comes to the top-rated online poker sites, we can only put the ones that have software for a poker room ahead of the options that only have video poker machines as this is more of a casino game:
- BetOnline – Top choice for poker tournaments
- Everygame – Solid poker room
- SportsBetting.ag – Shares poker network with BetOnline
Can you legally play poker online in West Virginia?
Yes, West Virginia’s unique in that online poker is legal, but none of the top legal poker sites offer business in the Mountain State. This could change any day obviously, but for now, the online poker options for West Virginians are largely the offshore sites we are about to review in the next section.
Reviewing the Best Poker Sites
We have provided our detailed reviews of those four sites below. These sites are located in places like Costa Rica, Panama and Antigua where online casino gaming and online sports betting are legal. In addition to poker tournaments, these offshore sites will also have other online gaming options, including slots, table games and live dealer games.
1. Top Choice for Poker Tournaments: BetOnline
Key Features
- Bad beat jackpots available
- Suggest your own poker tournament ideas
- Huge casino game library
BetOnline is part of the Chico Poker Network along with Tiger Gaming and SportsBetting. It is the No. 3 poker network in terms of the traffic of American players. You will find a variety of tournaments available here, including the $150k Guaranteed every Sunday. You can also suggest your own poker tournament ideas.
Cash games are available with plenty of choices for popular games like No-limit Omaha, and Texas Hold’em is offered with Pot Limit, Limit and No Limit Hold’em games. They offer Bad Beat Jackpots where every player at the table can win some money under certain conditions. They also have Sit & Go tournaments.
West Virginia’s new users can get a 100% deposit bonus of up to $1,000 when using BetOnline promo codes. You will earn $5 in bonus money for every $50 in rake. BetOnline is well known for offering high limits and boasts some of the fastest payouts in the industry through a variety of withdrawal methods.
2. Solid Poker Room: Everygame
Key Features
- Tournaments available
- Best rakeback rate
Everygame was known as Intertops for 25 years before rebranding itself as Everygame. The sportsbook has seen its share of upgrades with live betting and more markets, but the poker platform is stellar.
The poker software at Everygame is very good as it will allow you to play your favorite cash games and tournaments. There is not as much traffic as you will find at competitors, but that is not always a bad thing if it allows you to face fewer pros. Just keep in mind the smaller status of the poker room at Everygame means you will not have the huge prizes you will find at BetOnline.
But for a quality alternative to the big sites, Everygame gets the job done. It also promotes having the best rakeback rate (36%) in the industry. There is also an excellent welcome bonus and players can use an Everygame promo code in order to get a variety of other perks.
Key Features
- Good selection of tournaments and cash games
- Fast payouts
SportsBetting runs on the same Chico Poker Network as BetOnline, which ranks third among traffic of American poker players. You can expect a similar layout of tournaments and cash games with SportsBetting as you would get at BetOnline, the more popular of the two sites.
Just like at BetOnline, users can expect poker tournaments like the $150k Guaranteed every Sunday, $1 Million Windfall Jackpot, Sit & Go tournaments and Bad Beat Jackpots.
New users can get a 100% deposit match for the poker room up to $1,000. The wagering requirements are every $50 in rake releases $5 in bonus money.
Our Rating Methodology
When it comes to scouring offshore casinos for the best online poker market, our top criteria was for the site to have a poker room with tournaments and cash games. Beyond that, our usual rating methodology determines the best-graded online poker sites as we look at features like banking methods, bonuses, customer service, mobile site quality and security.
History of West Virginia’s Gambling Laws
West Virginia has a rich history of being a pro-gambling state, but the events for today’s buffet of legal gambling were really set in motion in 1984 when voters approved a state lottery. This led to the creation of the West Virginia Lottery Commission.
By 1994, West Virginia approved video poker terminals and slot machines at its four racetracks. This quickly led to thousands of machines popping up in bars, restaurants and other locations in the state. This was going on around nearby states too, and there was concern about the games not being regulated for gambling. In 2001, West Virginia Gov. Bob Wise passed a bill to regulate and tax 9,000 video poker machines in the state. It also raised the minimum bet from $2 to $5 on the slot machines in the state.
It was in 2007 when the racetracks with casino-style gaming really became casinos with the legalization of live poker and table games. A year later, the very popular The Greenbrier was approved to allow casino-style gaming. It would open its permanent location for The Casino Club at The Greenbrier in 2010, giving West Virginians five land-based casinos to choose from.
