The number of states with legal and regulated online gambling and online poker industries has officially increased five after West Virginia joined the party on Wednesday. Governor Jim Justice failed to sign House Bill 2934 otherwise referred to as the West Virginia Lottery Interactive Wagering Act by the deadline which was on Wednesday 27 and by so doing, the measure automatically became law.
This is not the first tie that the governor has waited until the last possible day to either sign or veto a bill that was forwarded to his desk after passing both Houses. He did the exact same thing with a sports betting bill last year and there are rumors that these choices are primarily motivated by the fact that his family has ties to the ownership of The Greenbrier Casino. This means that if he knowingly signed the bills into law despite his alleged ties to a casino, then it would appear as impropriety and he would be using his office for financial gain.
The Highlights of the new Gambling Law
The measure which will go into effect in the next 90 days will require the interested operators to pay a $250,000 licensing fee which will be renewed every five years for $100,000. They will also be subject to a 15 percent tax rate. As it stands West Virginia’s five land-based casinos will be allowed to apply for the interactive gaming license should they choose to do so – they are; the Casino Club at the Greenbrier, the Hollywood Casino at Charles Town Races, the Mardi Gras Casino & Resort, the Mountaineer Casino, Racetrack & Resort and the Wheeling Island Hotel.
Gaming platform and service providers will also need licenses in order to be eligible to offer their services in the United States. These will be going for $100,000 apiece while supplier licenses will be going for $10,000. Also, to be eligible to play online poker or online casino games, the customers will need to be 21 years or older.
What the Future Holds for Online Poker in West Virginia
West Virginia joins New Jersey, Nevada, Delaware, and Pennsylvania on the list of state with legal online gambling and online poker. However, the share poker liquidity that had been all the buzz a year ago may not come to be since the recent reinterpretation of the 1961 Wire Act officially outlawed it and the DOJ is seemingly readying for a fight to stand by its decision.
For now, the focus will probably be on the online poker industry within the state’s borders. The West Virginia Lottery which is responsible for all gaming activities in the state will have until June 2020 to finalize its online gaming regulations. Now that the rockiest part of the process has been completed, we just have to wait and see how everything else plays out.
