- West Virginia has officially launched online poker following its decision to join the Multi-State Internet Gaming Agreement (MSIGA).
- Potential online poker operators in the state include BetMGM, PokerStars, Rush Street Interactive, and WSOP.
- The West Virginia Lottery passed the Interactive Wagering Act in 2019, followed by emergency regulations for online casino gaming in 2020.
- West Virginia has now become the fifth MSIGA member, along with Delaware, Michigan, Nevada, and New Jersey.
- BetMGM already operates in West Virginia, offering online casino and sports betting under a license from the Greenbrier Resort.
- Although currently unlicensed in West Virginia, PokerStars can gain access to the market through a partnership with a land-based casino.
Online poker in West Virginia has officially launched. It’s sure taken a long time for the Mountain State to get there.
Following West Virginia’s decision to join the Multi-State Internet Gaming Agreement (MSIGA) on Tuesday, pathways have opened for four real money online poker operators — BetMGM, PokerStars, Rush Street Interactive (RSI), and WSOP.
BetMGM, in theory, could have a slight advantage to launching first (due to the state’s branding requirements), but all four operators do not appear to face major hurdles for launching in the Mountain State.
WV Makes Long-Awaited Entry Into Gaming Compact
Lawmakers passed the West Virginia Lottery Interactive Wagering Act in March 2019. One year later, with the pandemic ramping up and the state’s five land-based casinos forced to close, the West Virginia Lottery Commission (WCLC) issued emergency regulations for online casino gaming in April 2020.