Shortly after the Supreme Court overturned PASPA in 2018, West Virginia legalized sports betting in August 2018 with further bills to legalize online wagering with licensed operators in December. By March 2019, the West Virginia Lottery Interactive Wagering Act was passed to legalize iGaming and online poker. This added West Virginia to the multi-state poker compact that had only included New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Delaware originally.
However, as of 2024, West Virginia still does not have any licensed operators that have an online poker platform available.
Top Features of the Best Online Poker Sites
In the following sections, we go over the top features of the best online poker sites and casinos and what you should be looking for when choosing the right site for you.
Competitive Gambling Odds
The most competitive gambling odds can be found in the sportsbook where things like reduced juice and opinionated lines can really tip things in favor of one site over the other. But for any site, we expect competitive odds. That can extend to offering poker tournaments for newer players and for high rollers to even the playing field.
Wide Range of Betting Markets Available
No matter which part of the online gambling site we are looking at, we expect a wide variety of betting markets available. For poker fans, that means a good selection of tournaments, cash games, different game styles (Texas Hold’em, Omaha), different limits (pot limit and no limit) and also video poker machines.
Multiple Deposit & Withdrawal Methods
It is very important for an online gambling site to offer a diverse group of deposit and withdrawal methods. This should range from more traditional methods like your debit card or a bank transfer to more current options like an e-check or cryptocurrency. We also make note of the associated fees, limits and processing time for the various banking methods.
Generous Promos & Bonuses
Bonus money is always a big deal, and it could even be the motivating factor to join an online casino. Most sites have a big welcome bonus that is a deposit match of your initial deposit in bonus funds. Some sites even offer a poker bonus for new users where you can get a cash bonus released in $5 increments for every $50 earned in rake. We also judge a site by its ongoing promotions for loyal users, including reload bonuses, bonus bets, odds boosts and more.
Live Dealers Available
You may not find much live dealer poker action right now, but you will be able to play your favorite table games (blackjack, roulette, baccarat) with a live dealer. This works thanks to video chat where you can see the dealer, but they cannot see you. You also can usually communicate with other players in a chat box. This is a fun way to enjoy casino games with outcomes you can trust and reasonable limits.
Quality of the User Interface
A good online experience should come with an online poker site that is easy to navigate and find the betting markets you are looking for with ease. Everything should be neatly organized and labeled clearly. You also should be able to quickly access the cashier section to make deposits and withdrawals.
Mobile Site Functionality
You will not find downloadable apps with the offshore sites, but they do have mobile sites that have poker apps that you can download the software for to play on your favorite mobile device. You can set this up quickly and they work well with access to cash games and tournaments.
Customer Service Contact Options
Customer service is your way of getting help with one of the various issues that could come up in your online gambling experience. This is why we judge the best to offer 24/7 support with the most variety in contact methods (phone number, email, message on the site and a live chat feature).
Site’s Security Features
When you are betting real money online, you will have to inevitably share personal details with these online casinos. You must feel safe and confident in their security features that your connection will be secure and your data will be protected. This is why we only trust sites that have a long track record in this industry. They know how to handle customers without leaving them open to cyber-attacks and other security threats. Only use reputable online gambling sites like the ones reviewed in this guide.
Online Poker Varieties in West Virginia
When it comes to online poker, you will find a solid amount of variety at these online sites with a poker room. In the following sections, we look at the different tournaments and cash games commonly played online.
Online Poker Tournaments
Online poker tournaments are a very popular type of game in the online poker market. Every player buys in for the same amount of chips, then you try to last until the end to win everyone else’s chips until one player gets the grand prize. There are cash prizes for other players who finish well too.
Tournaments can be very time-consuming and your winnings will be less consistent than in cash games, but they also can be the best way to win a large cash prize.
Tournaments can be played as single-table and multi-table tournaments. The style of games offered can vary, but you usually see Omaha or Texas Hold’em with pot limit and no limit variants to choose from.
Cash Games
Cash poker games differ from tournaments in that players are betting with real money chips and can leave the game at any time. You will not have equal chips with the other players like you would in a tournament. You can also play a more variety of card games whereas tournaments usually stick to the same game type throughout.
Cash games can be much harder to win, but your winnings are usually going to be more consistent than they are with tournaments. Cash games also require less time to play and can be good practice for getting better at tournaments too.
Sit & Go Games
Think of a Sit & Go tournament as an expedited tournament process in poker. Once enough players enter the table, the tournament can begin almost as if you reached the final round of a longer tournament. These can be played much more quickly than the longer multi-table tournaments as they often start with 6-to-9 players.
