Legal Poker For West Virginia Residents
Gambling is big business in the United States. With casinos, lotteries, charitable events, and more, there are many different ways in which you can engage in your favorite betting activities. Poker is one of the most popular wagering games for many reasons. This activity combines skill and luck, allows individuals to place bets (and, in the case of those who are lucky, make some extra money), and offers socialization with other people who share an interest in the game. Additionally, poker is a wonderful way to relax after a long day or week and simply have a good time with friends, both new and old.
But the truth is that the laws regarding poker are different from one state to the next. Because this game is considered to be a form of gambling, states have taken a variety of approaches to regulating it. West Virginia is a state that takes a pretty strict stance against unregulated poker activity; however, it does provide some great options for residents who are looking to play this game. Are you a resident of West Virginia, or are you looking to visit the state? If so, it's a good idea to brush up on your knowledge of the state's poker laws to ensure that you are acting in accordance with the legal code.
West Virginia Poker Laws & Statutes
West Virginia offers its residents and visitors a long list of regulated gambling activities, including a traditional lottery, a video lottery, pari-mutuel wagers, racinos (racetracks that offer casino-style games), and even a casino that acts as a resort. With regard to poker in particular, individuals in West Virginia are restricted to playing at a racino or casino if they are looking for real money games. Unfortunately for players in this state, though, there is no social exception that allows for home-based games. The law actually prohibits unregulated games that are conducted in any environment, both public and private.
Many resident of West Virginia have turned to online poker because their land-based options are, relatively speaking, a bit restricted by the inability to host social games. Many poker players enjoy meeting up with friends for a casual game in instead of traveling to the local casino to play a few hands. As such, players who would prefer a more casual experience frequently opt to log onto the World Wide Web. But the legality of doing so within the state of West Virginia is a bit unclear. There are no laws that specifically speak to online gambling activity, but the state has shown an interest in regulating online gambling options.
Is it Legal to Play Online Poker in West Virginia?
We briefly touched upon the issue of online poker in this state earlier, but it is important to take a closer look at this particular topic. You see, online gambling is more popular than ever before, and the restriction regarding social games in West Virginia may have you looking for an online alternative. But is it a good idea to turn to the World Wide Web for poker activity?
With regard to the actual law, there is no part of the legal code that directly addresses the issue of Internet-based poker play. As such, many individuals feel safe engaging in online poker. The lawmakers within this state have indicated an interest in regulating online poker and pulling it under the umbrella of West Virginia's gambling industry to boost the economy, but there have been no specific measures taken to do so.
Can I Get into Trouble for Playing Online Poker West Virginia?
Basically, the laws that could be applied to online poker activity in this state were not written with Internet-based gambling in mind. As such, the question of whether or not online poker activity is legal has yet to be answered. Many residents of the state feel safe turning to online poker rooms; however, it is important to remember that the word "trouble" has two different meanings in this particular situation: legal and financial.
As we've already covered the legal issue, let's take a look at the financial. Make sure that you only trust an online poker room that you feel comfortable with, as handing over cash to the wrong website can lead to financial issues.
Legal Poker Sites That Accept West Virginia Players
here is no shame for harboring curiosity about playing online poker. In fact, most people do, and people from West Virginia are no exception. Through any of the excellent, legal poker sites listed below, anyone from West Virginia can create an account and begin playing poker within minutes. Join the millions of users across the US who log in every day and enjoy a hobby that is not only fun and exciting, but profitable.
Bovada Poker - Most Trusted Online Poker Room For West Virginia
If you live in West Virginia and demand only the highest level of quality from you legal poker sites, a visit to Bovada may be just what the doctor ordered. Bovada has been in service to US citizens, and West Virginia residents is particular for almost 20 years. That’s just about as old as the internet. That means that Bovada was processing deposits, payouts and making legal gambling available in the US since before Amazon was the retail giant it is today and before Wal-Mart even had a website. That is a staggering thought, but maybe helps to explain why Bovada is so trusted amongst West Virginia residents.
Bovada is so confident that all of its new customers will love its service that it offers money simply for showing up and participating. When you start up an account with Bovada poker and put money in it for the first time, you’ll find that not only can you instantly play with the money you deposited, but that you will be eligible to receive a full 100% of your deposit back in installments as long as your account remains active. Once this money is awarded, it can be withdrawn immediately. This is free money that will be awarded simply for playing poker win or lose, a deal you won’t find replicated anywhere else.
BetOnline Poker - All West Virginia Players 18+ Welcome Here
If you like sleek software and intuitive design, the poker room at BetOnline may prove to be the best home for you. Home to some of the best and most intuitive design on the entire internet, the BetOnline poker room can land even the most novice computer users on a poker table fitting their exact wants and needs within seconds, even out of the thousands of poker tables operating within this online poker room at any given time.
Perhaps the best feature in all of their software is the ability to carry around an entire poker room in your front pocket. That’s right – with BetOnline’s mobile poker room featuring award winning mobile technology, all the software and poker tables are available from anywhere you can receive a phone signal. Every waiting room, every subway, every office can turn into a casino at the blink of an eye when you can enter a tournament from anywhere in the world. For the poker player on the move, an account with BetOnline is the way to go!
| Legal West Virginia Poker Sites | Welcome Bonus | What To Play | Site Rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bovada Poker Play / Sign Up | $1,000 FREE - 100% Match | Hold'em - Omaha Hi/Lo - Stud Hi/Lo |  |
| BetOnline Poker Play / Sign Up | Maximum $1K: 200% Rate | Texas Hold'em - Omaha Hi/Lo | |
| SportsBetting Play / Sign Up | 200% Match / $1,000 Max | Texas Hold'em - Omaha Hi/Lo | |
| 5Dimes Poker Play / Sign Up | Vary Weekly - Check Website | Texas Hold'em - Omaha Hi/Lo |  |
Does West Virginia Have Legal Land-Based Poker?
There are two different kinds of poker that you can consider: land-based and online. In terms of land-based poker opportunities, West Virginia regulates casinos and racinos that are wonderful destinations for players. These venues are highly regarded for their fun environments and exciting poker games.
If you are looking for an online opportunity, there is a wide range of sites that you can frequent. Online poker rooms, though, should only be trusted if they have a great reputation and are recommended by experienced players. You don't want to hand over your money to just any website.
Legal Land-Based Poker Rooms For West Virginia Players
As we have discussed in the preceding section, there are land-based options for residents of this state who would like to engage in poker activity. You can go to one of the popular casinos or racinos in order to enjoy this game. These are favorites among players because they offer an exciting environment and the opportunity to engage in other forms of gambling should they wish.
Social games, though, are off limits within this state. While most of the states in the country have created an exception for private games, such as those conducted in one's house, so long as there is no rake, West Virginia does not allow for any such activity.
Future of Poker/Online Poker in West Virginia
Online poker actually has a pretty bright future in West Virginia. The state has already indicated that it is interested in pursuing the regulation of online poker activity, which could mean an increase in revenue for the state and an expansion of legal poker activity for its players. Only time will tell, though, if the state is able to actually set up a structure for such an online gambling industry.