Freerolls
Freeroll poker tournaments are a good way for newer players to sharpen their skills for tournaments as entry is free. There is still often prize money to be won, but it is much less than the normal tournaments. Still, you can gain valuable experience playing the game this way.
Advantages of Playing Online Poker in West Virginia
When it comes to playing poker at online sites, there are some inherent advantages over games that take place in person:
- Convenience: The online poker scene allows you to pick up games at any time of day at your convenience. Wear what you want, smell how you want and play for as long as you want. You can play in multiple tournaments at the same time online. You also will save on gas money and travel time.
- Bonuses: By joining these online sites, you will be treated to generous bonuses and promos that you just won’t get with a land-based casino or card room. The sign-up bonuses alone are a nice boost to start your account at these places.
- Payments: Online sites have a wide variety of payment methods, including eWallets and crypto that generally are not used at land-based casinos.
- More Gambling Options: Beyond online poker, when you join an online casino, you will also be treated to other online casino games, a sportsbook, a racebook and more gambling options than most casinos can compete with.
Live Poker Rooms in West Virginia
For poker players looking to find action at land-based casinos, you have a few options in West Virginia that we will list in this section. These are establishments where you can also expect to find video poker, slot machines, table games, sports betting and perhaps some live greyhound racing.
The Casino Club at Greenbrier
Located in White Sulphur Springs, you will find 320 slot machines, 37 table games, a FanDuel Sportsbook and weekly poker tournaments available.
Mardi Gras Casino and Resort
Located in Cross Lanes, you will find nearly 700 slot machines and a variety of table games, including Criss Cross Poker, 3 Card Poker, Super 4 Poker and Louisiana Stud. The poker room at the Mardi Gras Casino and Resort has 4-5 tables every Wednesday and Thursday, and you can expect 9-10 tables on Fridays and Saturdays. Limit and No Limit games of Texas Hold’em are available. There is also live greyhound racing.
Wheeling Island Hotel-Casino-Racetrack
When it comes to racetracks with table games, few options are better for West Virginians than the Wheeling Island Hotel. It has over 1,100 slot machines with a room that has 47 High Limit machines. There are classic table games, and the poker room has cash games and tournaments, including Limit and No Limit Texas Hold’em, Omaha and Seven-Card Stud. You can also use the Betly Sportsbook and watch a schedule of live greyhound racing.
Creating an Online Poker Site Account in West Virginia
Online poker players must create an account and usually download some free software to start playing poker at these online sites. We walk you through the simple process of getting started in the four steps below.
Step 1. Signing-Up
Just like you would with any other online site, visit the page and begin the account creation process. You will want to prepare a good password that you are not using elsewhere.
Step 2. Verifying Your Poker Account Details
Your account must be verified. This is another quick process that comes after you include more personal information, including your name, address, email and phone number. The site could send you a confirmation link via email or a code via text that you must use to verify your account in the system.
Step 3. Funding Your Poker Account
Now your account needs funds. Before making your deposit, read over the site’s welcome bonus, which is commonly a deposit match of your initial deposit at these sites with online casino gaming. Once you are comfortable with the amount you want to deposit, head to the cashier and make that first deposit with the preferred method of deposit.
Step 4. Start Playing Online Poker
Your account is verified in the system, you are logged in and you have funded your account with real money. Now you are ready to download the free poker software at the site so you can start playing on your favorite mobile device. Enter the poker section and start choosing from a variety of cash games or available tournaments.
FAQs – Playing Poker Online in West Virginia
Is online poker legal in West Virginia?
Yes, online poker has been legal in West Virginia since 2019 thanks to the passing of the West Virginia Lottery Interactive Wagering Act. But poker players in the Mountain State are still waiting for a licensed site to offer poker to them. This is why they use offshore sites.
What online casinos are legal in WV?
Many of the most popular, licensed online sites with online casino gaming are fully legal in West Virginia. Offshore online casinos are not illegal and can also offer sports betting and horse racing betting.
How many online casinos are in West Virginia?
There are at least nine online casinos licensed for operating in West Virginia, as well as several offshore sportsbooks that act as a one-stop shop for your gambling needs with sportsbooks and racebooks available.
Does WV tax gambling winnings?
Yes, West Virginia is like most states where gambling winnings are taxable once you win a certain amount. Big wins over $5,000 will automatically be taxed at a federal rate of 24%. Consult a tax expert for more specific details about taxes on your gambling wins in West Virginia.
What is the online gaming tax in West Virginia?
For West Virginia to make money on online gaming, they have a 15% gaming tax on all online gaming revenue at the casinos. Offshore poker sites are not subject to United States tax laws.
